Exceptions and Rules

One of the biggest challenges you may encounter when transitioning to a whole food plant based diet (WFPB) is figuring out how to respond to reactions from friends and family after you share your decision to go WFPB. Three common reactions are:

1. puzzlement (what the heck is a WFPB diet?)
2. concern (where will you get your protein?) and
3. dismissive (my uncle lived to be 102 eating bacon and eggs every day— so you don’t have to give up animal products.)

The first two reactions are pretty easy to address.

1. What the heck is a WFPB diet? – A WFPB Diet is based on whole or minimally processed plants, primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, tubers, and legumes. It excludes or minimizes animal-based foods such as meat (including poultry and fish),dairy and eggs, as well as refined foods like refined flour, refined sugar, and oil.
2. Where will you get your protein? – Direct them to this earler blog article that contains helpful information to ease their concerns.
3. My uncle lived to be 102 eating bacon and eggs every day— so you don’t have give up animal products. This reaction may be one of the most difficult to which to respond. I know my inclination is to respond by saying “well woop dee do for your uncle”, but it’s probably best not to do this. It’s unlikely that sarcasm will influence your friend to reconsider his/her position.

The narrative below (in italics) is an example of a better approach to take. It politely explains why the long life of your friend’s uncle will not result in you changing your decision about going WFPB.

“I think it’s awesome that your uncle has reached the age of 102! He is certainly proof that some people can eat high fat, high cholesterol foods and live a long life. I hope he lived most of his days in vibrant health.

Please remember that there are people who are heavy cigarette smokers who live long lives.  These people are exceptions to the rule.  It would be a great mistake to  conclude that cigarette smoking is a healthy habit simply because some people can beat the odds.

You certainly are free to bet on your good genes to protect you from disease promoting foods, and if you make that bet, I hope you are as successful as your uncle. But for most people, it would be best for them to eliminate or greatly reduce their dietary intake of foods like bacon and eggs.”