Dirty Girl Amanda Dohrwardt Turns Her Life Around After Her MS Diagnosis + Plant Based Pineapple Fried Rice (oil free)
By Molly Patrick
Jan 27, 2018,
Dirty Girl Amanda Dohrwardt has made an incredible change in her life trajectory. Like 180 degrees through a plant-based diet. And when you watch our chat, you’ll have nothing but joy for her determination in the face of major life crises.
Amanda is on her Whole-Food Plant-Based journey, navigating her mid-20s after years of blood pressure medicine, steady weight gain and dealing with painful cystic acne. She relied on fast food to the point that she would visit multiple drive-thrus in a day.
Watch our heart-to-heart below and get ready to be inspired!
Just a reminder to pop your headphones on if you are in a place where others (like co-workers or kids) can hear your screen once you hit play because you know how I roll on the vernacular.
Amanda, I am so happy for you and I wish you all the health and happiness in the world, my dear. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Here’s an update from Amanda from earlier this week.
January 25th 2018
I’m doing great! Not a sign or symptom of MS in sight! I’m back into half marathon training and eating like a plant based piggy! My acne is still gone and over the holidays I surprised so many people I hadn’t seen in a while with my healthy, glowing look. Even my grandpa couldn’t believe his eyes and told me “Honey, you’ve got it going on!” I also saw my neurologist since we last talked and she literally couldn’t say anything bad about this way of eating because of all the positive things it’s done for me. She even told me to stay the course! Wahoo! She had previously told me that I needed animal protein. 🙂
Below: Amanda, 140 pounds (63 kilos) lighter and lightyears happier. It took her 4 years and LOTS of plants to reach this point.
Showing off her plant based boss status! I don’t know about you, but this collage makes me grin from ear to ear. Amanda, you are a pure badass.
To sign up for our Plant Fueled Meal Plans that Amanda follows, bounce over here. You can even download a free week to see if it’s a good fit for you and your family.
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews, chopped (65g)
- ¾ cup red onion, diced (100g)
- 1 cup red bell pepper, diced (130g)
- 1 cup carrot, peeled and finely diced (135g)
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- ¾ cup pineapple, chopped into 1/2″ cubes (280g)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger, peeled and finely minced or grated
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried red chili flakes (use 1/2 teaspoon if you like spicy)
- 2 cups COOKED brown rice (275g)
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
Instructions
- Prep and measure out all your ingredients first because you will be putting them together rather quickly once you get started on the recipe.
- Heat a large wok or heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add the cashews and roast for about 3 minutes, stirring often, until they begin to brown. Remove the cashews from the skillet and set aside to cool. After they are cool, chop them up and set aside until you serve your rice.
- Keep the skillet over medium heat and add the onion, red bell pepper, carrot and celery and cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables just begin to soften, but still have some crunch to them.
- Add the pineapple, garlic, ginger, turmeric powder, coriander powder and dried red chili flakes and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring often, until the pineapple begins to lightly brown. Note: if you have a lot of moisture in your pan, you can turn the heat up to high briefly to help the pineapple brown up.
- Add the COOKED rice, soy sauce and coconut aminos and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes, turning the heat up to high for the last 30 seconds or so.
- Top your rice with the toasted cashews and dig in!
Wishing you a happy week. May it be filled with taking care of yourself by eating plants galore!
Xo
Molly
15 Comments
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Amanda, I am so thrilled for you!! You are amazing for loving yourself and putting you first. And you are gorgeous!
And Molly, I know your keeping me healthy too.
Hi, Amanda- thanks for sharing your story! Ironically, I am also about a year into a surprising MS diagnosis and understand the hole you put yourself in during the months that followed…ugh. Anyways, like you, in hindsight I’m so glad it was caught when it was and happy that’s the same for you. If you see this, I’d love to connect with someone like you who gets it, too :).
And Molly- thanks for sharing Amanda’s story and the delicious WFPB meals :), certainly makes our lifestyle choice more fun!
Congratulations, Amanda! I am so happy that you are healthy and thriving.
Hey Molly!
I don’t know if Amanda will read these comments but I am so moved by her story and by her sweet face crumpling into nearly tears when she was talking about her MS diagnosis and the way she used to eat.
It’s weird how things collide because yesterday I spoke to my mum who also has MS. She has been diagnosed for thirty years, she has secondarily progressive and the disease is now in pretty much the worst incarnation that it can be. In short I’ve watched someone with MS not make positive health choices and I have seen the havoc it can wreak.
Facing MS head on is so incredibly brave, my mother couldn’t do it, millions of people can’t or won’t. But Amanda has.
All her “no’s” (to meat, diary) are really “yes’s” to her potential. Yes to health, yes to the possibility of a long and joy filled life.
I don’t think Amanda will ever regret having said “yes”, even on the tough days, even on the days when she’s frightened and uncertain. And nor will those who she loves and who love her.
Much love to you Amanda (and Molly) xxx
Oh my goodness!!! Thank you so much for your kind words! Hugs!!! I know in my heart I am making the right decisions and everyone’s support through this has been amazing!! ❤ LOVE!!
Does Amanda have a FB page or blog I can follow? Thanks
Hey Mary,
She does not but if she ever does, I will swing back here and give you the link!
xo
Molly
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m inspired to go on, to start cooking and be the person I want and need to be. I wish you the best.
Amanda is such an inspiration!!
A quick question on the recipe. My son can’t have cashews. Would it be just as tasty if I left the cashews out. He can have walnuts and almonds.
Sure, you could leave them out or sub another nut. They will be equally as tasty!
Karen
Team Dirty Girl
Could you use frozen pineapple?
Amanda – you are a rockstar! Keep up the amazing work! Can’t wait to chat with you more later this month!
Molly – OMG! I just made this Pineapple Fried Rice and it was AMAZEBALLS!! Share the recipe on my blog too, it was that good!
Woohoo! Thanks for letting us know you loved it, Amy!
Karen
Team Dirty Girl
Just made this for dinner tonight and it is SO AMAZING. It tastes like it’s naughty…I love it!!!
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