Plant Chat: Jeff Peterson
It is so exciting to have news anchor and fellow plant-based enthusiast Jeff Peterson on my blog today! Jeff anchors Good Day Maine in Portland, OR, and writes a blog called That Vegan Thing. He is an active marathon runner, plant-based advocate, and an award-winning news anchor who strives to always bring the most accurate information to the general public. Jeff is a man of many talents, as he enjoys singing, playing the trombone, participating in the Boston Marathon, and road racing. Continue reading to learn more about him!
What motivated you to start eating a plant-based diet?
I watched the film Forks over Knives and thought it would make a great news story and series to go vegan for 60 days and then document my dietary changes for viewers to see if there were any health benefits. The next day I cleaned out my cupboards and fridge of foods that contained meat, dairy or eggs and started shopping and preparing meals around plants. I also had my cholesterol levels checked, weighed myself and had my pulse and blood pressure checked. I have to be honest, besides being a good news story, I was also looking for a way to lose some weight and get back in shape. I have 4 children, including a 6-year-old and I want to be around when they graduate and get married.
How has becoming plant-based helped your overall lifestyle and fitness?
The changes after 60 days were nothing short of amazing. At the end of the 60 days, I had lost 31 pounds. To top it all off, my overall cholesterol level dropped from 128 to 87, my LDL cholesterol plummeted from 70 to 47 and my triglycerides went from 151 to 69. As for fitness, my running improved a lot. Being vegan not only helped me shave 6 to 7 minutes off my 5K times, but I also felt so much better that I started running marathons. I ran the Maine Marathon twice, and in 2015 I took part in the Boston Marathon.
What plant-based foods do you like to eat to compliment your running?
I love smoothies. I take frozen and fresh fruits, along with fresh kale and spinach, add some almond milk and protein powder and blend it all together. When I don’t have powder, I use other food items high in protein like nuts and even peanut butter. Also high in protein and even fiber are beans. Whether it’s baked, black or Garbanzo beans, they are always included in my meal planning for the week to help me on those long runs during marathon training.
How has plant-based eating tied into your work life as a news anchor?
Being in the media and working at WGME-TV, it seems like I am always on the run. I actually have to get up at 2:15 AM to anchor a morning news show. Going vegan has definitely increased my energy level. The most important thing for me though has been the weight loss. Being a television news anchor, I need to stay in pretty good shape. weighed 228 pounds in January of 2012. I now tip the scale at around 185. The downside was I had to throw out all my suits and buy a whole new wardrobe. Then there is what happens off camera. In my nearly 30 years of television, I’ve never had as many people come up and talk to me about one story as I have about the vegan series. So many people were asking questions, that I decided to write a blog. It is called, That Vegan Thing. You can find it online in the Bangor Daily News. I try to write an entry every two weeks and feature plant-based recipes that viewers and readers can prepare at home.
What are your best tips you offer to someone who is thinking about going plant-based?
Never say you can never go vegan. I used to eat meat, dairy and eggs like most of the population, but after just 60 days on a plant-based diet, I was hooked. I have never felt better. I am 53-years-old and most people tell me I look like I am in my early 40’s. If I can do it anyone can do it. You have nothing to lose, except weight. My only advice is find some good vegan cookbooks, blogs and maybe even a friend to help you out. Then you have to decide if you are going to switch overnight or gradually become vegan. Also, be prepared for people to give you hard time and even make fun of you. I don’t care, I just laugh every time I get my blood pressure done and the nurse asks me if I’m an athlete.
Tell us a bit about what you eat on an average day? What are the top 5 foods you simply can’t live without?
I usually have a protein smoothie or oatmeal in the morning. For lunch, I love veggie burgers, a chickpea wrap or even something as simple as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The sky is the limit for dinner. I will make everything from a vegan pizza and sweet potato burritos to tempeh tacos and Thai food. The top 5 foods I can’t simply live without are tempeh, beans, peanut butter, almond milk and broccoli.
What are your top traveling/eating tips for survival?
As for traveling and trying to survive on a vegan diet, I look up restaurants on HappyCow. It helps me find places that serve vegan and vegetarian dishes. Also, I am always prepared to go to the grocery store and buy food. That’s why I always try to get a hotel with a kitchen. It’s not easy being vegan, but I would never go back.