About what constitutes a truly health-promoting meal in a restaurant.

Happy Holidays from 4Leaf ! 

The “4Leaf level” means getting over 80% of one’s calories from whole plants–and less than 20% from fat of any kind–plant or animal.

How about a healthy dose of clarity when it comes to healthful dining outside the home this holiday season? (Scroll down for the special December pricing of our new book that begins today on Cyber Monday.)

During this time of frequently eating out with family and friends, we would like to make a case for the 4Leaf definition of a healthy meal–a definition that can be used by all healthy eating enthusiasts–regardless of which regimen one might be following. How so?

• First, it is the ONLY definition that features a 2-minute survey that can assess the healthfulness of how anyone in the world is eating. Free to the international public at 4leafsurvey.com 
• Second, it is the only definition that features an ultra-simple formula: over 80% of calories from whole plants AND less than 20% of the calories from fat.
• Third, it is the only one that features a little wiggle room. For example, we consider the 3Leaf level a superior diet as well–defined as over 60% of one’s calories from whole plants.

A 3Leaf meal means that there are from 60 to 79% of the calories from whole plants.

Why not just call it “vegan” or “vegetarian?” Because those words do not necessarily define a truly healthy meal. Let’s take the token vegetarian or vegan entree from the typical restaurant menu — “Pasta Primavera” comes to mind.

Along with the vegan sauce that is poured over it, the percent of calories from the whole plants in the meal is probably far less than 10%. That’s because the pasta is not a whole plant and there are usually VERY FEW veggies in the meal, and the ones that are in there (like broccoli or snow peas) have very few calories per bite.

Easiest way to order a legitimate health promoting 4Leaf meal. Find out what whole plants they have in the kitchen. Tell them to FILL the plate with whole plants and (if possible) to use no oil in the preparation. Be sure to include some calorie-rich starch foods like brown rice, potatoes and beans–they help fill you up AND have a very low fat content.

Ask for any sauce to be served on the side along with a little whole grain bread. Oh, and tell them that they have served you a truly, health-promoting 4Leaf meal, with over 80% of the calories coming from whole plants.

Looks like a 4Leaf meal to me: lots of chickpeas, broccoli, brown rice, broccoli rabe, etc.

Which dietary guru or regimen are you following? Campbell, Esselstyn, McDougall, Barnard, The China Study, Forks Over Knives, Fuhrman, Ornish or someone else. All of them CAN be superior and can score very high on the 4Leaf scale.

But, many of them can include a few meals that don’t score very high on our scale–things like meals that feature tofu, faux cheese, pasta or seitan–vegan foods that are not only high in fat, but are also not WHOLE plants.

A word of caution about vegan restaurants. Of course I love them and know that I can always get lots of 4Leaf options there. But I also know that MOST of the items as listed on their menus will NOT score at the 4Leaf level–too much oil, tofu, nuts, white rice, pasta, etc. 

Finally, the 4Leaf Program now features a new book (co-written by a medical doctor) that provides tips, guidelines, meal planning ideas, success stories, recipes and a PLETHORA of reasons why you should strive to eat as high on the 4Leaf scale as possible. Take advantage of our special holiday pricing to stock up on copies for your friends and family this holiday season. What better gift than a simple guide for reversing heart disease, diabetes and even cancer?

Published August 2015

Special Holiday Price for our new book

List price $13.88. Now selling for just $8 in our eStore with this discount code: E3J5WZUB. To preview the book, Click image at right.

For many lifesaving ideas for your loved ones and your planet, visit 4leafprogram.com

The following six books can be purchased on Amazon for a grand total of less than $60—and will enable you to understand the overwhelming challenges we face—along with the single most-powerful solution of all.

Six-Pack from Hicks—for health, hope & harmony on planet Earth

1. 4Leaf Guide to Vibrant Health, powerful new book by Kerry Graff, MD and yours truly
2. Healthy Eating, Healthy World, The “big picture” about food (my first book)
3. An essential scientific resource: The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell; the primary book that influenced Bill Clinton to adopt a whole food, plant-based diet.
4. Primary cause of cancer is not bad luck. Stop Feeding Your Cancer, by John Kelly, MD
5. A horrifying wake-up call for leaders. TEN BILLION by Dr. Stephen Emmott
6. Food choices are the primary cause of our environmental problems, yet our world leaders, scientists & experts are Comfortably Unaware, by Richard Oppenlander.

Why should we be eating mostly plants? The “big picture” in 4 minutes.

Want to find out how healthy you are eating? Take our free 4Leaf Survey. It takes about two minutes. eCornell is now using our survey in their plant-based nutrition course.

International. We’re now reaching people in over 100 countries. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or get daily blog notices by “following” us in the top of the right-hand column. For occasional updates, join our periodic mailing list.

J. Morris Hicks, working daily to promote health, hope and harmony on planet Earth.

To order more of my favorite books—visit our online BookStore now For help in your own quest to take charge of your health, visit our 4Leaf Program website, which is now being used by an ever-growing army of enlightened medical doctors who are fed up with “disease care” and want to promote true health for their patients.

Got a question? Let me hear from you at jmh@4leafglobal.com

—J. Morris Hicks, board member since 2012; click banner for more info: