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Forget orange, plant-based diets are the new black! Recently I stumbled on to a few articles about the many health benefits offered by the whole food plant-based diet, and I could not drag myself away. Nutritionists, bloggers, and gurus all appear to be on the same page when it comes to this healthy eating weight loss plan: Plant-based diets are trending, and all signs point to great health.
If you’ve been thinking of starting a plant-based diet, but you’re not sure where to begin, grab a cup of coffee, a glass of pinot, or your favorite smoothie, and get ready to find out everything you need to know about getting started! This beginner’s guide covers all the bases.
Today you’ll find out why everyone and their mom is talking about the plant-based diet. We’ll review the benefits, how to meal plan to save some cash, what to eat & buy at the grocery store, what foods to avoid like the plague, what foods to get in your belly right now, and, finally, 30 plant-based diet recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
What Is A Plant-Based Diet?
Whole food, plant-based diets are heart healthy, environment-friendly, type-2 diabetes-fighting lifestyle eating plans that celebrate food and nourish your body. On a plant-based diet, you’ll focus on eating whole or non-processed foods and plants like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts.
Psst: It’s not the same as vegan. I could go on & on about this, but I don’t want to confuse you, because it is VERY CONFUSING!
You’ll see & hear people refer to the plant-based diet as vegan a lot. But they aren’t the same.
Vegans don’t eat any animal products: no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no honey-because it originated from a conscious being. Sounds healthy until you think about what a vegan can eat. Technically, a vegan can eat Oreos & French Fries all day since they did not come from or use any animal product.
Now, this isn’t the case on a plant-based diet.
A plant-based diet is similar to vegan in that they both avoid animal products, but a plant-based diet takes it a step further and excludes all processed foods and fast foods-even the ones that are technically considered vegan.
So no Oreos & Fries for you.
Why is any of this important? You need to know about the differences in these diets because when you are searching for cookbooks or recipes, this 411 will put you ahead of the game. And, you need to know what you can & cannot eat! (More on that later)
Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
Gut Health
Plant-based diets that are full of whole grains, legumes, and seeds support gut health by increasing the healthy bacteria in our GI tract.
Diabetes
Both The American Diabetes Association and The American Academy of Dietetics recommend the plant-based diet for patients with diabetes.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women (& men) in the United States. Plant-based diets reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol, and helping with weight loss.
Cancer
Recent research shows us plant-based diets may help with slowing the progression of some cancers due to the antioxidant content of whole plant foods like fruits and vegetables.
Weight Loss
With no calories or macros to count or portions to measure, many find plant-based diets easier to manage compared to other weight loss programs. Another contributing factor to weight loss on a plant-based diet is the fiber-rich fruits and vegetables which keep you feeling full and less hungry causing you to eat less. Last but not least, the elimination of processed foods and sugar also help lead to a lower number on the scale.
Plant-Based Diet Meal Planning
Ask any nutrition expert what the number 1 tip is to lose weight, and he or she will tell you to meal plan! Meal planning is the best way to stick to every diet no matter what type it is! Here are a few of the many benefits of meal planning on a plant-based diet.
Save Time & Money: Having a plan will eliminate last minute drive through dinners and meals and the dreaded “What’s for dinner” conversation! Those last minute runs to the store are costing you more than you think! Planning means choosing plant-based recipes with fruits & veggies that are in season & less expensive.
Helps You Make Good Choices: Keeping the fridge & pantry stocked with healthy fruits and veggies will eliminate those midnight madness snacks. You know, when you raid your kids Halloween candy stash or opt to drive through Taco Bell because, hey, we’re busy people!
Makes Grocery Shopping Easy: When you’ve got a recipe line-up, you can whip in and out of the store like a boss because you’ve got a plan! You make ONE trip to the store for everything. No more last minute trips!
How To Do It
Do Not Spend All Day Meal Prepping!!!!
Unless you want to get burned out or meal prep is your passion. In that case, go for it! Otherwise, set a timer for two hours & when it dings you are DONE! That’s enough time to prep veggies, legumes, cook grains, and pick out recipes if needed. Enjoy your weekend! Don’t do too much at once. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in two focused hours!
Make A Plan
Set aside 45 minutes or so and select your recipes for the week. Save them on your phone by taking a screenshot or save them on a Pinterest board or go old-school and print them out! Just keep them someplace safe! This guide gives you 30 days of recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you have time to develop a system that works for you going forward!
Save Money
Shop the sales in the Sunday newspaper. (Yes, this is still a thing!) Select your weekly recipes according to what you can buy for less! Check to see what grocery stores in your area double coupons. You can save a TON this way & no; you don’t have to be an extreme coupon to do it! Save big online shopping by using apps like Ebates & ibotta. (These are my favorite shopping apps because they allow me to earn cash back rebates at stores like Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Sam’s, & Whole Foods!) And be sure to check out Thrive Market! Their prices are up to 50% off – everyday – & – they deliver!
Use Multi-Purpose Recipes
Find recipes you can double or you know will allow for leftovers you can eat for lunch. You know, Monday night’s chili turns into Tuesday’s Taco type of thing! I’ve included several multi-purpose plant-based recipes below in case you’re interested. See chili, soups, and [vegan] burgers.
Batch Cook
Cook up a big batch of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, or barley to go with your weekly meals on Saturday or Sunday.
Soak & cook chickpeas and beans on your preferred meal prep day. Then portion them out for salads, buddha bowls, and chilis. This process will not take up your entire day, but it will save you tons of time later in the week!
Don’t Get Too Gourmet
Start with simple recipes and build your way up. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with a gorgeous Pinterest 15-step recipe and wear yourself out. Start with easy recipes!
Worried You Can’t Afford A Plant Based Diet?
Check out Thrive Market! They are on a mission to make the best healthy foods & products affordable & accessible to everyone – especially if you’re on a budget!
Ok. So, you need a little more to go on than just “no processed foods” and “eat healthy grains” & go shop at Thrive before you make your list to stock your pantry for the first time, right?
Here’s a fantastic plant-based starter list of the most nutrient dense vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Remember-you don’t have to buy all of these! To keep costs down, buy fruits and veggies that are in season and buy in bulk when you can! Ready to do this? Thought so:)
Plant-Based Diet Shopping List
Vegetables
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Spinach
- Cabbage
- Swiss Chard
- Arugula
- Bok Choy
- Collard Greens
- Mustard Greens
- Endive
- Carrots
- Beets
- Turnips
- Sweet Potato
- Potato
- Radishes
- Garlic
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Zucchini
- Squash
- Eggplant
- Cucumber
- Peas
- Tomato
- Bell Pepper
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
Fruit
- Whole fruit (not canned)
- Citrus Fruits
- Apples
- Pears
- Plums
- Peaches
- Berries
- Grapes
- Melon
- Bananas
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Kiwi
Whole Grains
- Beans
- Peas
- Peanuts
- Chickpeas
Nuts & Seeds
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Flaxseed
- Natural Peanut Butter
Foods To Avoid (In Case You Get Tempted)
Refined Grains: White Rice, White Pasta, White Bread
Processed Food: Candy, Cake, Pastries, Chips
Fast Food
Meat
Fish
Pork
Poultry
Seafood
Dairy
Eggs
Plant-Based Diet Protein Sources
Wondering where on earth you’ll get your protein? (FYI: The recommended amount is 46 grams per day:) The key is selecting the right plant-based foods so you can make sure you get the proper amount. Here are a few of the best sources of plant-based protein. A couple of these may be new to you (Natto???), so I included a very brief description to the side:)
- Lentils: 18 Grams of Protein Per Serving
- Natto: (Fermented Soybean, Available at Specialty Stores) 31 Grams of Protein Per One Cup Serving
- Chickpeas: 14 Grams of Protein Per Serving
- Quinoa: (Whole-Grain Superfood) 8 Grams of Protein Per 1 Cup Serving
- Almonds: 6 Grams of Protein Per Serving
- Chia Seeds: 6 Grams of Protein Per 2 Tablespoons
- Tempeh: (From Soybeans, Available at Health Food Stores) 18 Grams of Protein Per Serving
- Tofu: (From Condensed Soy milk) 15 Grams of Protein Per Serving
- Seitan: (Meat Substitute, Available at Whole Foods) 21 Grams of Protein Per 1/3 Cup Serving
- Edamame: 17 Grams of Protein Per One Cup Serving
Ready to find out if the whole food, plant-based lifestyle is right for you? Here are some of the most delicious, protein-filled plant-based recipes for beginners for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
Plant-Based Diet Breakfast Recipes
Chickpea Flour Scramble ~ Vegan Richa
Vegan Chocolate Zoats ~ Vegan Heaven
Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Bars ~ The Glowing Fridge
Vegan Breakfast Skillet ~ Heather Christo
Everyday Quinoa Breakfast Bowl ~ Contentedness Cooking
Healthy No Bake Carrot Cake Breakfast Bars ~ The Big Man’s World
Vegan Breakfast Burrito ~ Delightful Adventures
Vegan Breakfast Bowl ~ Contentedness Cooking
Banana-Oat Chocolate Chip Pancakes ~ Forks Over Knives
Farmers Market Vegan Breakfast Bowl ~ Choosing Chia
Overnight Coconut Buckwheat Porridge ~ Foolproof Living
Chickpea Flour Mini Veggie Frittatas ~ The Mostly Vegan
Simple Vegan Breakfast Toast (Not Boring) ~ Veganosity
Easy Overnight Oats With Chia ~ Forks Over Knives
Chickpea Flour Omelet With Curried Peas ~ Plant-Based Cooking
Quick & Easy Banana Porridge With Warm Berries ~ Healthy & Psyched
Fruit & Nut Oatmeal ~ Forks Over Knives
Healthy Banana Bread ~ Cookie & Kate
Smoothie Bowl ~ My Plant-Based Family
Potato + Walnut Quinoa Bowl ~ MindBodyGreen
Cardamom Cinnamon Oil Free Breakfast Granola ~ Sprouting Zen
Easy Vegan Breakfast Burrito ~ The Awesome Green
Vegan Spinach Artichoke Quiche ~ V Nutrition And Wellness
Simple Vegan Cashew Yogurt ~ Simple Vegan Blog
Tropical Acai Bowl ~ Cookie + Kate
Coffee Granola ~ Veggie Inspired
Basic Stovetop Old Fashioned Oatmeal (Vegan) ~ Natt Wrobel
Peanut Butter Acai Bowl ~ Bakerita
Papaya Boats With Chia Pudding ~ Mindful Avocado
Scrambled Tofu Breakfast Bowl ~ I Love Vegan
Plant-Based Diet Lunch Recipes
Black Bean Wrap ~ Veggie Primer
Mango & Black Bean Tacos ~ Forks Over Knives
California Chopped Kale Salad ~The Glowing Fridge
Mediterranean Pinwheels ~ Contentedness Cooking
Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowls ~ Cookie + Kate
Vegan Hummus Wrap ~ Ahead of Thyme
Quick Nori Roll With Cucumber And Avocado ~ Chocolate & Zucchini
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad ~ Emilie Eats
Curried Chickpea Lettuce Wraps ~ Beauty Bites
Crispy Chimichurri Cauliflower Tacos ~ This Savory Vegan
Simple Vegan Potato Salad ~ Minimalist Baker
Turmeric Roasted Chickpea Carrot Salad With Apple Cider Tahini Dressing ~ Cotter Crunch
Vegan Apple Broccoli Salad ~ Vegan In The Freezer
Vegan Basil Ricotta Pinwheels ~ Vegan Heaven
15 Minute Garlic Cashew Lime Zoodles ~ Salt & Lavender
Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale & Cranberry Couscous ~ Gimme Some Oven
Quick & Easy Vegan Buddha Bowl ~ Savor + Savvy
Roasted Sweet Potato And Cauliflower Rice Collard Wraps ~ The Roasted Root
Loaded Kale Salad ~ The Minimalist Baker
Spicy Cauliflower Power Bowl ~ Pumpkin & Peanut Butter
Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad ~ The Recipe Critic
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes With Easy Thai Peanut Sauce ~ Quite Good Food
Sweet Potato Black Bean Quinoa Bowls ~ Joyful Healthy Eats
Roasted Vegetable Nourish Bowl ~ Real + Vibrant
Easy Asparagus White Bean Salad ~ C Nutritionally
Rad Rainbow Raw Pad Thai ~ Oh She Glows
Stuffed Za’atar Roasted Acorn Squash W/Pepper-Lemon Tahini Sauce ~ Dolly And Oatmeal
Vegan Black Bean Ceviche ~ Fooduzzi
Brown Rice, Black Bean & Sweet Potato Bowl ~ Cooking With Cocktail Rings
Mexican Four Bean Salad ~ Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Plant-Based Diet Dinner Recipes
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