A cumulative guide to health and nutrition while following a plant-based diet

When it comes to improving one’s health, there are umpteen ways to do it. You could begin exercising, giving up habits like smoking and consuming alcohol, and even switching your diet. Of all of these, changing one’s diet is the most powerful and effective way to improve one’s health and boost one’s immunity.

With that being said, where should you start if you want to change your diet? How do you choose which diet to switch to? Well, there is only one answer to all of these questions — a plant-based diet.

So, if you do not know where to start, we’ve got your back!

What is a plant-based diet?

A plant-based diet is one where the foods that are consumed come only from plants. These include fruits, nuts, and whole foods. Anything that comes from animals, including dairy products and meat, is eliminated. Also, the foods are minimally processed.

There are five main elements to a plant-based diet:

• Whole-grains
  Whole grains include millet, quinoa, barley, and wheat. Any other form of starch, such as cereals and other grains, is A-okay for a plant-based diet.
• Legumes
  Legumes include pretty much all beans, such as pulses and lentils.
• Fruits
  Any fruit from apples to bananas and from apricots to limes are a part of a plant-based diet.
• Vegetables
  Vegetables include all green leafy veggies, chilies, corn, and peas.
• Tubers
  Tubers include all root vegetables, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Apart from this, you can also add some nuts, seeds, and healthy oils to your diet. Some find switching from their regular diet to a plant-based diet difficult. To top it off, making a plant-based diet at home requires planning, which is why here are some plant-based meal ideas to make your life easier. If these don’t work for you, you can always get some plan-based meal delivery.

Plant-based meal ideas for breakfast

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. It should invigorate you and give you all the necessary nutrients that’ll help you get through the day.

• Cereal
  Oats are healthy, and there’s no denying that. When you add them to a plant-based diet, they ensure that you get your daily dose of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibers. They’re also gluten-free. For a wholesome breakfast, try rolled oats with almond milk, topped with dates, seeds, nuts, and chopped fruits of choice.

If you want, you can also try some tortillas, tacos, and more for a homemade taco breakfast.

Plant-based meal ideas for lunch

Lunch is a good midday meal that ensures your belly does not go empty. It recharges your energy levels and helps you stay sharp. Listed below are some meal options that’ll do precisely that:

• Salad
  Well, a salad can be made up of fruits or vegetables of your choice. But, if you do not know where to begin, you can start with tomatoes, olives, parsley, olive oils, and vinegar. Don’t forget to add a fancy side dish of tubers, such as mashed potatoes, or try whole-grain bread to complement the tanginess and sweetness of the salad. It is important to remember to add different types of items to your bowl of food. Each food contributes to your nutrition and overall health by providing you with various minerals and essential nutritional elements.

• Soup
  Another easy option for lunch is soup. There are few things more pleasing than a delicious broth with a side of crackers. Opt for vegetables of your choice, don’t forget to add some garnish, and get some whole-grain crackers for taste. Don’t forget to end your lunch with a high-fiber fruit.

Of course, you can also try other ideas, such as a vegetarian pizza, or some tofu or tortilla, for added health wrapped in fun.

Plant-based meal ideas for dinner

Dinners are the last meal of the day, which means you want it to be light on your stomach and yet healthy and nutritious. For this, you can opt for simple foods, including the following:

• Pasta
  One of the best and easy-to-make meals is pasta, especially whole grain pasta. Pasta is a cumulative experience that combines whole grains, legumes, and pulses along with a side of salad of your choice.
• Beans
  Well, if you’re up for something light and delicious, beans make for a smart choice. Beans are high in protein and other nutrients, and they also make for easy meals. You can have the bean of your choice, along with some salad and delicious plant-based salad dressing.
• Pizza
  Yes, you can have pizza without cheese. All you need is some squash made out of nuts, lots of veggies, and the willpower to put meals together.
• Tubers
  Nothing does as much justice to fancy yet healthy plant-based dinner options as do some tubers. All you need is the tuber of your choice, but we prefer sweet potatoes with some herb sauce. If you do not want to eat them mashed, you can also make them into noodles.

Plant-based meals are easy to make and healthy; they also have other benefits that help prevent diseases and manage weight easily. To top it all, they are environment-friendly and have a smaller carbon footprint than a meat-diet.

Many individuals find it difficult to transition from their current diet to a plant-based one suddenly. In such cases, it is best to opt for a plant-based meal delivery service. These services plan your daily plant-based meals for you and deliver it to you. This helps you stay fit and healthy without the additional pressure of making the meals yourself.