The 3-Step Transition to a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet

The 3-Step Transition to a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet

On Dr. John McDougall’s web site, he has a page where you can access videos and written articles by his success stories whom he calls Star McDougallers.

I periodically receive emails with stories from Star McDougallers that I thoroughly enjoy.  The most recent one I received was written by a Star McDougaller named John. John’s simple, yet ingenious, break down of his transition to a whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet compelled me to write this article. John admits that his transition was difficult at the beginning.  He stresses the importance of learning “The Dos and Don’ts of the Food”, but he found out that this knowledge was not enough for him to make a successful transition.  It required two additional steps.  The three steps are listed below:

1. The Dos and Don’ts of the Food,
2. The Concept of Caloric Density, and
3. The Brain/Body/Mind connection captured and described by The Pleasure Trap

A few years back when we were teaching a series of classes, we began with the science supporting WFPB diets followed with an explanation about the difference between, whole, minimally processed, and highly processed plant foods.  The concept of calorie density was addressed during one of the classes.   I even remember completing one series of classes with my attempt at explaining the  “The Pleasure Trap”.  

I’m happy to say that on the Home page of this site, we link to Dr. Anthony Lim’s video called “An Introduction to a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet”.  On the “Classes” page of the web site, people can access the 3 “Recapture Your Health” videos, the last of which covers calorie density.   These four videos should cover the first two steps pretty thoroughly. For a more in-depth explanation of calorie density, I recommend registered dietitian Jeff Novick’s video “Calorie Density: How to Eat More, Weigh Less and Live Longer”.

Although I’ve never written about The Pleasure Trap specifically, the best source of information should come from the men who literally wrote the book about it – Dr. Doug Lisle and Alan Goldhamer D.C.

Here is a video of Dr. Lisle’s presentation on The Pleasure Trap.

Here is a video of Alan Goldhamer on The Pleasure Trap.

I plan on using this article as a reference for people who are in the Contemplation Stage of Change pertaining to changing to a WFPB diet.

Stay Healthy and Strong!