(Below is an excerpt from the book, The “Plan A” Diet)
While some people are comfortable settling for limited dietary changes, many who are convinced by the evidence choose to make a total dietary conversion overnight. Still others may fall somewhere in between—they make a series of small changes with a firm goal toward total conversion.
For those who wade into the waters more slowly, every small change toward a whole food, plant-based diet with no added oils is indeed a step in the right direction. While I never want to discourage even small, positive changes, it must be noted that the overall dietary pattern matters greatly. Merely removing or adding a few different foods to the Standard American Diet is unlikely to result in any noticeable health improvement.
For example, adding daily flax seed to a dairy-based smoothie, including some broccoli in a steak stir fry, or topping a high-fat cheesecake with a few blueberries is not likely to produce much change in one’s health. And when people don’t see immediate weight loss or health improvements, they often assume the “diet” isn’t working and end up throwing in the towel. The thinking goes something like this: “I’m making ALL these changes, but I haven’t lost a pound and my cholesterol is still high. Might as well eat whatever I want.” Enter Big Disconnect #4: Making small dietary changes and expecting big weight loss or big health improvement.
Committing to making small changes is commendable, and if that’s your personality, then by all means go for it. But please know that making small changes should not be the end goal. It should be the catalyst for continued change until the overall dietary pattern is one that promotes health. It’s imperative to continue moving forward with those changes on a regular basis—within a specified time frame—with the goal to get dairy, meat, and those high-fat desserts out of the diet altogether. Keep moving forward until God’s “Plan A” Diet, the diet you are designed to eat, is your pattern of eating every day. Refer to “The Plan B Transition Approach” chapter for a suggested transition plan.