I never imagined that eating a whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet could change my whole life. It was the first time I truly felt healthy, and WFPB became more than just a way of eating. It’s a lifestyle I never expected to love—but now, I can’t imagine living any other way.
Why I Chose a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet
For most of my life, I believed that eating in moderation and exercising regularly were enough to stay healthy. I tried to make balanced choices and stayed active, thinking I was doing everything right. But around the time I turned 50, things started to shift.
I began to feel sluggish and tired all the time. My energy levels dropped, and I dealt with minor health issues that I couldn’t ignore anymore. Even though I had no major medical conditions, my cholesterol was high, and I was borderline prediabetic—but honestly, I didn’t take it seriously at first.
It wasn’t until I learned more about a whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet that I understood how this way of eating could change my life. I realized that even with moderation, I was still eating too many processed foods and not enough nutrient-rich, whole plant foods. That’s when I decided to try a new approach—one focused on real, natural ingredients.
That decision became a turning point in my journey toward feeling healthy and energized again. Choosing a WFPB lifestyle helped me take back control of my health in the most natural way possible.
What Is a Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB) Diet?
When I first heard about a whole food plant-based diet, I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. I had already heard of vegan and vegetarian diets, but this felt a little different. And it is.
A healthy WFPB diet focuses on eating foods in their whole, natural, and unprocessed form. This includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The goal is to eat food as close to the way it grows—without added oils, refined sugars, or heavily processed ingredients.
Unlike a vegan diet, which avoids animal products, a whole food plant-based diet also avoids processed plant-based foods like fake meats, chips, or packaged desserts made with additives.
It’s a simple, natural way of eating built around whole, nutrient-rich, plant-based foods that support long-term health.
The Changes I Noticed
Once I switched to a whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet, the changes in my life started to add up quickly. I felt lighter, less bloated, and my digestion improved. My skin looked clearer, and my sleep became more restful.
But the biggest surprise? My cholesterol dropped by 40 points in less than a month, and I was no longer prediabetic. That alone showed me how powerful food can be.
I also noticed unexpected improvements—my vision got sharper, my mind felt clear and focused, and I had a steady energy that lasted all day. I didn’t need coffee or sugar to get through the afternoon anymore. For the first time in years, I felt like my body was working the way it was meant to.
Eating a WFPB diet didn’t just make me feel healthy—it helped me become the healthiest version of myself.
What I Eat in a Typical Day
One of the questions I get most often is, “What do you eat on a whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet?” The simple answer is: real food that’s filling, flavorful, and keeps me feeling healthy.
Here’s what a typical day of WFPB eating looks like for me:
Breakfast: A bowl of rolled oats with sliced apples and bananas—or sometimes a veggie and fruit smoothie, depending on my mood.
Lunch: My favorite Korean dish—soft tofu soup with mixed grain rice and a side of veggies or radish kimchi. I often rotate in other home-cooked WFPB meals as well.
Snack: A handful of home-roasted cashews or a piece of fresh fruit.
Dinner: This varies, but it’s usually either a Korean whole food plant-based dish with tofu or my comforting go-to—lentil soup.
Dessert (if I want one): A banana smoothie or, when I’m craving something sweet, a healthy Snickers bar (link coming soon!). I like to mix it up depending on the day.
I don’t follow a strict meal plan. Instead, I try to listen to my body and keep it simple with WFPB—a change that truly improved my life.
Challenges I Faced
Changing my life through a whole food plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle wasn’t easy at first. I had to unlearn old habits and rethink the way I shopped, cooked, and ate. One of the biggest challenges was letting go of processed foods I used to rely on—even the ones I thought were “healthy.”
Cravings were tough in the beginning, especially when I was out with friends or traveling. It felt easier to grab whatever was available, even if it didn’t fit with my plant-based diet. Eating out was another obstacle. Most restaurants don’t offer many WFPB options, so I had to learn how to ask for modifications.
Cooking at home helped the most. I started experimenting with new ingredients and flavors, especially Korean recipes I already loved. Over time, I found a routine that worked and stopped craving the foods that once left me feeling sluggish.
Why It Was Worth It
Looking back, I never expected that changing my diet to WFPB would have such a deep impact on my life. What started as a small shift turned into something so much bigger—it gave me clarity, strength, and a new sense of balance in my daily routine.
It wasn’t always smooth, but the rewards have been worth every effort. I feel more in tune with myself, both physically and mentally. And that’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything.
If you’re thinking about trying something new with your eating habits, just start small. One meal, one day at a time. You don’t have to do it perfectly to feel the difference.
