I’m so excited to have Megan Lawson as a guest on my blog. Megan is a certified holistic nutritionist, recipe creator, and food blogger. Her journey to eating a plant-based diet has generated a new passion for her to assist others to do the same, as well as help them heal health-related issues with the power of food. She shares her delicious, plant-based recipes on her blog, MegUnprocessed.com.
Aside from this, Megan has worked in television for 10 years. She started her television career in Arkansas at a local news station, and then went on to produce in NYC for six years. She has produced television in LA since 2013.
What inspired your plant-based journey?
When I learned about all the harmful chemicals and additives being put in our food I stopped eating processed foods. After eliminating these foods, I started to feel better on the inside and out. I noticed I wasn’t eating as much meat and dairy anymore, but didn’t think I could give it up completely until I watched the documentary “Forks Over Knives“. I knew plant-based was the way I needed to live, because I didn’t want the type of health problems I’ve seen so many people deal with in our country.
Tell us a little bit about your plant-based philosophy.
By eating a plant-based diet, you can become healthier and happier without depending on supplements and pharmaceutical drugs. I believe the majority of foods one eats in a day should be greens, beans, fruits, and vegetables. I know it might seem hard for people who think eating this way is difficult or boring, but now with all the creative plant-based recipes out there you’re not just eating bland flavored dishes. I had trouble with this at first and that’s why I started to create easy plant-based recipes that are full of flavor on my blog! Once you start eating this way you don’t want to stop because your taste buds change. You’ll start craving the foods.
What are your 3 best tips for people who are interested in moving towards a plant-based diet?
• It’s okay to take baby steps. Quitting all meat and dairy cold turkey, no pun intended, can be difficult especially for people that have been eating that way for years. I tell people, start with 2 to 3 days of week without meat and dairy. I have a 2-day detox eBook on my website that can help people get started. As you slowly stop eating processed foods, the less you’ll crave them because it only takes 2 week for your taste buds to change.
• Be open to trying all different recipes even with foods that you don’t think you like. As I said before, there are many recipes out there now that show cooking vegetables differently which gives them so much more flavor! Someone might say they hate Brussels sprouts, but they might have only had them boiled. Try roasting them with different seasonings and see if you like them better. I tell my friends and family all the time “Don’t knock it til you try it”! You can also prepare plant-based foods in a way to mimic things, like my mushroom meat in my No Beef Sloppy Joe’s and Eggplant Lasagna. It tastes so much like ground beef it’s hard to believe it’s mushrooms!
• Ignore the comments made by others who don’t think you should eat a plant-based diet. Don’t go along with the crowd just to avoid adversity. A lot of people frown on plant-based diets because they don’t believe in giving up meat and dairy, but when those around you see how good you feel and look and the awesome impact it makes on your health, they might want to follow in your footsteps. If not, then that’s okay, but do what’s best for your health and look the other way if someone disagrees with your food choices. Having a supportive group, or at least a friend, can make a tremendous difference. I love helping others out with this because I know there are so people who don’t have a good support system.
Please share your five favorite foods that you just can’t live without.
I eat these 5 foods almost every single day.
Apples – They have a high level of antioxidants that’s so good for your body and I just love them.
Green Smoothies – It’s an easy way to nourish the body with a bunch of leafy greens especially in the morning.
Walnuts – They’re a great source of omega-3 plus lots of other nutrients.
Beans – They’re so versatile you can eat them on so many ways, plus studies have shown eating beans regularly promotes longevity because they help decrease the risk of many diseases.
Goji Berries– I love using these to sweeten things, from green smoothies to cookies and put them in trail mix. They taste good and so good for you. Goji berries have one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any berry.
What’s your favorite plant-based restaurant in LA, and what’s your favorite dish on the menu?
We are lucky to have so many good plant-based restaurants in LA and I love them all, but I would say Sun Cafe is my favorite. It’s hard to pick just one thing from their menu, but my pick would be the Sun Nachos with SunChorizo, nacho cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeño, green onion, cashew sour cream on Jicama Chips.
