You've probably seen the articles, posts and food photos on social media and TV. With benefits like better health, less animal suffering and a cleaner environment, the plant based diet is growing in popularity and shows no signs of slowing down.
But how do you make the change from the standard American diet of meat, seafood, poultry and dairy to a totally plant based one?
For some jumping right into the deep end of the pool and cutting out all the foods you've grown up eating is perfect for them. For others, not so much. I made this list for those of us that like to put our toe in the water first before jumping in headfirst.
Increase your fruit/veggie intake. Decrease the animal based foods. Fill at least half of your plate with produce. Eat the ones you already enjoy and experiment with new ones. Balance your dishes with whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and pastas. Add beans/legumes for plant based protein and small amounts of nuts or seeds for healthy fats.
Find recipes online and try new dishes! This was huge for me. It made cooking more fun to try new flavor profiles and ingredients. It so easy to find recipes online on sites like Pinterest, Instagram and of course, google. And there are so many vegan/plant based youtube channels to choose from.
Make plant based versions of the foods you already enjoy eating. Again, the internet is your friend. There's an abundance of "veganized" versions of your favorite foods like macaroni and cheese, burgers, desserts and even omelettes. This can make it easier to move away from using meat and dairy and toward healthier, plant based, familiar options that still taste great.
Try plant based meal delivery services. I tried both Purple Carrot and Green Chef's vegan boxes to learn new techniques and cooking with ingredients I'd never cooked, let alone, eaten before. These services are great for people that hate grocery shopping. They're delivered right to your house with all the necessary ingredients and recipe cards with photos of each step of the cooking process.
Try pre-made vegan versions of items you normally like from the grocery store. It's become easier and easier to find vegan items at the store. From non-dairy nut based milks, cheeses and yogurts to vegan sausages, burgers and "chickenless" strips. There are frozen plant based meals for times you don't have the time to cook. These products can help when you're really wanting that cheeseburger but want to keep it plant based.
Try vegan options at restaurants. With more restaurants and even fast food places offering vegan options it makes social occasions easier to enjoy a tasty plant based meal and, again, maybe try something new.
Make it Meatless Monday on more than just Mondays. You can go meatless Monday, Wednesday, Friday or how about Monday - Friday and have your normal meals on the weekends. Once you've grown accustomed to eating without the meat and dairy during the week it makes transitioning completely so much easier.
Find support from others who are changing their diets too. There are numerous Facebook groups, Instagram accounts with recipes and tips and, of course, your friends and family who are interested in making healthy changes.
As you can see it's way easier to transition to a healthier plant based diet than it's ever been. So, let's get started! Check out my recipes for delicious plant based meal ideas!
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