2 Friday, September 15, 2023 brooklintowncrier.com Monday - Thursday 9:00am-7:00pm Friday 9:00am-5:30pm Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm Sunday Closed Fun Truck Time 2023 Colorado 1201 Dundas St. East, Whitby SALES 905-668-5846 SERVICE 905-668-8871 PARTS 905-668-8853 Top Dollar for your Trade 4WD Crew Cab Short Box ZR2 ORDER YOUR PRE-OWNED CAR WITH US! SALES (905) 721-6599 SERVICE (905) 721-6588 PARTS (905) 721-6577 445 Winchester Road East, Brooklin Hyundai - Official Partner of the NHL Swing by to take a practice shot on our Net in the showroom! Check out our Pre-Owned Inventory on our website! Made for Those Who Drive Hockey!Made for Those Who Drive Hockey! This month, I celebrate 13 years as a vegan. In honour of the anniversary, here's how my journey unfolded. Just before switching to a plant- based diet. I was considering running an ultra marathon and had a 50k trail run on my radar. In researching for the event, I found online videos by Brandon Brazier, a Canadian vegan triathlete, author of several books, and founder of the Vega line of plant-based protein powders and other products. One of his theories is that meat takes a lot of energy to digest, which takes away from your overall energy and affects your training performance. That caught my attention. As an active person, I'm always looking for better energy So I took on a 30-day vegan challenge. My energy soared and I never looked back. My curiosity eventually led me to read a few of Brazier's books. I went on a retreat in New Know why to switch Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson York State offered by Forks Over Knives, a business that helps educate and empower people to live healthier lives. I also took a plant- based nutrition course offered by eCornell. While life took me on a different journey and I never did run that 50k race, I learned to enjoy many shorter distance trail runs and train with kettlebells. Here are my top tips for making a smoother transition to a plant- based diet: • Have a strong why! Whether it's animal rights, the environment, or your health. Knowing your why strengthens you when you doubt yourself or face criticism. • Be prepared. Meal planning and batch cooking helps. As a personal trainer, I suggest to my clients to pre-cook a few meals, whether they eat meat or not. Nothing sabotages your healthy eating goals like running late and having nothing to eat. • Eat for energy. For example, pre-run, I might eat a banana with some peanut butter and leave the heavier meal for post run. • Check menus before you head to a restaurant. Most restaurants have online menus and categorize meals as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free. • Keep a few quick meals/ items in your freezer, such as veggie burgers, for when you are tired and want something fast. • Offer to bring food to family gatherings. This makes it easier on the host. I've gone to family events where I could only eat raw veggies. • Educate yourself. Be ready for questions such as: Where do you get protein? What about B12? Won't you end up with low iron? Research these topics not only for your peace of mind but also to help others understand you know what you are doing. Be kind and patient with people as you navigate this change. Sometimes their questions come from genuine concern and should be treated that way. Other times, their comments are to draw you into a debate they hope to win something I refuse to do. I'm happily on my journey and don't feel the need to justify my decision. Sheree's Hack: Some helpful links to get you started. h t t p s : / / e c o r n e l l . c o r n e l l . edu/certif icates/nutrit ion/ plant-based-nutrition/ https://www.forksoverknives. com/what-to-eat/