Mommy...there's a rutabaga in my closet...

     Yes, when I was younger, I was not very fond of eating my vegetables.  I hated broccoli, carrots, summer squash, and there were several others that you couldn't get me to touch with a ten-foot pole, much less put them in my mouth.  As I got a bit older, I started to like a few vegetables that had once repelled me.  I started to put diced onions on my hotdogs, and every now and then I would take a small bite of pickle.  Small steps, but for someone who, for a long time, considered ketchup to be a vegetable...these were momentous occasions.

     In the last three or four years, however, this vegetable eating has expanded drastically.  To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure this kind of progress was possible.  It all began with my chiropractor.  That's right - chiropractor.  Dr. Mark convinced me to try to eat more vegetables.  I know, I know, everybody and your mother says "eat more veggies." That's true, and they are right, but what Dr. Mark said in conjunction with "eat more veggies" was something that I hadn't heard before.  He said "Stick with it for two weeks, and your body will start to reprogram itself.  After that, your body will start to crave healthy food."

     At that point, my inner-child was trying to convince me that this 'craving of vegetables' was just another fabrication, created to try and get me to eat healthy foods, but I trusted Dr. Mark, and told my inner-child to be quiet because he might be right.  Low and behold, he was absolutely 100% right.  With genuine effort, I began following a more plant-based (and brightly colored - this is very important) diet.  Little by little, just as he said...I began to want to eat my veggies!  (I know mothers and doctors everywhere are rejoicing at this statement, well...at least my mom is.)  It's true; your body can and does 'reprogram' itself; you will crave vegetables.

  That being said, I do admit that the vegetable-eating may be getting a tad unruly.  I have been eating a full plate of raw veggies (usually organic baby carrots, broccoli, and radishes) and a chopped avocado for lunch most days - with a small side of hummus or cheese for dipping, and a few strawberries or some pineapple for variety.  I must tell you that all this vegetable eating does have some excellent side-effects though.  My mind feels sharper, I have few-to-no joint aches (even the occasional Jiu Jitsu or Muai Thai, injury seems to heal faster), my body just feels better.

Thanks Dr. Mark! And Mom, I no longer fear that rutabaga!

If you'd like to read some more about what Dr. Mark has to say, visit his website: Goodlivingwarehouse.com  He also has a whole bunch of great healthy products, and he's adding new stuff all the time.