Making the decision to transition to the plant-based lifestyle can be intimidating. Your mind is asking thousands of questions. What am I going to eat? Is it going to be expensive? Can I survive off salad? What is quinoa?
Don’t fret, it’s not as bad as you think. With a little research, preparation, and an open mind and taste buds, you will find the plant-based lifestyle to be quite an enjoyable experience.
So, what is plant-based eating? Simply put, plant-based eating focuses on eating food from plants including vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, grains, tubers, nuts, and seeds. These foods provide the body with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and many nutrients.
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People who usually adopt a plant-based diet eliminate all animal products or greatly minimize their animal products and processed food intake. Animal products include meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. Plant-based diets aim to maximize the consumption of nutrient-dense plant foods, which are high in nutrients and relatively low in calories.
What Are The Benefits Of A Plant-Based Lifestyle?
Consuming plant-based foods can positively affect health. Those who adopt a plant-based lifestyle experience several benefits; including weight loss and weight control, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, prevention and management of diabetes, improved skin health, and a healthier gut. Speaking of gut health, a plant-based lifestyle supports digestion due to its high fiber content.
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Kitchen Essentials And Appliances
Starting out, you don’t need much to transition into the plant-based lifestyle. As you evolve you will continue to add to your pantry as well as your cooking appliances. Don’t feel pressured to purchase the fancy equipment you see on social media.
A NutriBullet is a great starter blender. It’s quick and easy to use. It's great for smoothies and smoothie bowls, which are easy breakfast options. You'll also want a non-stick skillet to saute vegetables, and a small pot to cook grains and beans. A vegetable steamer is also a great appliance to have.
Food Essentials
Your food essentials should include, quinoa, fresh produce, onions, beans, chia seeds, oatmeal, nut milk, granola, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and olive oil.
Starting out, you will find that quinoa bowls are convenient, quick, and easy to make. There are different types of quinoa bowls you could make. Consider adding roasted vegetables, steamed or sauteed vegetables. You can create a Mexican bowl, Mediterranean bowl, and an Asian bowl. The possibilities are endless with quinoa and you can be creative as you want.
Keys to Success
Your success ultimately depends on you. There are three keys to your success, and they are preparation, consistency, and research. Although the recipes are simple and quick you still want to make sure you are preparing. Knowing what you want to eat for the week is half the battle.
Aside from preparation, being consistent is another major key to your success. Everything is mental. Looking at the cheeseburger that's "calling your name" is mental. Driving past your favorite fast food place and staying focused is mental. You will find your hard work very rewarding when you stay consistent.
Lastly, research. You must be responsible for knowing and understanding the lifestyle you are transitioning into. I suggest reading what you can and watching documentaries. See what works for you, your body, and your lifestyle.
Elissa Mirsky, known to most as Elle, is a published author and former editor-in-chief of Bold Magazine. She believes food shouldn’t be boring and every meal should be fashionably edible. Follow her on Instagram @mylifebeingelle where she is documenting her journey to eat well, live life, and love self.
