5 tips to eat more plant-based
One of the most popular questions I get asked is about eating more plant-based. Where should I start? Good alternatives? People always come to me with the same scenario: “I want to try plant-based but I don’t know where to start?!”. Let’s back up! This change doesn’t need to be overnight! It can be a slow progression of adding in more fruits and veggies into your lifestyle (it’s not a diet.) I’ve laid out 5 tips that make eating more plants EASY!
-
Understand sources of plant-based protein! When Erik and I first did the #veganchallenge (over a year ago), I did some research on sources of plant-based protein! To be honest, I was pretty shocked on how many options there are – besides tofu! Once I had a basic understanding of our plant-based protein options (checkout this article it’s super informative!) I was able to start swapping our animal protein dominant meals for plant-based ones!
-
Incorporate #meatlessmonday into your weekly routine and then once you’ve mastered that, try one meal a day sans animal products! It might sound hard but I swear it’s super easy! There are so many meat + dairy alternatives out there that taste incredible! Stay tuned for my list of plant-based swaps & plant-based protein options! Once you have a good idea of these options, you’ll be able to build a plant-based meal effortlessly! Plus plant-based meals are normally cheaper than animal product meals because veggies are cheaper than animal products!
-
Stick to simple recipes like my Lentil Bolognese or my “Cheesy” Lime Thai Sauce recipe! You don’t want to overwhelm yourself and then become discouraged! Eating more plant-based should be fun and a great way for you to branch out and try new fruits and veggies! Also, a great way to make veggies more appetizing for people who don’t necessarily love them at first (the more you eat them the more you’ll start to love them… I promise!) is to utilize spices and herbs! I almost always have a fresh bunch of organic cilantro in my fridge to top on any meal I make! I also use cinnamon, garlic, sea salt, cumin… (you get the point) when prepping my veggies so that it complements the flavor and makes it even tastier!
-
Find out what’s in season! There are always awesome fresh produce options popping up at your local grocery store! Use these to your advantage to build a meal around! Since it’s now fall, expect to see more satisfying, hearty vegetables like sweet potato, kale, lentils, beets, pumpkin, & squash! You can always use my instagram feed as inspo for what I’m doing with these veggies or head to my Pinterest! I pin a bunch of seasonal recipe ideas there (along with major boho home inspo)!
-
Meal prepping will be your friend! I’m not one to meal prep entire meals each week but I do prep (wash, chop, and cook) certain veggies like sweet potato, broccoli, squash…etc. I also wash and store my fruit in the fridge for easy snacking and meal topping! Washing + prepping your produce will save you time and will help you avoid grabbing that processed food so you’ll be more likely to go for a snack like carrots and hummus! It also helps so much when it comes time to build a meal! It’s all about making healthier choices convenient!
Bonus tip:
Do it together! Nothing makes cooking more enjoyable than doing it with a partner! Whenever I’m trying a new recipe, we put on some great music and do it together!
Have any tips for eating more plant-based? Comment below, I’d love to hear them!
xx Elizabeth
