It is not easy to transition to a plant-based diet if you are used to eating animal products and dairy. We understand this and have some really great tips to help you switch to a plant-based diet. It might be hard at first but then, gaining health trumps everything, right? You may even stumble as you head to this change, but let us assure you that with constant practice, it will become part of your lifestyle.
- A positive and open mindset
It is critical to approach the change that you want, with an open mind. Don’t focus on what you might be missing; instead, focus all your energies on what you will be gaining from this change. Once you become aware of available and tasty alternatives to dairy products—and the ease with which you may find them—transitioning will become easy. So, know why you want this switch. Is it to lose weight, feel more energetic, maintain amazing cardiovascular health, keep diabetes at bay, leave a happy footprint on the environment? If the answer is yes to one/ some, or all of this, then this switch is the perfect thing for you to do.
- Plan Your Food
It truly helps to plan your week when it comes to making a change in your diet. Plan ahead, order/buy vegetables/nuts/seeds/fruit that you will need for the week. Planning and organizing for yourself will save you slips and will help you in maintaining your diet without any hitch. It would also help to have a great recipe plan that caters to this. This is where you can get it.
- Breakfast
It is a known fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Start your day with a protein smoothie, whole grain cereals such as savoury Dalia, oats, quinoa, etc. Healthy and tasty veggie wraps are also a great way to start the day. The options available are many, and the recipes available for something like plant-based smoothies are astounding. You’d be surprised by how nutritious, easy, and lip-smacking they can be.
- Add Vegetables to Your Plate
Begin by adding a large portion of vegetables to your lunch and dinner plate. Stock your fridge with as many colorful vegetables as you can. Beans, vegetables, greens, and whole grains: there are innumerable amazing ideas to make vegetables tasty as a snack or eat them cooked. This is where you can some options.
- Reduce Meat/Dairy Portions on Your Plate
You could begin by reducing the amount of meat in the week. Another method is that you reduce the portion size. Some people even begin to use meat/eggs as a garnish instead of the main dish.
- Salads
Salad is not just cucumber tomatoes onion with a dash of lime. There are SO many things one could add to make it an entire meal! Fill a bowl with leafy greens, add assorted vegetables such as beetroot, carrot, purple cabbage, beans, tofu, or fresh herbs. Start by eating a large portion of such a salad for lunch or dinner. You could drink fresh coconut water or home-prepared lemon juice to down it all. Explore! And you won’t be disappointed.
- Dessert
Often, especially in India, people have a craving for something sweet after a meal. We’d say, eat fruit, if you cannot do without eating some sort of sweet. A few pieces of cold watermelon, melons, grapes, strawberries, apples, etc., will help you deal with this problem.
Over a period of time, plant-based eating will become second nature to you. It is alright to falter. The key is to pick yourself right back up, and never give up.
DISCLAIMER:
The priority, in this blog, is to supply the reader with clear and unambiguous information. However, neither The New Me nor Gagan Dhawan makes promises, or guarantees regarding the completeness of the information found here. The content is not a replacement for advice of a licensed professional. The opinions expressed in this blog are solely that of the writer’s.
