How to Eat More Plant-Based Meals
Whether you are inspired to eat healthy or are curious to explore greener culinary avenues, eating more plant-based meals offers many benefits. For newcomers, however, navigating a plant-based diet can feel overwhelming.
Before jumping in, it’s best to decide what going “plant-based” means to you. There are, after all, several ways to approach it. Some people call their diets plant-based even if they eat some meat. Others, of course, may eat a 100% plant-based diet.
Here’s what we recommend: start by thinking of plant-based as consuming fewer processed foods, like sweets, cereals, lunch meat and frozen meals.
Here are five tips to help you ease into more plant-based meals:
1) Start small. Add one plant-based side dish to your dinners. Here’s what to shop for:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains, like brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread and pasta
- Legumes, like beans, peas and lentils
- Nuts and seeds
2) Substitutions are plentiful.
- For a pasta dinner, try swapping lentil pasta for the traditional kind
- Instead of using meat for tacos, use black beans
- This summer, instead of meat, try grilling veggie skewers
3) Know where to get your protein.
- Beans and lentils are rich in protein and, when prepared right, are delicious
4) Shop in-season produce. Not only can this save you money, but it can inspire you to try new recipes.
- To maximize your in-season savings, you can always freeze extra produce
5) Explore the possibilities. There are plenty of healthy eating blogs and recipes out there. Don’t be afraid of trying a new cooking technique. Think of it as another way to discover your next favorite meal.
Whether you go on a 100% plant-based diet or gradually adopt plant-based foods, you are taking a big step to becoming a healthier you.
Source:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/plant-based-diet-guide#overview
https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/plant-based-diet-food-list-meal-plan-benefits-more/
