GREEN LIVING

Mesa ni Misis’ JUANA YUPANGCO has been on a plant-based diet for about half a decade and she hasn’t looked back since

- KATHERINE ALAMARES

Juana Yupangco and her husband Rick decided to go on a plant-based diet four years ago. “The family did it to support him as he had high cholesterol. Going on a plant-based diet is the best way to keep it in check,” she shares.

Living with a mind for health and wellness, a trait that Yupangco got from her parents, is what pushed her to launch Mesa ni Misis in 2017. The organization, according to its website, promotes the benefits of local vegetables by creating delicious, affordable recipes for the family.

“We believe that food can heal, and good health is affordable, making use of vegetables that are available in local markets,” Yupangco says.

However, there are many misconceptions that surround the concept of plant-based eating, which Yupangco is happy to clarify.

PLANT-BASED VS VEGETARIAN

First, an important distinction. Plant-based eating is different from vegetarianism and veganism, which mostly exclude animal products in their diet and lifestyle. Some types of vegetarianism still consume eggs and dairy.

Plant-based eating, on the other hand, is about focus and not exclusion. It is about how one’s meal is dominate by minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs, and spices

Being consistent with such diet is essential to see and feel improvements in the body. For Yupangco, a slow transition makes it easier to uphold the lifestyle.