Article originally published in Portfolio Magazine (March-April 2020 Edition)
The cat is out of the bag. Evidence increasingly shows that plant-based diets are superior to the overconsumption of meat that has become the new normal in the United States. Research indicates plant-based diets lower the chances of heart disease, help with weight management and leave a much smaller environment footprint on our natural habitat.
Having grown up eating traditional Italian fare [this might be a weird time to invite everyone to visit my dad’s restaurant, Trattoria Dario] this news has been hard for me to swallow. However, the message is not that meat should never be consumed. In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology July 25, 2017, researchers found that simply reducing consumption of animal products would only be effective if the right kind of plant foods are then consumed.
This means unprocessed, wholesome foods. Technically cold pressed juices and acai bowls are “processed,” but in this case, the processing is not eliminating the vitamins and minerals that are the foundation of what makes a plant-based diet ultimately better than the alternatives. At Chelsea’s Gourmet, you can have your cake and eat it, too! And eating meat doesn’t have to stop cold turkey. My family has started what we call “Steak Sundays,” so that we only consume red meat once per week, if at all.
Chelsea’s Gourmet has a diverse offering, but for us, the future is clear. If we want to live long, healthy lives, and if we want our planet to remain a sustainable source of energy, we need to return ourselves to a more balanced diet and lifestyle. Join us in our mission to serve health and happiness!
Learn more at ChelseasGourmet.com