5 Beginner’s Tips For Implementing More Plant-Based Recipes Into Your Diet
So, you’ve decided to explore the steps of how to implement a more plant-based diet into your daily life! That’s great. Whether it’s for health, environmental or religious reasons, going meat-free has many benefits. Reducing your meat intake can seem like a big feat, but when you break it down into smaller pieces, it’s way easier than we think. In the end, it can help with your overall health, save you money and you can add new recipes to your repertoire.
The great thing about going plant-based is it doesn’t need to be so black and white. You can make up the rules as you go and decide what works best for you. If you want to do “Meatless Mondays” or try vegetarian-friendly recipes a couple of times a week, that’s your call!
In this post, we break down the steps you can take to become more plant-based in your diet.
5 Steps to becoming a vegetarian plant-based eater
1. Start slowly
When it comes to starting your journey into plant-based eating, you don’t need to cut everything out all at once. A lot of people start by eliminating red meat first (beef, pork, lamb) and then work towards a more pescatarian diet (only eating fish as their main source of animal protein). Over time, people will make a full transition, but keep in mind this is your journey. Do what’s best for your budget, lifestyle, body and timeline.
2. Look for tasty substitutes
In recent years, finding plant-based substitutes has become easier. You can find alternatives for different meats, dairy products, and even eggs. Initially, many people think the only foods they can eat are fruits and vegetables, but with all these new food innovations, they can still enjoy meat substitutes. Tofu, tempeh, and Beyond Meat are just a few examples of meat alternatives you can implement into your plant-based grocery list. Just keep in mind that the faux meats have many preservatives, and ingredients that are not you cannot pronounce. Be mindful when transitioning and shopping for substitutes for meats and cheese. Stay on the whole foods journey as much as you can.
3. Don’t forget about your vitamins
When making the transition to a more plant-based diet, there are a couple of challenges to overcome. Our bodies are all different and you may need time to adjust to a new diet and meal plan. When you start eliminating meat, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough protein and vitamins.
When making the switch, make sure to:
Get extra protein by eating plain greek yogurt, eggs, cooked beans or lentils, whole grain pasta, quinoa, and nuts.
Supplement with B12 vitamins! Normally, you’d get these essential vitamins from eating red meat. You can also add cottage cheese, nutritional yeast, soy substitutes, and oats for more B12 intake.
Omega 3’s are another essential fatty acid for your body. If you’ve cut out eggs and fish completely, you can take them as a supplement and eat walnuts, flaxseeds or flaxseed oil, chia seeds, brussels sprouts, and hemp seeds.
4. Start with a buddy
We all know doing challenges with friends or family makes anything more fun and exciting. Trying something new with someone you’re close to also helps keep you accountable. You can set your own check-in dates or even meal prep and try new recipes together.
5. Get creative in the kitchen
Once you’ve made the switch to vegetarianism or plant-based eating, you can start exploring new flavours, recipes, and styles of cooking. There’s a common misconception about vegetarian or plant-based food being boring, flavourless, and salad-based. But this couldn’t be more inaccurate!. Foods around the world have a plant-based foundation, including Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, Mexican, Southern Italian, and Chinese cuisines. Alternatively, you can also try plant-based meal delivery services that introduce you to new recipes and types of foods.
Finally, don’t forget to go easy on yourself. Enjoy the process as much as possible by experimenting with new ingredients and flavours. If you have some slip-ups along the way, that’s ok. We’re all different and our bodies have different needs, so do what’s right for you.