#322: Embracing Imperfection in Your Plant-Based Journey with Laura Driggers
“So many people have really bad relationships with food. My oldest still to this day has a very black and white view of food. He's like, “Is this good for me? Is this bad for me? Is this bad for you?” And so I was like, you know, I don't want my kids to put value on food like that.” –Laura Driggers
In this episode of I AM HUMAN, I chat with Physician Assistant Laura Driggers about her unique plant-based journey which was inspired by one of her children. We also talk about embracing imperfection in a plant-based diet. She discusses her work as a PA and how she integrates lifestyle medicine into an underserved population. This is a great episode for other healthcare providers curious about how to apply lifestyle medicine to their practices.
Our conversation explores the practical challenges and victories of raising plant-based children, navigating family and social reactions, and witnessing remarkable patient health transformations. We discuss Laura's personal and professional experiences, shedding light on the unique obstacles faced by predominantly Spanish-speaking populations and the ways cultural heritage can both challenge and support a plant-based lifestyle. With a compassionate and humble approach, Laura exemplifies the incredible potential of lifestyle medicine to transform lives.
Laura Driggers, a 2011 NHSC scholar, chose rural NC for her career post-graduation, working at a Federally Qualified Health Center and local health department. She provides comprehensive care for all kinds of patients - from newborns to complex cases. A mother of three, ages 11, 9, and 6, her children inspired her interest in lifestyle medicine. Wrestling with a "picky eater" led her to adopt a plant-based diet after extensive research and certifications in lifestyle medicine, including Type 2 Diabetes Remission and Plant-based Nutrition from ACLM and eCornell, respectively, solidifying her belief in the health benefits of plant-based eating.
Discussion points:
(00:00) Laura Driggers intro and background
(05:35) Laura’s experience with her son’s diet - a “picky eater” who instinctively avoided meat
(15:30) Career path to becoming a PA
(17:57) Challenges and barriers in her NC underserved community, Spanish-speaking patients
(24:31) Using lifestyle medicine in practice, incredible transformations
(36:50) Communicating the ease and benefits of plant-based cooking
(40:57) Closing questions, what we wish people knew
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Laura Driggers
Certified in Lifestyle Medicine
Laura Driggers graduated from PA school as an NHSC scholar in 2011 and immediately found her way to a community that she adores in rural NC. She continues to work there at a Federally Qualified Health Center and the local health department. She sees the full spectrum of patients from newborns to well woman care to the medically complex.
She is also the mother of 3 amazing children ages 11, 9, and 6, whom she credits for her interest in lifestyle medicine. She first went plant-based after wrestling with a "picky eater" who was mostly vegan from birth. After "giving up" on forcing her child to eat the expected foods, she began researching how to make sure her child's diet was safe. She finally transitioned to a plant-based diet herself due to the overwhelming evidence in favor of the power of plants. She went on to become certified in lifestyle medicine through the ACLM, earning both a Type 2 Diabetes Remission certificate through the ACLM and the Plant-based Nutrition certificate through T. Colin Campbell's eCornell course.
The information on this blog, website and podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace careful evaluation and treatment. If you have concerns about your or your child’s eating, nutrition or growth, consult a doctor.