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Chef AJ has been devoted to a plant-exclusive diet for 47+ years! A chef, culinary instructor, and professional speaker, she is the author of the popular book Unprocessed: How to Achieve Vibrant Health and Your Ideal Weight, which chronicles her journey from an obese junk-food vegan faced with a diagnosis of pre-cancerous polyps, to learning how to create foods that nourish and heal the body.

In todays conversation, we also cover how Chef AJ still was not able to achieve a healthy weight via a whole food plant-based approach to food. Caloric density counts and we go there! Yes, we talk weight because it is undeniably tied to health and also to confidence.

This conversation, and Chef AJ’s approach to nutrition is absolutely NOT about restriction.

As you will hear, her love affair with desserts began with the gift of an Easy Bake Oven when she was seven years old. Now, she still gets to enjoy and share all the deliciousness with delectable plant-based desserts that are gluten and sugar-free and contain no added salt or oil.

Chef AJ and her latest book Sweet Indulgence, will inspire you to create healthy rather than guilty pleasures.

In this conversation we cover:

• Chef AJ has been vegan for decades, and yet used to be 70 pounds heavier then she is today. What mistakes did she make early days so far as vegan nutrition?
• What are the best aspects of being “plant exclusive” now?
• Chef AJ share’s a little of her love for cooking since childhood.
• Sweet Indulgence, What inspired Chef AJ to create a cookbook focused on naturally fruit-sweetened desserts?
• Specific challenges in creating plant-based desserts that are both healthy and indulgent.
• Does Chef AJ have a favourite recipe from the cookbook, and what makes it special to her?
• The role of caloric density and how to and lose weight without going hungry.
• Setting up your environment to succeed so far as conquering cravings and food addiction.
• Using delicious plant foods to be a positive influence on the non-vegans in our lives.

As I reflect on that exchange the notion of ‘looking for the catch’ effectively comes to mind. If the term is new to you, I simply mean model or take inspiration from the aspects of someone else’s approach that will work for YOU.

Consider what would fit, sustainably and joyfully into your routine and life. What is aligned with your goals and values.

To look for the catch ineffectively would in contrast, be to disregard an approach completely as it is too extreme, or too hard, or you’re not… (insert excuse here).

Personally I eat sugar occasionally. Also, processed vegan burgers. When cooking for non-vegan loved ones I use more oil than I might for myself.

With my goals, health, body composition that currently works for me. However you better believe if I had a scary health diagnosis I would be all in on eliminating substances like added sugar, salt, oil and processed foods. Equally if I had a significant amount of weight to lose, I’d make some of the adjustments – most of the adjustments – Chef AJ made.

To me there is HUGE joy in food and also, there is HUGE joy in health. Thankfully the two can walk hand in hand in delicious harmony. To test that out for yourself I recommend you check out Chef AJ’s Sweet Indulgence.

Chef AJ’s website: https://www.chefaj.com/

Connect with Chef AJ across the socials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Purchase, Sweet Indulgence: Guilt-Free Treats Sweetened Naturally with Fruit:

Chef AJ’s other books:

Chef AJ mentioned The Optimum Health Institute:

Chef AJ also mentioned The True North Health Centre:

Also, The Pleasure Trap:

That’s it for this week in Healthification.

Plant Positive Journal (printed and fillable PDF)

This journal and daily planner follows a twelve month format however is not dated so it is perfect to use at ANY time of the year.

With love and gratitude plant friends.

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