Today we’d like to introduce you to Cory Warren.
Cory, please share your story with us.
My wife was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis one month before we were to be married and at the time, we had no idea what it was or how it would affect her. After lots of reading, research, and watching a few important documentaries, we came to the conclusion that diet had a huge impact on her quality of life living with this disease and transitioned to a mostly whole food, plant-based diet. While she has struggled after having our kids due to hormones, stress, and everything else that comes with pregnancy, her life today and any medication she takes to help during flares is maintained and regulated through a healthy diet, consisting of whole food, plant-based fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Eating this way gives her body the best overall health while fighting a debilitating disease.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are many struggles when young children are in a plant-based family. Birthday parties and social gatherings can be especially difficult. I try to combat any tough situations with a combination of education and what I call “parental marketing.” Explaining to my kids why we eat the way we do helps them stay focused on our family and our personal health goals… not on what other kids do. For example: We choose not to eat sugar and sweet candies every single day because it will have a negative impact on our immune system, our blood sugar, and energy levels. We talk a lot about the sugar from fruits vs processed white sugar… and they get it. I acknowledge how hard it might be, but tell them how proud I am of them. On the “parental marketing” side of things, I find that saying things like “WOW look at those muscles buddy!” after they eat a certain vegetable or fruit, really lights them up. In the end, our kids want us to be proud of them, and that is what positive reinforcement phrases like these can do.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Cory Warren is a husband, vegan dad and podcast host who creates plant-based meal plans. His quick and easy vegan meals help make a plant-based diet for kids simple! Lean Green DAD, provides easy plant-based meals for anyone looking to fuel their plant-based family! The mission is simple: To help passionate people, mostly parents, who have over-scheduled, busy lives to maintain a healthy balance of plant-based nutrition, fitness, and overall wellness.
What were you like growing up?
I used to be an athlete who competed in races and triathlons frequently. Half marathons, 140.6-mile races, 70.3-mile races, warrior races…you name it, I did it! Today, I still compete every now and then, but I am really embracing my title of Dad. It’s not that I have stopped being fit or tried to make excuses why I can’t get to the gym… I just have a different motivation for working out. While there might have been several reasons in the past that I might have hit the gym (my own personal vanity, included), the reasons today all include my kids… and I love it.
I think that there is an evolution of working out as we develop into men. I started working out at 14 years old because I wanted to fit into a Celtic’s Dee Brown basketball jersey without my mom and sister laughing at me. I was doing bench presses and dumbbells and really focusing on my “pretty muscles” in my upper body. After I achieved some more muscle and was able to wear the jersey, I found that I actually liked working out and that it was fun for me. I could lift a ton of weight for a 5’6″ 130lb. guy (remember, I was 14). As I grew (slightly) taller and older, I found that my reasons for working out were shifting. I still wanted to feel attractive and fit, but I also wanted to be healthy in general. I wanted to be able to live life with ease. I didn’t want to have my back hurt when I picked up a heavy trash can. I wanted to give my girlfriend a piggy back ride and make it seem effortless. My reasons for working out were shifting away from myself and toward my future family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leangreendad.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leangreendad/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leangreenDAD/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/leangreendad
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