5 tips for adopting a plant-based diet
Have you chosen to adopt a plant-based diet? Follow these 5 tips to help you in your transition to plant-based eating.
Collect Recipes
If you want your dietary change to stick, you need to stay inspired. Inspiration not only makes grocery shopping easier, but also meal planning. Flip through magazines or your cookbooks with a fresh eye, and note plant-based options (or easily modifiable recipes). Bookmark recipes from blogs and websites or use an online tool to help you save your inspirations for the next time you're stuck. For this, we love Pinterest.
Rotate Recipes every 3-5 days
Planning makes it easier to improvise. Taking a little time every 3 to 5 days to pre-select recipes you like will make the transition to a new routine less stressful and will eliminate (or at least simplify) the "what's for dinner" question. Once you've selected your recipe rotation, consider the ingredients you have on hand (leftovers, dry and fresh produce), and match them with your recipes to create a grocery list based on what's left.
Love Your Leftovers
Leftovers are the new fast food. Always check the serving sizes in recipes and adjust accordingly to have one or two extra servings. You can also freeze some types of dishes (plant-based stews, soups, and whole grains freeze well) and reheat them for a quick dinner when you don't have time to cook. Leftovers filled with fresh ingredients, less suitable for freezing, make for stress-free dinners the next day.
Create a Recipe Repertoire
One of the hardest parts of changing eating habits is finding new recipes to replace the ones you already love. The first few weeks of transitioning to plant-based cooking can be challenging since everything is new. But building a new recipe repertoire will ease the situation over time. If you've enjoyed a new recipe, make sure to revisit it (again and again) until it becomes a habit to make. When a recipe is essentially memorized, you can shop and prepare meals more spontaneously, and find a level of comfort that will allow you to unleash your culinary creativity, make a recipe your own, and experiment with ingredient swaps for variety.
Socialize!
It's easier to create new habits when you have people to share your new love for plant-based foods with. Whether you're looking for inspiration or camaraderie on social media, or meeting friends at local vegetarian restaurants, sharing your experiences with others will help you stay motivated, overcome challenges, and look forward to feeling better.
Coconut Water Green Smoothie
Still unsure about green smoothies? Well, we have the perfect recipe for you, which might just change your mind. This coconut water green smoothie is a great way to add vegetables and greens to your day, while still tasting delicious!
Ingredients:
1 cup coconut water
½ avocado
1 cup packed spinach
2 tbsp shredded coconut
½ cup ice cubes
1 serving Vanilla Vega One®
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
Vega One® All-in-One Nutritional Shake
It's made with premium, carefully selected plant-based food ingredients that you would choose yourself if you had the time. Vega One® has everything you want (and nothing you don't) - all in one delicious serving. Vega One® is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and D to help support the immune system. Get superpowered nutrition in every serving!