“I enjoy my food now more than I ever have before!”

By: Jason Jenkins

As an 11lb 7oz baby, I enjoyed robust health and had a Bruce Lee physique until I was 10 years old. The demise of “Bruce Lee” was precipitated by a family curse, of sorts––an invitation to stay at my cousin’s house. It was two weeks of pure, unadulterated gluttony. I had access to all the “good” stuff I never got at home. There was a bottomless cooler stocked with soda, a bounty of Twinkies, Ho Ho’s, Ding Dongs, and even little cheese-stuffed wieners. I was in hog heaven. By the time I got home I was wearing an extra ten pounds of blubber. That extra weight stuck with me for the rest of my school years.

I served a mission in Colorado in ‘92 & ‘93 and was well fed by the loving members there. One fast Sunday, my companion and I had dinner with a family that egged us on, encouraging us to eat seconds, thirds, fourths–––then dessert! Gluttony once again reared its frightful mien, and I ate far too much. When it was time to go, I realized that, quite literally, I could not sit down on my bicycle. I was so stuffed, I could not bend over. I had to ride back to our apartment standing up. I was so uncomfortable that the rest of the day was a complete loss.

In 1999, at the age of 64, my dad suffered a heart attack and had a 5-way heart bypass. The doctor told him he would have another ten years. Watching him go through that sternum-splitting surgery––and painful recovery––I knew I wanted to avoid the same fate, if at all possible. I thought that if I could just exercise enough, I could stay in good shape, inside and out. My dad lived another 20 years, before suffering a major plaque eruption that he did not survive.

When I got married in 2001, I was still searching for the secret to becoming “addicted” to exercise so I could avoid gaining the “newlywed 30”––A fate that had befallen many fit and trim friends. As the years went by and our family grew, my time and energy seemed to shrink, while my waistline expanded, and it became harder and harder to maintain good health.

In 2011, my wife’s aunt suffered a heart attack. I felt at that time that I needed to go vegetarian. It was something that I had been thinking about and it just seemed to be the right time. My hope was to be a good example for her and to follow my own impressions of a healthier path. I ate a vegetarian diet for several years, but gradually lost motivation and started eating meat again.

In 2016 I found myself really struggling. With everything. I was serving as a bishop, working a full-time job, plus a side job, with a wife and five kids, ages 1-10. I even tried to go back to school during this time, but my energy, focus, and productivity hit rock bottom. Brain fog, fatigue, anxiety and overwhelm were daily companions. I was overweight, depressed, and worried about being able to keep my job.

Feeling desperate, I began praying for answers to my health crisis. I also went to my doctor and got an Adderall prescription. As helpful as it was, I had no intention of relying on it long-term. A short time later, my friend Amber invited me to join a Facebook group called, “Discovering the Word of Wisdom.” My first question in the group was, “What does WFPB mean?” I soon learned that the group was based around Jane Birch’s book, which explores the Word of Wisdom from a Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB) perspective. I began reading on Jane’s website, and in her book, when it arrived. The accounts I read brought me to tears and filled me with hope! It became clear to me that this was the answer to my prayers.

There was only one thing to do: Start! Tuesday, June 28th, 2016 was my first day of eating a Whole Foods Plant Based diet. I ate a lot of muesli and almond milk that week, while I figured things out. An unanticipated side effect was losing 30 lbs of fat in the first four months. Talk about lightening the load and easing the burden! I was amazed to learn that maintaining an ideal weight doesn’t require hours of daily exercise after all.

After six months, I stopped taking the Adderall. The transition was a bit rough, but I knew my mind and body were now in a better position to handle an unmedicated reality. Gradually, over time, things got better.

I have relied heavily on beans and rice, which I love. Potatoes are another easy favorite. Raw oats with fruit and almond milk is my go-to for breakfast. Lots of greens, veggies, and fruits are on the menu too. I can honestly say that I enjoy my food now more than I ever have before–in my entire life! For the first time, my relationship with food is mutually beneficial. I feel a deep connection to the good and whole things of the earth––the tremendous bounty that the plant kingdom provides. Knowing that I’m giving my body the best fuel to work with is very satisfying and empowering.

I feel a tremendous amount of peace about my food, which was not something I expected. I now see animal-based foods as emergency foods. It feels good to know that I’m not unnecessarily causing harm to animals, and they are not causing harm to me, due to overconsumption.

Have all my health problems been 100% solved? No. However, I feel––quite literally––that the destroying angel has passed by me (Doctrine & Covenants 89:21) as I have done my best to live after “…the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days” (Doctrine & Covenants 89:2). I have seen the following benefits:

• No more stomach aches and gastrointestinal distress
• Major reduction in crippling anxiety
• Reduction in depression
• Attained and maintained ideal body weight
• Heart disease risks greatly reduced (blood work is stellar)
• More energy
• Better focus
• Greater peace and joy

Little did I realize how much I would need these blessings in my life. We have experienced some major challenges in the last three years, including a late miscarriage, my father’s passing, starting a new business, moving our family of seven from our 15-year home, a child’s suicide attempt, my wife’s cancer diagnosis, and much more. Had I not been in a better place, physically and mentally, we never would have made it through this, the most stressful period of my life.

I’m so grateful for a loving God that is willing to give us, line upon line, “…wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” (Doctrine & Covenants 89:19) as we seek them. As for me––my search for these treasures isn’t over––it’s just beginning!

Born of goodly parents in the year 1792… (wait, make that 1972), Jason is the lucky husband of one wife, Marli, and the father of five children, ages eighteen to eight. A Pacific Northwest native, he enjoys walking in the woods, hanging out in the treehouse, and riding his OneWheel. Favorite family activities include combing the rocky beaches of Tscha-kole-chy, where they make their home, and movie night with popcorn (no butter). Beyond that, he really likes eating, sleeping, and waking up alive and breathing every morning!