Now that you've heard about the power of whole food, plant-based nutrition, how can you get started? Some people are ready to jump into new adventures on their own, but others need a helping hand.
First, join our intro-level interactive webinar called Get Started with Whole Food, Plant-Based Nutrition which is typically held the first week of each month. Check out our events calendar for the next session.
Then, try out our Plant Powered Lifestyle Mentorship program, a volunteer-run matching service for New York metro-area residents (people who are based in NYC, Long Island, and surrounding counties in NY, NJ, and CT) to help you start and sustain diet and lifestyle change. We connect knowledgeable volunteers who serve as informal mentors and guides with those who are new to, or struggling with, whole food, plant-based nutrition — or just getting more wholesome plants on your plate. Some of the things mentees may learn from their mentors include:
How to make easy whole food, plant-based meals.
How to read nutrition labels on packaged foods to choose healthier options.
Tips and tricks for eating out while maintaining WFPB nutrition.
Navigating and fostering conversations around a health-promoting way of eating with friends and family.
We also encourage mentorship pairs to attend PPMNY events together to get more familiar with our community and to continue learning.
Heads up! This is not a health coaching program. Health coaches usually complete more advanced training and certification to give you structured support. Mentors are volunteers from our community who have completed basic training with PPMNY. They focus on supporting you more informally with the personal aspects of lifestyle that allow you to get more comfortable, experiment, and learn new skills to achieve your goals.
GET MATCHED WITH A MENTOR
Here's how it works:
Fill out the mentee intake form to let us know more about you. There are questions related to your existing eating habits, age, race, location, preferred language(s), and living situation so we can get a sense of where you’re coming from and who might be a good fit to be your mentor. The more you are willing to share, the easier it will be for us to match you.
Our mentorship coordinator will contact you when we have a mentor for you. Our goal is to match you within two weeks. At that time, we’ll invite you to make a donation to PPMNY within your means (encouraged but not required), as this is a donation-based program.
Mentorship lasts for 30 days but can be extended for another 1-2 months after, if you and your mentor are in mutual agreement. At your first meeting, you’ll talk to your mentor about your goals and come up with some achievable steps to reach them during the time you work together.
If you’re on medication or otherwise under medical care for a diagnosed condition, please note that it is your responsibility to work with your physician on medical matters.
At the end of mentorship, you’ll complete a simple exit survey to let us know how it went.
Separately, anyone who enrolls in our Plant Powered Jumpstarts, offered a few times each year, will also receive mentorship, either one-on-one or in a small group.
PPMNY mentors are people who already know how to structure their lives and their kitchens around whole plant foods. If you have successfully made the transition to a health-promoting lifestyle and want to support others in making change, then this volunteer role is for you! While you may not personally choose to follow a whole food, plant-based diet to the letter at all times, our mentors must have sufficient personal experience before assisting someone else. To be eligible to become a mentor, you’ll need:
At least one year of experience with a WFPB lifestyle.
Experience eating mostly unprocessed plant foods, as we teach about oil-free nutrition and minimizing added salt and sweeteners. It is not enough to identify as vegan.
To complete a mentor training program that we run a few times each year.
Please determine for yourself if you feel that you can fully represent this way of eating as a mentor.
Here’s how to take the next step:
Fill out the mentor intake formto let us know more about you. There are questions related to your dietary transition process, experience treating or reversing chronic diseases, age, race, location, preferred language(s), and living situation so we can get a sense of where you’re coming from and who might be a good fit to be your mentee. The more you are willing to share, the easier it will be for us to match you.
We’ll alert you when our next training program is scheduled, at no cost to you.
Once you’ve completed the training, our mentorship coordinator will reach out periodically to offer you a match. You’ll respond as soon as you can to let them know if you’re available for at least a month of mentoring, and potentially up to 3 months.
You’ll be responsible for setting up your first meeting and walking your mentee through the process of creating goals and shared expectations.
At the end of mentorship, you’ll complete a simple report to share with our coordinating team.
