We started off the year with health in mind and spoke with Josh Stokes and Storm Craig, owners of Grown Together, a vegan meal prep company in Downtown El Paso. They shared their combined knowledge on some ways to get healthier in 2021. Most people see a new year as a new start according to Proactive Mindfulness, 40 to 45 percent of American adults make one or more resolutions each year. The top New Year’s resolutions include weight loss, exercise and quitting smoking. By the second week of January, 25 percent of people have abandoned their resolutions and by the end of the year only 8% will have stuck by their guns (source Credit Donkey). It’s obvious that we have great ambitions to become healthier but sticking to these resolutions can be tough. This is why it was great to speak with Storm and Josh, both are so enthusiastic not only about diet and exercise but also about mind-set.
Storm explains that it starts with elimination, “Eliminate everything that got you unhealthy in the first place… are you willing to give up the thing that made you sick?” Next he explains that you need an open mind-set, a learning mind-set and gather information. Lastly, structure a schedule before jumping in. Like anything else, being prepared will help set you up for success. I believe the theme here is to succeed, don’t rush out and purchase a bunch of salads and weights and try and start a diet come January 1st. Take the time to truly understand why and how you want to achieve your goal and make a plan.
The owners of Grown Together feel the best option to be healthy is a vegan based diet, Storm explains that the most direct interaction we have with the outside world is food. A plant based diet helps with brain fog and digestive issues. Diet and exercise are a huge factor in starting your year correctly. Get out and exercise even if it is a 10 to 15 minute walk.
Josh explains how the body is set-up for a more plant based diet listing differences between animals and humans. The jaw line of carnivorous animals is designed to eat meat. Animals also have shorter intestines whereas, humans have longer intestines to help digest food slower so that the nutrients are better absorbed by the body. Lastly, our vision differs from animals in that we have ability to see color, whereas animals do not. This helped humans gather plant based food in earlier times, where an animal did not need to see color to find a food source.
Grown Together’s meal prep can be a great asset to starting the year off healthier. Each week Grown Together comes out with five new menu items and orders can be placed Friday through Sunday with pick-up or delivery (they will deliver around the city within loop 375) on Mondays. Pricing per meal is between $7 to $8. Some of their more popular items have been the Gyro Bowl made with in-house Seitan , Philly Cheesesteak and other items include Pineapple Fried Rice and Cacao Pancakes with Raspberry Syrup for breakfast. Sounds delicious to us!! Josh expressed that they want to provide menu items that are familiar and comforting. Changing out the menu every week keeps customers from getting bored of eating the same thing every day, and new recommendations and suggestions from customers are always welcomed. You can order online here: https://www.growntogether.net/
Josh’s Suggestions on getting informed: “Game Changers”, a 24 hour documentary on an athlete with a plant based diet, catch it on Amazon Prime
Storms’s Suggestions on getting informed: “What the Health” on Netflix and “How Not to Die” by Michael Greger, MD & Gene Stone
Other healthy Downtown Eateries to check out:
