As you probably know by now, my career as a food, wine and travel journalist has been greatly influenced by France and all the time-honored recipes and culinary traditions for which the country is known. For more than two decades, I have been schooling myself in the art of French cooking, not by following a professional chef’s education, but simply by traveling extensively throughout the country, tasting my way through just about every kind of food market, discovering and taking part in culinary celebrations and forming lasting relationships with the country’s most inspiring producers, chefs and winegrowers.
What excites me most about French culinary tradition is how much enjoyment – and by that I mean truly taking the time to savor a lovingly prepared meal – is inherent to the recipes and the way of eating. It’s not a cliché that in France, Sunday lunches can go on for hours. What starts with a pre-dinner apéritif and nibble will end with a table full of cheese, empty wine bottles and lots of laughter.
When my husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (a lifestyle related illness) in the summer of 2022, I immediately knew that we had to do everything in our power to keep him from going on the dizzying carousel of medication. Diabetes runs in my family and has robbed those close to me of their health, and for some, like my beloved grandmother, it has taken their lives. While growing up, I remember her constant struggle of going from medication to deprivation. She always had a fridge full of delicious foods, for everyone but herself. Her strict diet consisted of bland soups, crackers and special shakes for diabetics. As she aged, she gained more and more weight, felt increasingly worse and needed round-the-clock care because at a certain point, she became bedridden. The thought of this happening to my husband sent cold shivers down my spine.
I wasn’t ill, but I was overweight. I kept blaming my age, rationalizing that weight gain in your mid-40s was something to be accepted. We thought we were eating well (in fact, we had both been vegetarians when we met), but I wasn’t overly restrictive with eggs and dairy. I admit, I loved cheese more than life itself, used only real butter to bake, and when I didn’t have time to make a proper lunch during the week, would resort to boiling a few eggs. Though we ate plenty of fresh vegetables and always cooked from scratch, our diet contained a lot of animal fat and cholesterol. I was faithfully getting on my crosstrainer every morning and going for the occasional run, but the weight kept slowly creeping up. When I came back from spending a month in France in the summer of 2022, shortly before my husband received his diagnosis, I stepped on the scale and was horrified by what I saw. Seeing those numbers was confronting, but it wasn’t news to me. None of my clothes were fitting anymore. A few weeks before we left for that trip to France, I cleaned out my closet and donated several boxes of clothes to good will. I had come to terms with the thought that I would never be able to wear those items again. Little did I know that a year later, they would fit me better than ever.
By digging in to research and devouring books like The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and the work of physicians such as Michael Greger, Neal Barnard and Caldwell B. Esselstyn, I discovered that a change in diet could potentially reverse my husband’s scary diagnosis. Watching the film Forks Over Knives gave me hope. After it ended, Hans turned to me and said: “Let’s do it.”
But there was more than the potential health benefits which motivated our decision to stop eating animal products. According to the UN, roughly one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is linked to the way we eat. Our food choices not only affect our health, but also that of the planet. From unprecedented heatwaves to water shortages and the extinction of species – we’ve all seen the devastating effects of climate change in recent years. If we want to mitigate global warming, taking drastic action is imperative. In fact, we can start to change the world simply by changing the way we eat. Pair that with concerns about the cruelty of animal agriculture and exploitation, and it’s easy to see why eliminating the consumption of animal products is a sensible choice.
Switching to a plant-based diet focusing on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes would mean a major change in our lives (not to mention my career!), but the least we could do was try. Determined as I was, I did wonder about what would happen to our French lifestyle. What about our lavish weekend French feasts? Baking French cakes? What about our travels to France? Was that the end of sitting at a sweet, little brasserie to enjoy a menu du jour? And, what about my career as a food writer? Especially one who writes about French cuisine!
More than one year down the road and nearly 30 kilos lighter (we lost about 15 kilos each), I am happy to report that not only did my husband manage to reverse this terrible illness (within two months!), but that nothing has been sacrificed. Our lifestyle is still as delicious as ever. Through plenty of experimentation and finding out what works for us, we have discovered a new, more fulfilling and delicious way to eat. My culinary horizons have been vastly broadened, and I have discovered a world of new flavors, aromas and textures.
To say that this change has truly changed my life (our lives, my daughter also went plant-based last April) would be an understatement. Moreover, it has encouraged me to share my journey and all the knowledge I’ve acquired with others.
This transformative experience has inspired me to embark on a new mission. That’s why I’m so excited to share a sneak peek (exclusively for my newsletter subscribers) into my soon-to-be-launched website, Path to Plant-Based, dedicated to helping others discover the beauty and benefits of plant-based living. You are the first to know, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have you on this journey with me.
As I gear up to launch the site and share my passion for plant-based cuisine, I’m especially excited to announce something truly wonderful and an idea I’ve had for a very long time. Alongside personal cooking lessons and culinary coaching, I’ll be offering immersive culinary tours – from a few hours to a three-day adventure through Amsterdam or enchanting locations in France. These tours are a work in progress, dependent on the interest they generate. Picture yourself exploring vegan restaurants, engaging in workshops with renowned chefs (and myself!) and indulging in wine tastings amidst picturesque vineyards – all in the company of a small, intimate group. It would be such a great opportunity to share our love of food and inspire one another!
So, if these tours sparks your interest or if you’re curious about embracing a plant-based lifestyle, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I’m eager to hear from you!
Thank you for being a part of this exciting chapter with me! I’d be thrilled to hear your thoughts!
So great! I can't wait to join you on one of your 3 day tours - France or the Netherlands sounds great to me!