The strategy was set. In summary, the plan was to completely stop 
eating meat sources, soy, gluten and dairy and limit my intake of corn and beans. I would replace these items with plant-sourced foods. Now, all I had to do was get started, which really was a challenge. Here is how I got started:
Getting New Foods In
My wife and I headed to the grocery store that morning and entered with a whole different mindset. We spent most of the time in the produce section. We bought a lot of lettuce plus broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc. for salads. Then we got our normal fruits like apples, bananas, oranges and we added more grapes, avocados, blueberries and other berries than we previously ate. We also loaded up on nuts and seeds, eggs, almond milk, avocado oil, oatmeal, peanut butter, gluten-free pasta, hummus, etc. Finding crackers that are gluten free and not containing soy or corn is a tough find. My favorite brand is Crunchmaster and my wife likes Luke’s crackers. Be warned, some of these items can get very pricey. When we brought the groceries into the house, it looked much healthier than previous trips.
Getting the Old Foods Out
When we got home, we went through all of the food we were no longer going to eat. What to do with it? All three of our kids were on break from school so they were our first option. What they couldn’t, or more often, wouldn’t eat, went to the food pantry if possible. Anything else went in the trash. Not my favorite option but you couldn’t have it around tempting you.
The New Normal Meals
Meals were much different. Breakfast was oatmeal and may have included an egg and some avocado. No toast, no milk in my coffee. My usual mid-morning yogurt was changed to a protein bar or homemade gorp. My lunches were typically salads supplemented with soup and smoothies for lunch. Afternoon snacks were fruit and vegetables. I would also eat nuts and seeds several times per day. For dinner, we researched plant options on the internet. It was challenging to feel full, due to the lack of animal protein and some of the higher fat dairy products, but we worked through it. The evenings were the toughest time of the day. It was difficult to find snacks and it was really challenging to stay out of the pantry where the children’s snacks and carbo treats were stored.
Results?
For all that I gave up, what was the benefit? I felt fantastic. I had a lot of energy. I did not wake up a single morning with inflammation in my joints and I felt more energized when I went to the gym or out for a run or a walk with my wife. I wasn’t leaving the dinner table feeling bloated or overfull and I was sleeping better, too. I woke up in the morning with vigor. I know this sounds too good to be true, but after 2 weeks, I was feeling a lot better. I still do. Over the first two months, I lost about 12 pounds.
Learnings
I recommend getting rid of as much of the food you don’t intend to eat as possible, either by donating it or throwing it out. If your kids are of the age where you control their diet, I think it would be easier. My teenage kids have no desire to change their diet and I don’t want to make it a battle.
Create a plan for snacks, especially if you are an evening snacker. Relying on plant sources will not fill you up. Also, I originally over-relied on nuts and seeds and that negated some of the positive G.I. tract benefits. On that front, there is some good research on raw versus roasted nuts that you should read.
Overall, I wholeheartedly endorse a diet increasing plants and reducing animal meat, dairy, soy and gluten among other things. I have felt much better since the switch and I am still learning healthier and enjoyable options.
I did not eat any dairy nor meat for months. It was very challenging and not sustainable for me. As time passed, I did some research that helped me get a few items that were originally prohibited back into my diet. I will get to that in a future post. How I Solved My Protein Problem!