Whenever you start something new, there will be a transition period. Sometimes it will be a quick transition but other times it will take a little longer. My long term goal is to be completely meat free but it is taking a little longer than I thought it would. But it is getting easier to make the changes because it is easier and more sustainable for me to make small changes.
Whatever your journey looks like is ok – there are no rules except to keep making steps in the direction you want to go.
These are a few things that have helped me along my journey.
Veggies are the star of the show
For many of us we plan meals around the meat so when faced with a creating a plant based meal, it can feel like something is missing. The best way to get around this is to not look at vegetables as the sides but rather as the star of the show. There is so much you can do with cauliflower – cauliflower curry, roasted cauliflower (this is one of our absolute favourite things to make, my kids love it). Mushrooms are also great – you can do stuffed brown mushrooms or a mushroom risotto! There really is so much you can do when you pick a vegetable and put it front and center.
Add a few shakes
Shakes are a great way to get in those additional vitamins and minerals. You can add in superfoods like chai seeds, flax seeds, protein powder etc. Gundry MD Proplant Complete Shake can be easily added to your daily shake and has all the proteins and vitamins you need when following a plant-based diet.
The variety of food is endless
The variety of foods you can chose from when you follow a plant-based diet are endless – make sure you include as much variety as you can. The saying “eat the rainbow” is so much easier when you aren’t eating meat. When you add brightly coloured foods to your diet like peppers, blueberries, carrots, beets, patty pans makes your meals so much more appealing. There is nothing more delicious than a plate full of chopped up red and yellow peppers, cucumber, olives, sprouts and carrots. Add some mixed nuts to the mix and you have a delicious, nutritious meal in minutes. The more varied your meals are the easier it is to make sure you are getting the right vitamins and nutrients.
Whole grains are better
While it is not essential for a vegan diet, ditch the refined grains like white pasta and white bread. Instead of these add brown rice, quinoa and oats to your diet – these are all pretty easy to add to meals. They will add fiber, iron and vitamin B to your diet, keeping you fuller for a little longer.
Try new plant based food
Up until this year I have been hesitant to try some of the more common plant-based proteins like tofu and tempeh. I have focused on lentils, chickpeas and nuts instead but this year I have a few tofu and tempeh recipes planned. If you are open to trying to new things you will find that their are more protein plant-based options than their are meat options, allowing you to eat a varied diet.
Not all vegan food is healthier
Heavily processed food vegan foods are not always healthier. Baked goods like cookies, cakes and breads – even vegan ones, are not healthier. It is important to read the labels of processed food and limit the amount of sugar you consume – if you don’t, the results will be the same. If you are gluten-free, like I am, you will need to check vegan foods closely, many contain gluten.
Be aware of what nutrients and vitamins you need
Even if you are eating a very varied diet, you do still need to be aware of what vitamins you are getting in to make sure you are getting enough of things like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, iron and vitamin B12. Vitamin D can be absorbed by spending time in the sun but you can also get it from almond milk and orange juice. Iron is important, especially for women, make sure you are getting enough iron rich vegetables (leafy greens are a great source of iron).
There is not right or wrong way to start your plant-based journey. Take it slow or make a quick switch – it really is up to you.
21 Responses
Everyone I know that follows a plant-based diet is thin and as self-absorbed as that sounds, I think that is the biggest draw for this diet for me. I think about trying it out but I currently eat a large portion of animal products that I would struggle to get rid of in my diet. I think I need to start small and use some of these tips.
I feel healthier just reading this! We are not totally plant based, but we eat a lot of vegetables and have cut down our meat consumption.
absolutely LOVE the guide! SO useful and SO handy! I am not fully plant-based and allow myself meat from time to time but I do think we should all be plant-based.
Lyosha Varezhkina recently posted…Mellow Touch review
Thanks for sharing this useful guide! Reading your post made me think to try this plant-based diet.
Risa Lopez recently posted…7 Incredible Winter Road Trips in India Along the Beaches
A great step by step guide and intro. It’s so important to incorporate more veggies regardless if it is a diet or lifestyle change. Thanks for sharing!
This is interesting! Good luck on your journey to meat-free. I will keep these if I decide to change in the future!
Fransic verso recently posted…How to make DIY crafts more fun for kids
I have been a vegetarian since I was kid, but I would still like to reduce my dairy intake. These are all useful tips.
I went on a plant based diet for a little over a year. It was such a tough transition and I really had no idea what I was doing. I wish I had seen this back then!
Heather Castillo recently posted…Bears Den Resort in Orlando Florida
I like meat but i think I’m ready to try a plant based diet now!
I like the vegetables as the star of the show! I dont think we eat as much veggies as we should so tips from this blog would surely be helpful!
Thank you so much for this! I know I would love to try a plant based diet a couple of times a week or maybe for a whole week. This will definitely help me.
These are some great tips! I know that I am trying to incorporate more plant based meals into my diet.
I eat plant based. I do really enjoy it and never miss meat at all.
That’s a great and motivating post. Although I do eat a lot of salad and veggies, it’s still not enough and I’m having far too much meat and cold cuts. So thanx for the inspiration.
I went plant-based when the pandemic started. Not easy I must confess, but so worth it.
I see a lot of folks going plant based and I think good for them lol I don’t know if I could give up meat for good but I do try to implement as much vegetables as possible!
Some fabulous suggestions here and I agree not all vegan food are healthy especially the processed food. I love love including wholegrain and nuts into our vege diet
This sounds interesting! Good luck to you on your journey to meat-free.
I enjoy a few vegetables and am guilty of eating meat most of the time. But I’m going to ‘gradually’ introduce myself to this. And you are right, there is a wide range of options to choose from, depending on your nutritional needs. Happy to stumble upon this post!
Polly recently posted…Online Shop Review: Purple_n_Pink by Sab
Just those beautiful pictures of vegetables are enticing me to try the plant-based diet. Very good write-up.
Great tips! I think that I could totally try a plant based diet! Maybe I’ll give it a try this year!