“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
Michael Pollan’s seven-word motto has become one of my mantras.
I get the “eat food” part. My preference is to create meals at home from fresh, whole ingredients.
I understand the “not too much” part, even though I occasionally overindulge.
But what does Pollan mean by “mostly plants?”
When I heard about the 30 in 7 challenge (30 different plants in 7 days), I thought it might be a stretch. After all, 30 is a significant number!
However, when I got started, I found it was relatively easy to achieve without making significant changes to my approach to creating meals.
I nailed it in four days.
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garbonzos
- Pine nuts
- Snap peas
- Jicama
- Cucumber
- Sesame seeds
- Pistachios
- Pecans
- Apple
- Turmeric
- Flax seed
- Blueberries
- Peanuts
- Cabbage
- Dates
- Cherries
- Chia seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Button mushrooms
- Onion
- Raspberries
- Green tea
- Lettuce
- Dark chocolate
- Black raspberries
- Avocado
Feeling proud of myself, I stopped counting and took a moment to savor my accomplishment.
Then I got to thinking, “How many plants DO I consume in seven days?”
Now, because batch cooking with leftovers is a favorite time-saving meal prep method, I knew there would be repetition. I was curious to know just how much.
So I decided to see the challenge through to the end.
To my amazement, I recorded an additional 13, bringing the total to 43 different plants.
- Rice
- Lemon
- Sprouts
- Coconut
- Tomato
- Brussels sprouts
- Nutritional yeast
- Basil
- Thyme
- Cinnamon
- Oats
- Leek
- Cilantro
Why go for so many different plants?
Think of your plant intake like building a strong team – no single plant can do it all. The more variety, the better your team coverage across nutrition, gut health, immunity, disease protection, and mental wellness.
I encourage you to take up the 30 in 7 challenge and tap into the dopamine hit of “smart eating” without it being restrictive. You’ll be adding foods, not eliminating them.
Grab a friend or family member to join the challenge. Compare plant counts and share your intake wins. Creating colorful dishes is part of the fun as well.
Are you in?
Happy “planting!”
