More and more people are going plant-based, whether for ethical or health reasons. And while it was hard to survive on an entirely plant-based diet while still hitting your nutritional goals in the past, nowadays, there are loads of plant-based options out there, making it much more convenient.
That being said, it can still be quite an adjustment, which is why we’ve put together a list of tips that can make it easier for you to go plant-based.
Make some swaps
Before you start cutting out all of your favorite foods, you should try to replace them with a plant-based alternative. For example, try finding a plant-based milk that you enjoy, or looking into some plant-based chocolates. Starting with this is a good idea because you won’t be cutting anything out or missing it.
It’s also often a lot easier to make these swaps. For example, if you’re used to cooking with butter, you probably won’t even notice much of a difference if you switch to a plant-based alternative. The soybean oil market has been growing, and this can be a great plant-based oil for you to use while cooking.
Start small
As mentioned above, it can be hard to suddenly cut out all animal-based products from your diet. While some people may succeed with this method, most won’t be able to stick to it.
Instead, start small. Start by having one day a week where you only eat plant-based foods. There are so many benefits to things like Meatless Mondays that everyone should be implementing them, regardless of whether or not they want to go fully plant-based. As you grow used to eating more plant-based foods, you can gradually increase the number of days a week during which you eat a plant-based diet, until you have completely converted.
Find foods that you enjoy
The problem with a plant-based diet is that many people don’t actually enjoy the food they are eating. This leads to them falling back into their old diet of consuming meat products.
Therefore, one thing that will make your plant-based diet that much more appealing is to find plant-based foods that you enjoy. There are loads of amazing vegetarian and vegan recipes on the internet, and you can also try some vegetarian restaurants so that you are exposed to more plant-based dishes.
Eat more
The odds are that you will feel quite hungry when you first start your plant-based diet. This is because it can be hard to get in enough protein, which is often what makes us feel full.
While there are amazing plant-based protein sources, you will likely still need to eat more than you are used to in order to prevent yourself from getting hungry an hour after you’ve eaten a meal. You also need to accept the fact that you may need to rely on supplements like protein powders to help you hit your nutritional needs.
If you struggle with feelings of hunger after a meal, have a look at these foods that keep you fuller for longer and see which plant-based options they recommend.
