#74: Being Plant-Based When Everything is Working Against You
What do you do when you want to eat plant-based but you're living on a tight budget and need more support? Anna Rios is a registered dietician at the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), and helps people living on a tight budget make accessible healthy diet changes that help reverse hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and more! She’s on the show today to discuss the challenges associated with accessing a healthy plant-based lifestyle, and how to make affordable changes.
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Hi friends!
Has eating healthy ever felt like it was too expensive and inaccessible? Have you wanted to consult a registered dietician, only to find out that your insurance doesn’t cover it?
This is the frustrating reality for many people, but there are still options to make nutrition services available.
Anna Rios is a registered dietician who specializes in helping those who are struggling, and she is on the podcast today to explain how to receive affordable healthcare.
We talk about some of the most common health issues she encounters in her practice, like hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, and how small and attainable diet changes can make a huge difference.
Anna shares how she helps her patients at the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) achieve better health in an economical, sustainable way that isn’t too restrictive or unrealistic.
Enjoy!
♡ Toni & Michelle
SHOW NOTES
- How Anna provides professional nutrition counseling to farm workers, factory workers, and more who have health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and more
- Busting the myth “it’s too expensive to eat vegan”
- The importance of empowering people with the knowledge, resources, and access to eat healthier and reclaim their lives
- How Anna’s goals shifted from wanting to be a doctor to becoming a registered dietician
- Navigating becoming plant-based in a family that is set in their ways & dietary habits
- How plant-based living helped lower blood pressure, help energy levels, and helps improve mood disorders
- What is the FQHC and how does it help the low income population?
- How Anna makes dietary changes seem attainable and less scary using SMART goals
- How to find and access FQHC clinics with or without insurance in almost every US county
- How to talk to patients who are uneasy about seeking healthcare
- Why restrictive and unrealistic diets don’t work long term
- How Anna’s patient regulated his cholesterol levels and reversed type 2 diabetes
- The connection between nutrition and mental health
- The importance of Intuitive & mindful eating
- The connection between food & culture, family, wellbeing, & happiness
- How to participate in cultural dishes in a healthier way
- Thank you to our sponsor’s Maxine’s Heavenly (use discount code PLANTS25) and Karviva Beverages
RESOURCES
- Anna’s Instagram
- Anna’s Tik Tok
- Anna’s Pinterest
- Anna’s Website: healthysimpleyum.com
- Free plant-based meal plans on plantbasedonabudget.com
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
We are so grateful to have the support of some of our favorite vegan-friendly brands this season. Many thanks to the sponsors of this episode, Maxine's Heavenly and Natreve.
Maxine's Heavenly homemade-style cookies are a fantastic healthier way to enjoy store-bought cookies! They are sweetened with unrefined coconut sugar and dates. They have soft-baked cookies that you can find in many natural food stores plus they recently launched crispy cookies available on their site. You can get 25% off at mazinesheavenly.com with our special code PLANTS25 at checkout!
Karviva, formally Karuna, is an award-winning innovator in making organic, great tasting juices and smoothies with natural ingredients offering health benefits backed by science. Formulated from the belief that food is medicine, Karviva’s beverages offer benefits ranging from restoration of digestive and immune health to delivering clean protein and providing sustained energy. Check them out at Karviva.com!
LET'S BE FRIENDS!
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