How to Introduce More Plant-Based Meals Into Your Diet - With Recipes
I remember when I first became aware of some of the harmful ingredients in our food. A friend of mine had told me about high fructose corn syrup. It blew my mind wide open!
I didn’t know about the long-term affect this can have on our bodies, but I also didn’t realize how it’s in EVERYTHING! That was a turning point for me, when I started to read the labels on food.
That same friend also helped me become more aware of the horrific conditions of commercial farming, the animal’s health and how they’re contained, and the way our meat is produced. Full of antibiotics, hormones, chemicals. And when we consume that, all of that goes directly into our bodies, greatly impacting our health over time.
I suddenly began to care, a lot.
I started to do more research on where my food was coming from, how it’s grown and produced. That’s when I also became more aware of organic and GMOs, and the HUGE difference they have on our bodies, the planet, animals, our mood and environment.
When I decided to make changes in my diet, it didn’t happen overnight.
In fact, I took baby steps.
I first cut out many processed foods, at least the ones that had high fructose corn syrup in it. Over time, I started to cut out any processed foods that had ingredients in it that I didn’t understand (there’s a lot).
During that time, I also stopped eating red meat. I was only consuming chicken, eggs, and fish. This continued for a while until eventually I was only eating fish.
Dairy was the hardest one for me to overcome, and not because of the milk. I had no problem transitioning to nut and plant-based milks. For me, it was the CHEESE!
I wasn’t a huge cheese freak, but I hadn’t noticed how much I used it for other things like cooking meals or on pizza.
I started looking for cheese substitutes, but it just wasn’t the same. The texture wasn’t right, and taste weird. But I kept incorporating more meals with the dairy-free cheese and over time, my body and taste buds started to adjust.
It was during this time that I also stopped consuming fish, and was instead eating meals that were entirely plant-based.
This continued for years, except that I noticed that a lot of my meals were heavy on the carbs.
I was getting my protein and fats in small amounts, especially after discovering that our bodies don’t require nearly as much protein as we think it does.
There’s a lot of vegan and plant-based foods that are heavy carbs, intended to make you feel more full and satisfied, but what I also realized during this time is that my body wasn’t getting all of the nutrients and minerals that it needs.
I started to supplement with vitamins, but after while and doing more research, I learned how to get nutrients and minerals from food sources (the very best way!) instead of through manufactured pills.
This knowledge helped me get more of a balanced diet while eating plant-based, gave me more energy, made me feel less hungry all the time, and started to balance my hormones and physical body.
This entire transition took me years of gradually making adjustments, and learning more about our food and how it’s grown. Again, it didn’t happen overnight. And even now, I will still have some eggs (directly from my chickens) or organic bone broth (when I’m ill or need extra nourishment).
The key for me is finding good, whole foods that is chemical free, and organically grown. Eating a clean diet does wonders for your health, mind, and mood.
If you’re looking at starting to transition for to a plant-based diet, start small. Begin to incorporate a few meals during the week using organic, clean whole food ingredients.
I know it can be tempting to go straight for the boxed or pre-prepped meals to save on time, but honestly, good clean food doesn’t have to be complicated. There are some super easy meals that my entire family started to transition with that are easy to prepare, and even the kids and non-plant-based eaters loved.
Give them a try and see if you can challenge your family to start eating less meat each week. You may find that eventually you don’t even miss it!
And if you want to know more about how to ensure you’re getting enough nutrients and minerals from your plant-based diet, contact me.