It’s no secret that plant-based diets have a whole host of health benefits. Research has shown that people who eat more vitamin and mineral rich plants can lower their body mass index, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels reducing their risk of developing chronic diseases that could compromise the quality and longevity of their life.
Whether you’re someone who has a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, or you’re simply someone who is looking to live the healthiest life possible, adding more plants into your daily diet is an excellent way to improve your overall health.
Not only are plant-based foods good for your health, but they’re also good for the environment. Harvesting fruits and vegetables are natural while raising products that support meat-based diets produces excess greenhouse gases which create a global warming effect.
Adopting small changes to add more plants into your diet is an excellent choice. The best part? It’s simple to do.
Here are four easy ways to shift your diet to a more plant-based lifestyle this year.
Meat-Free Meals
One simple way to reduce your carbon footprint and make the shift to a more plant-based lifestyle is to introduce the concept of meatless meals. “Meatless Monday” is a growing trend, and for a good reason. Choosing one day of the week, or one meal of the day to try out a new, delicious vegetarian recipe is an easy way to introduce more vegetables into your diet.
Find Veggie Substitutes
When many people consider a plant-based lifestyle, they panic at the thought of giving up their favourite foods. What would life be like without pizza, or pasta, or a hamburger? The good news is, there are many ways to make your favourite dishes with a few small changes to substitute out plant alternatives. Have you tried zucchini pizza crust yet? Trust us on this one; you may like it even better than the original.
Choose Plant-Based Snacks
Sure, beef jerky might be a convenient snack option, but an easy way to shift to a more plant-based lifestyle is to choose a fruit or vegetable instead. Try combining an apple with nut butter for a sweet and satisfying crunch when you have a snack craving. You can also grab a dairy-free IsaLean bar to fill you up with fibre, or a pack of crunchy and satisfying Whey Thins if you want a salty snack.
Sneak in the Green Stuff
Sometimes, your family might be the ones making it difficult to change up your diet. To make the transition smoother, try sneaking in plant-based choices to their favourite foods. For example, the creamy and fatty properties of avocado make it a great substitute for butter when you’re baking. This one simple swap eliminates an animal product and introduces a little green into your diet, and your family won’t even notice the change.