When I was a child, I watched Richard Simmons knock on the doors of people who could no longer leave their homes because of their weight. He didn’t judge or shame them—he hugged them, listened to them, and helped them believe that change was possible. Watching his compassion, I felt inspired and unsettled. Inspired by his kindness, and frightened by the suffering caused by something as basic as food. That experience shaped me for life.

I decided early on to care for my health, sustain the planet, and be kind to animals through what I eat. Today, I eat unprocessed, plant-based foods—beans, vegetables, grains, fruits, seeds, and nuts. I’m in excellent physical condition, I take no medication, and I rarely get sick. But what matters most isn’t the number on a blood test—it’s the peace that comes from knowing my choices align with my values. Food has become my medicine, moral compass, and daily act of gratitude.

When I eat, I try to be mindful. I eat only when I’m truly hungry, and I stop before I’m full. The World Food Programme reports that one in seven people on Earth doesn’t have enough to eat. Those numbers remind me not to waste food or take it for granted. I practice intermittent fasting—usually one or two meals a day, no snacks. It’s not deprivation; it’s freedom from habit. Harvard biologist David Sinclair has spoken often about the health benefits of fasting, but for me, the psychological benefits are equally as powerful. Eating less teaches you to appreciate more.

I think about what happens after food enters my mouth—how my body will use it, how it will affect my energy and focus. I eat to nourish my body and my brain, to stay capable of contributing something meaningful to the world. I never eat processed food because it doesn’t serve that purpose. Refined sugars, cholesterol, and saturated fats destroy health quietly over time. Processed foods are engineered for overconsumption—stuffed with cheap fats, chemicals, and addictive flavor enhancers. You might find it helpful to read ingredient lists at ewg.org/foodscores to keep your eating as clean as possible.

The brief pleasure of junk food isn’t worth the long-term cost. Most diseases that destroy lives are preventable with thoughtful eating and exercise. I’ve seen loved ones suffer in hospitals, and I never want to make my body—or the people who care about me—pay that price for indulgence. Health is a form of kindness.

We live in a culture that teaches us to consume endlessly—new phones, cars, clothes, and trends. I’ve learned to do the opposite. I use what I have until it no longer works, I live below my means, and I tune out the marketing that equates pleasure with excess. The same applies to food. When I enter a grocery store, I skip the aisles filled with processed products. They don’t exist in my mental landscape.

Instead, I think in terms of what my body needs—blueberries, avocado, kale, garlic, ginger, turmeric. There’s only so much room in a stomach; every bite that goes to “junk” food is one less chance to give my body what it needs to thrive. That mindset makes healthy eating effortless.

Every bite I take is a choice. I choose compassion, sustainability, and health. I’m aware of how my eating affects my body, animals, and the planet. It’s not restrictive—it’s liberating. I’m not controlled by cravings or culture. I control what I eat, and that control feels powerful, peaceful, and deeply satisfying.

I love food. I cook every meal. I look forward to each recipe because I know exactly what it’s doing for my body. I rarely tire of my dishes, though I make myself rotate recipes for variety. I never crave steak, eggs, or ice cream; the food I eat tastes better and makes me feel better. I don’t miss anything. Every meal brings me joy.

If I can’t identify an ingredient, I don’t eat it. Cookies, sodas, or prepackaged snacks hold no appeal—they offer nothing my body needs. I drink only water, homemade plant-based milk, or fresh juice from celery, cucumber, kale, or lemon. Water has been my drink of choice for decades. It’s all the body truly requires.

I also exercise daily. I don’t think of it as optional—it’s maintenance, like brushing my teeth. Movement keeps us alive. Without it, muscles atrophy, energy drops, and disease gains ground. Our bodies need movement to thrive, and honoring that keeps me strong.

At first, this lifestyle may sound challenging—even impossible. But habits are programmable, and culture is not our destiny. Once you commit, it becomes automatic—and you’ll wonder how you ever lived differently.

Start small. Skip the salt on your next meal. Replace dressing with lemon and tahini. Swap cookies for kale chips, soda for water. Each small decision builds strength. You’ll feel better, think clearer, and find joy in knowing you’re doing good for yourself and the world.

When you eat well, you don’t just heal your body—you help heal the planet. You align your actions with compassion. And you continue the work of people like Richard Simmons, who showed us that caring for health begins with caring for others.

So eat with purpose. Live with intention. And let every bite be an act of kindness.