I want to send out a massive THANK YOU to everyone who attended Plant Power on the 30 November. My aim was that you would leave the event with some practical tips to help make dietary changes...
However, I didn’t imagine that I would be a student as well, learning so many brilliant lessons from you all on the day!
Here's what I learned at Plant Power:
1. Global problems have global solutions.
Over the years, I’ve introduced my health presentations detailing the benefits of plant-based nutrition, but for Plant Power, I thought it might be a good idea to lead with the bad news...or the “problem”...and that problem is that considering the root causes of all the diseases around the world, food has actually emerged as the most common culprit, and has therefore become the ‘number one killer’ worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Combined with the food insecurity crisis we are facing as a result of the pandemic, the statement above could sound like pretty depressing news...But what I learned from you all last Wednesday at Plant Power is that our problem is global, and our solution is also global! We met on Wednesday in person and online from communities and backgrounds all over the world, sharing ideas and experiences from various cultures and perspectives. It certainly felt like the start to a worldwide solution!
2. Our barriers can also be our motivation!
Several years ago, through a large questionnaire with hundreds of respondents, I learned that the influence of our families and friends was a major barrier in making diet changes. I then learned through my own personal experience of transitioning to a plant-based diet that eating differently than those around you can sometimes feel challenging, and you need a very strong motivating factor to stay on track...However, at Plant Power, I found out that our families are not always barriers—In fact, for many people they are the very reason why they are determined to make changes, to live longer and to thrive. Thanks so much to the audience member who shared this with me on the day! He was at Plant Power Wednesday because he was ready to make a change for himself and his entire family.
3. Our strength is in the community.
During Wednesday's event, I compared two plant-based interventions that I conducted in the past with similar methodologies or tools, but very different outcomes. In the first study, the participants started off excited and energetic; but in the end, there were no sustained diet changes in the group. However, in the second study the following year, the volunteers were more than 90% compliant with significant positive results in multiple health categories.
I analysed and discussed what the small differences were between the two studies which could have created such a different result...Both studies included an exciting launch event, food, freebies, resources and training...but the second study had a very strong community element, which made it a major success. The participants in the second study, which we called the ‘Meat-reduction study’ were joining up with groups at home and sharing the information and lifestyle over the four weeks they participated in the intervention. The strength was clearly in the community, and the same remains true today!
4. Football affects meal planning.
This random lesson was quite a funny one that emerged during Plant Power, as I noticed that nearly everyone who discussed their recent meals seemed to organise them around football. I suppose I should have assumed that as the most watched sporting event in the world, the World Cup would have an effect on daily activities such as meal planning etc, but it was still hilarious to hear…”because the football was on” at the end of each meal memory. We had a good laugh about that, but I guess you had to be there…lol.
5. Nutrition can be fun.
Another unexpected element in the event was the continual laughter and comradery. I started my plant-based journey motivated by something as heavy and disheartening as disease, and I never imagined that I would end up with a business that is informative, research-based and so much fun! We had such a fantastic time Wednesday discussing our motivations for diet changes, international recipe tips, and even challenges, in an encouraging and inspiring way. I always want to use my journey and knowledge to inspire others, but I want you all to know that I am equally inspired by you. I carry your barriers, your concerns and your health dreams with me on this journey….You are the reason why I do what I do, and you are definitely the reason why the mission…or shall I say the ‘Plant Party’ must continue! I had such a blast Wednesday and can’t wait to see you all again.
Sincerely,
~ Dr. T