The merits of plant-based diets have been espoused by experts from a variety of academic backgrounds. Cardiologists, oncologists, nutritionists, and personal trainers alike have been celebrating the benefits of this style of eating for many years, and making an effort to shift the social focus away from our animal-based diets and fixation on high-protein towards a healthier plant-based alternative.
We offer the following tips on upping your daily intake of plant foods!
- Start your day right. One of the best way to ensure that you stick to your new eating plan is to start your day with a hyper-load of bio-available vitalizing enzymes, minerals, and phytonutrients, all of which are found in green smoothies. A number of recipes exist, but the general idea is to combine spinach or some cruciferous green with fruits and a liquid such as water or seed/nut milks, blend thoroughly, then enjoy. This convenient start to your day will get you off on the right foot, guaranteeing smooth digestion and clean-burning, caffeine-free energy all day long, while also putting you in a healthy frame of mind from the moment you wake up. This healthy mindframe will make it much easier to resist temptation throughout the day, as you have already “banked” a certain amount of progress and effort that you will be less willing to throw away on a cheat meal. One of the best green smoothie recipes on the market is called the Glowing Green Smoothie, and it makes a great start to any day!
- Snack smarter. Processed snack food is often the culprit for derailing an otherwise perfect eating plan. Many dietary models recommend smaller, frequent feedings over the antiquated three-square-meals-a-day approach, and snacking smart is crucial to the success of this plan. Green smoothies store well in mason jars for up to 48 hours (though they will require a quick stir), and home-made kale chips, fruits, seeds, and veggies with nut-butters are all excellent snack choices that will bump up your vegetable intake and kill cravings.
- Seek out plant-based protein sources. This step is surprisingly easy, but some guidelines are useful to consider. Many people initially gravitate towards soy because of its popularity as a vegetarian alternative, but many soy sources are heavily infected with pesticides. Choose only fermented sources such as tempeh, or forgo soy all together. Finding protein isn’t that hard – 100 calories of broccoli contains more than twice the protein found in an equal amount of steak.