Saturday, January 11, 2020
Thinking about going plant based? The plant based diet meal plan is easier than you may think! It’s a great way to elevate your health and lose weight, and there are tons of amazing recipes you can whip up yourself.
The plant based diet is a whole food diet based on eating minimally processed or non-processed foods, as well as the elimination of animal products and refined foods. There’s no calorie counting or portion control; you can eat when you’re hungry and until you’re full. However, if one of your goals is to get to a healthier weight, abstain from the fattier healthy foods like nuts, natural nut butters and avocados. Otherwise, you can go all out! Here’s a kickstart guide to the plant based diet to get you started on the right foot!
What’s the Difference Between a Plant-Based Diet and a Vegan Diet?
The vegan diet is often referred to as a plant-based diet, which can make things a bit confusing. There are similarities between a plant based diet and a vegan diet, but there are also a few key differences. On both the plant based diet and vegan diet, you eliminate any food or drink made with animals or animal by-products, including meat, milk, cheese and eggs. However, the plant-based diet eliminates more than the vegan diet does outside of animal products. The plant based diet is a whole food diet that also eliminates processed foods like oil, white flour, and refined sugar. It’s a way of eating based on unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods including veggies, fruits, legumes, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds.
Benefits of the Whole Food Plant Based Diet
The whole food plant based diet has been adopted by many individuals to upgrade their health or alleviate health symptoms. The plant based diet can help:
- Prevent diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity
- With stomach problems
- Increase your energy
- Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol
- Balance your blood sugar
- Reduce your risk of cancer
- With weight loss!
Since the plant based diet eliminates processed and refined foods on top of animal and animal byproducts, you’re only consuming healthy, whole foods with lots of nutrients, protein and vitamins.
Foods to Eat on the Plant Based Diet Plan
- Fruits
- Dried Fruit
- Leafy Green Vegetables like Spinach, Kale, Broccoli
- Starchy Vegetables like Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
- Avocado
- Coconut
- Whole Grains including 100% Whole Wheat, Oats, Brown Rice
- Root Vegetables
- Whole Grains
- Legumes
- Soy Products such as Tempeh and Tofu
- Nuts and Seeds
- Natural Nut Butters
- Spices
- Chia Seeds
- Ground Flax Seeds
- Added Natural Sweeteners like Maple Syrup
Foods to Avoid on the Plant Based Diet Plan
- Beef
- Poultry
- Fish and Seafood
- Processed Meat
- Dairy including Yogurt, Milk, Cheese, Cream, Buttermilk
- Eggs
- Liquid Oils including Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Margarine and Butter
- Refined Flours
- Refined Sugars
- Processed Foods
- Sweets including Candy Bars, Cookies, Cakes, Pastries, Energy Bars
- Sweetened Drinks like Juice, Pop, Sports Drinks, Energy Drinks, Blended Coffee and Tea Drinks
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