Let’s admit it:

Whole foods usually have a bland and boring reputation. But not anymore! They can be as spicy, sexy, and heart pumping as you want them to be.

Those greens, reds, oranges, and deep purples you see in your favorite veggies can fire up your life if you make them the centerpiece of your meals.

That’s why I want to introduce you to the man who gave me my first glimpse into the transformative power of a whole foods lifestyle.  His name was  Bob Hale.  He was 63 at the time of this photo.  I was 26.

I had just moved to Roanoke, Va., a fledgling news reporter, surviving on green peas, spaghetti, and tuna.

Shocked, huh?  There’s no need to do a double-take. Bob was one of the loves of my life, but more than that, he shook up my idea of what a healthy older body could look like.

His legs were toned and chiseled, from sometimes walking and biking 10 miles or more; salt and pepper hair covered every inch of his head.

In my young and very naive mind, I didn’t think anyone over the age of 50 could look like that. However, with time, I made an explosive discovery:

Unconditional love, passion, and well-being can be ageless.

Consequently, I learned that what we put in our bodies can impact what we attract in our relationships.

For a twenty-something woman in the early 90s, this was a radical idea.

When I first met Bob, I had no idea what to think.  He was a jazz musician who felt that a good time involved riding his bike down to the local health co-op.

A couple of times a week, he would pick up greens, carrots, squash, peppers, herbs, and tomatoes, or whatever he else he thought would fit in a little steamer basket that he kept near a two-burner hotplate. That and a toaster oven were all he cooked on.

Waste was never his thing. More than once, I heard him repeat Gandhi’s famous quote:

“Live simply so that others can simply live.”

Seeing this in action and doing it were two different things, which is why when Bob introduced me to cabbage’s unassuming green leaf cousin: kale, I was dumbstruck.

Kale looked different than the collards, turnips, and mustard greens that I ate robotically while growing up. Where were the meat bones to cook it in, or the salt and butter to slather it with?

And besides, who ate kale? No one I knew. Sounds crazy, right? However, back then, kale wasn’t the veggie rock start that it is today.

After he plunked the veggies into the basket, a soft mist shot into the air– the kale turned beautiful emerald green, and I quickly became a convert.

Before I met Bob, I was skin and bones, but after plates of fresh, bright, lightly seasoned vegetables, I started gaining weight. My mind grew calmer and less frazzled from a new job I had started.

As I started filling out, Bob looked approvingly and bragged, “You know I’m responsible for all that.”

I laughed and thought, “Brotha man is really feelin’ himself.”  Secretly though I knew he was right.

I quickly realized whole foods could be just as delicious and seductive as their sugary and animal rich counterparts, but here’s the key:

You gotta approach your food with pleasure, purpose, and a sense of playfulness, and whatever comes out of your kitchen will taste better than you can imagine.

In honor of Bob and those wild, wonderful years, I’ve rounded up a few tips to help you tap into your own plant-based sensuality.

Tip #1- Make mealtime the High Life of your Day! 

Notice I said high life, not high light.  You can decide whether you want your atmosphere to be sensual, sacred, peaceful, or full of fellowship.

For Bob and me, it was often all the above. Every evening before we ate at his old wooden table, he would light a half-melted candle and pop a CD in his mini-CD boombox. The sounds of jazz greats like Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane filled the air.

The flickering light energized the table; the music helped us relax and digest our food better.

It’s a tradition that I continue today.  However, instead of jazz, I love listening to my 90s neo-soul, especially Lauren Hill.

Pick your own mealtime melodies: whether R&B, old-school hip-hop, pop, or classic rock, make sure your beat is calming.  Research shows that slower tempos lead to healthier food choices.

Tip #2 -Shut the world off

We never turned on the TV while we were eating. Once I began giving my meals the attention they deserved, I found that flavors became richer, soulful, and radiant.

You can do the same thing. For just a few minutes, don’t text, don’t eat while watching Netflix or YouTube, Chew slowly, love your food, and give thanks for what you’re eating.

Tip #3 – Move before You munch

Before anything green touched our plates, Bob got the plates out, opened his eyes wide, and displayed a huge set of teeth and a wide smile.

The next thing I knew, he would start doing a little shimmy with his body and hips. He followed the same routine every day–smile, shimmy, and eat.

Science confirms that a happy, upbeat mind lowers stress and can help regulate the digestive system.

That’s why I often take a dance break to some of my favorite YouTube videos in the late afternoon before dinner.

It stimulates my metabolism, lightens my mood, and motivates me to cook.

If you want your meal times to crackle with a little heat, grab your significant boo for a little hip-shaking before dinner time. I guarantee your food will practically fly off the table.

These are just a couple of my beloved Bob’s life lessons. Although we kept in touch over the years, I didn’t know he had passed until I started writing this piece.

While I was researching his life, I discovered a three-week-old obituary. I was stunned numb. He lived to be 92 years old. He once told me that he believed his sacred commitment to life-affirming food and exercise is why he aged so well.

Everything I learned about whole foods–their seductive and soft churning ability to alter your life—began with Bob.

His way of living fed me, heart, and soul.

Remember shimmy, shake and smile at your vegetables.

You’ll be surprised at how much your new ways of eating will transform how you love others, but most importantly, how you love yourself.

Is there a loved one or friend who showed you how to eat healthier by example?    Give them some praise in the comments below and share how you changed your diet.