More and more people are taking on a plant-forward lifestyle by either cutting out animal products entirely or at least reducing their consumption. This trend is especially popular among young people, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it isn’t here to stay.
People have different reasons for cutting down on animal consumption. This may be to improve their health, but the most common motivation is ethical reasons. Whether they have concerns about animal cruelty or the environment, there are compelling reasons for people to switch to a plant-based diet.
However, this diet can be difficult to maintain. With this in mind, here are some tips to help you to stick to a plant-based lifestyle and enjoy it too.
Healthy Choices
While many people choose a plant-based diet for health reasons, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are eating more healthily. Animal products contain vitamins and minerals important for your health, so you will have to find alternative foods that still have the nutrients your body needs.
This means that you need to find the right plant-based diet for your needs. Technically, you can cut out animal products and still have an incredibly unhealthy diet. Chips can be vegan, depending on the oil used to cook them. Sugary drinks can also be vegan, as well as plenty of other things that aren’t great for you.
The trick is to find a balanced diet. If you’re reducing or cutting out meat and other animal products, then you will have to include other sources of protein in your diet. Nuts, beans, pulses, and other legumes are great options.
Plant-Based Treats
The good news is that a healthy diet doesn’t mean you must cut out everything remotely unhealthy. There is always room for treats like chocolate in your diet. In fact, being too draconian with your diet can make it far more difficult to maintain.
Food is more than just fuel for your body. True, it’s important to have a healthy, balanced lifestyle, but it’s also important to enjoy what you eat. Otherwise, you might be tempted to backslide.
Unfortunately, a lot of your favourite snacks and treats might contain animal products. Finding an alternative that you enjoy can be tricky. However, you can find quality vegan Easter chocolate and other treats if you know where to look.
Another good option is to make your own snacks and treats. This is a great way to have your plant-based cake and eat it because when you make your own snacks, you control what goes into them which helps when making healthy, yet delicious treats.
Homemade Food
One thing that puts people off plant-based diets is that they cost money. This is especially true if you rely on ready meals and packaged food. However, if you learn how to cook some plant-based meals from scratch, then you can eat healthier and cheaper. Not only this, but you can feel a sense of pride in your cooking. You never know, it might turn into a new hobby.
