The impact was much bigger…

The power of sharing the gift that keeps on giving! It is such a treat for me hear from students who take what they learn in class and not only implement it in their lives, but share it with those they care most about. And then, sometimes, the impact is much bigger than expected… This is certainly the case when it comes to Natalie Friedenbach. 

While I was taking Professor Hagenburger’s Nutrition course, I decided to try eating plant-based. I really wanted to try it because of all the health benefits I was learning about in her course. Everyday after the class, I would share some facts that stuck out to me with my family. Since my family is in healthcare, (my mom is a pharmacist), I wasn’t expecting them to really listen to the facts I was sharing, but I did it anyways. However, before long, my mom was also incorporating more plant-based food choices into her life. She is the only one who cooks in my family at home, so, by default, my dad was also eating plant-based!

One thing my mom and dad struggled with early on was feeling comfortable with new recipes to replace their typical meals. Some of the recipes they found online used ingredients they weren’t familiar with. To help them out, I explain the ingredients and we shop together when I come visit, so they can get comfortable with where different items are found throughout the store. When I can’t be there in person, I take pictures and send them via text or email for clarification. I have also shared Professor Hagenburger’s Shopping Guide at www.FoodieBars.com, which includes 250+ pictures of ingredients she used in her The Foodie Bar Way cookbook.  Another way I help my parents is by recommending additional cookbooks, including How Not To Die Cookbook and Thug Kitchen 101, so they can experiment with a variety of plant-based recipes and meal ideas.  I think these books do a great job describing the ingredients and breaking down the recipes. My parents now try new recipes every week and we send pictures to each other for inspiration!

We are also getting more and more comfortable bringing delicious plant-based food to “get togethers” with family and friends. It didn’t take very long to figure out we better bring plenty to share, because everyone has been eager to try the food we make that loves us back!

The last time I went home to visit, my mom told me she had lowered her cholesterol and needed new clothes because she had lost over 30 pounds! My dad came home from work and I noticed his clothes were swallowing him. He has also lost over 30 pounds eating plant based! They are both so happy they lowered their blood cholesterol levels without taking medicine and are losing weight, that they are looking to adapt to a plant-based lifestyle forever! My mom also mentioned that she shares everything she learns from me, including Dr. Greger’s videos at www.NutritionFacts.org, with all of her patients that come in. She told me everyone has been so open minded and curious about all the health benefits a plant-based lifestyle can provide.

My dad, who works as a general manager for a water district, even got the How Not To Die Cookbook for everyone in his office with their health and wellness grant that typically goes unused each year. He loves to share the recipes he’s tried with the people in his office.

While my parents are over the moon for their plant-based lifestyle, personally, I have decided to stay plant-based for many reasons. Even though I am only in my early 20’s, I can feel the difference in my energy levels, my skin is doing much better, I like the challenge of trying something new, I can eat so much and never feel guilty, and the health benefits it offers are unparalleled. It is truly a no-brainer for me! Plus, I discovered an unexpected opportunity to strengthen my connection with my family, as it has been amazing to learn how plant-based nutrition can benefit all of us and we have had a blast cooking together and sharing recipe ideas.

As a pharmacist, my mom gets incredibly busy during the day, but now more than ever, she realizes how important it is for her to stay well nourished to support mental clarity to make the best decisions and provide excellent care for her patients. I shared that I meal prep in order to be able to eat healthy, even when I’ve been running ragged. For breakfast, I like to make overnight oats and showed my mom just how simple it was to prep them ahead of time, and how a little prep provides a time-saving gift that she can enjoy each morning, all week long. We decided on an overnight oats recipe that incorporates our favorite flavors: banana, chocolate and peanut butter! She loved how easy it was to make this breakfast meal once and then grab one of the pre-filled jars whether she had time to eat it at home or needed to take it with her to work. She no longer has to sacrifice her healthful breakfast just because she has a busy schedule.

Timaree Hagenburger, a plant-based registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), certified exercise physiologist with a master’s degree in public health, has over 20 years of experience as a nutrition professor. She is a sought after speaker, media personality and author, who works with private clients, and in corporate wellness, has contributed to several cookbooks and published her own cookbook, The Foodie Bar Way: One Meal, Lots of Options, Everyone’s Happy (www.foodiebars.com)! Timaree is also the founder of an incredible online membership community, The Foodie Bar Way of Life, that makes loving the food (and living a life) that loves us back… simple, satisfying, sustainable AND FUN! You can contact her about working with her through 1:1 dietitian nutrition coaching, for hands-on cooking instruction and to inquire about arranging a speaking engagement.