It can be very intimidating to start a plant based diet. Plant based diets are focused on naturally derived food while excluding animal ingredients including all meat and animal byproducts such as milk or honey. There are many benefits to switching over to a plant based diet. It is better for your body and for the environment. One of the toughest aspects of having a plant based diet is keeping up with it. You may feel limited when eating plant based. Some find it hard to sustain after months or years because of limited variety in their diet. We created this guide to help you jazz up your plant based diet and inspire those who have been thinking about giving the lifestyle a try!
Health Benefits to Plant Based Diets
There are so many benefits to adopting a plant based diet. Firstly, it is great in supporting your immune system. Fruits and vegetables provide many vitamins and minerals that keep your body healthy. Doctors say that plant based diets protect your body against germs and unwanted microorganisms since the diet boosts your immune system. Your immune system must be taken care of delicately. Naturally healing your immune health through food is the most effective way to stay healthy.
Secondly, a plant based diet can help reduce inflammation in the body. Phytochemicals and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables help neutralize toxins found in the body. Your body has received harmful toxins from processed foods, bacteria, pollution, etc. It is important for the body to detox and remove these toxins to prevent you from becoming sick. When toxins build up they can cause inflammation in the body. Eating a plant based diet can keep inflammation at bay. This is a really great diet for someone who is prone to arthritis.
These are just two of the many great health benefits of adopting a plant based diet. Now that you are convinced that plant based is the way to go, here is a list of ways to make your diet more interesting!
1. Treat Yourself to a New Cookbook
If you have been plant based for a while you may feel fatigued by making the same few meals in a constant cycle. Our first tip to jazz up your diet is to invest in a new cookbook. Cookbooks can inspire you to try new foods or create new combinations of foods you already love. There are so many affordable cookbooks available. Most of them are printed so beautifully they can even double as coffee table books. Who would not love new inspiring recipes in addition to a new aesthetically pleasing decoration?
You are in a money pinch and do not want to spend extra money on a physical cookbook. We recommend finding some plant based or vegan influencers and chefs online. Through Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok you can easily find a plant based aficionado. Creators love sharing new recipes. Find someone who has similar tastes to you and follow their channel. Over time you will be inspired to try new recipes and switch up your meal prepping routine. Adding just one new meal in your rotation will make your plant based diet exciting again!
2. Replace Alcohol with an Herbal Tonic
Another great way to spruce up your plant based diet is by replacing alcohol with an herbal tonic. A mocktail tonic is a tasty and healthy way to have a fancy drink. Alcohol is not great for your overall health. Whether or not it is a normal part of your diet you can add herbal tonic mocktails into your nighttime routine to receive the benefits of plants instead of dealing with the negative effects of alcohol.
Tonics allow you to make fun bubbly drinks that are tasty and healthy. One tonic you can try is one infused with ashwagandha. This herb is known as a soothing herb because it has a calming effect on the body.
3. Smoothies! Smoothies! Smoothies!
If you are new to a plant based diet and do not know where to start or are looking to add more plant based meals into your diet you should consider investing in a blender. Smoothies are one of the best ways to get your needed daily intake of vitamins and minerals. They are delicious, refreshing, and low maintenance!
4. Don’t Be Scared of Spice
Our fourth tip is to revitalize your spice cabinet! Spices can be intimidating but they do not need to be! There are plenty of vegan friendly spices you can start using to add more dynamic flavor to your plant based meals. The top ten vegan spices we would recommend are cloves, basil, cinnamon, chili powder, cayenne pepper, curry powder, garlic powder, ginger, nutmeg, and paprika. To really get in touch with your green thumb you can have fun by starting your own herb and spice garden. See how satisfying cooking will become when you start using basil grown from your own garden.
Mindfulness
When you are feeling stuck or in a rut surrounding your diet, come back to this guide and explore the possibilities of these four tips. It is important to get excited about cooking and staying passionate about healthy eating because it benefits you in the long run. Even when it seems boring or difficult to maintain, remember you are taking care of yourself. Take pride in your plant based diet and remember to have fun with it!
