A plant-based, whole food, low-fat way of eating

"It's the food" -- John McDougall, M.D.

As has been said, one needs someone or something to love, something to do, and something to look forward to.  With regard to "something to do", in the last few weeks, as I accomplished one of my goals - to live long enough to receive Medicare - I've been thinking about what my "project" should be.  And now I think I've got it: To spread the gospel of plant-based eating (better for you, better for the animals, better for the planet) to a number of my actual or potential associates.  To do this, I will keep doing the "anarchy in action"/"social marketing" things which I've already begun (for example, I've given my pastor a copy of Dr. Neal Barnard's Program to Reverse Diabetes Now, and my older brother a copy of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, M.D.)

I also intend to get involved in the "health ministry" of the parish I attend, although the details are still to be worked out.  Meanwhile, I am accumulating books and downloads, and reading in these, about "social marketing."  In the first flush of enthusiasm, I thought I might even pursue credentialing as a Certified Health Education Specialist.  I may (or possibly may not) already have enough applicable academic credits to sit for the exam.  As I think about it now, I wonder if the effort and money to get the CHES would be worthwhile.  If I intended to pursue a paid position, it would be a definite plus.  On the other hand, if I am going to be working as a volunteer advocate/activist/educator, there are better uses of my time.

Among these pursuits would be familiarizing myself more with the already existent programs of the major players currently active in this area:  in addition to McDougall, Barnard, and Esselstyn, these include Colin Campbell, Hans Diehl, Dean Ornish, John Robbins, and Joel Fuhrman.   How does one mobilize volunteers to get the most "bang for the buck" in something like this?  Is Kaiser Permanente (about to be my Medicare Advantage provider) doing something I can hook up with, piggyback on, participate in, or copy?  So many questions.