Our 6 best tips for eating more plant-based

The trend of more people opting for a plant-based diet started years ago but continues to gain momentum. It is expected that next year, too, the number of people choosing plant-based products will significantly increase.

In this article, we provide you with our 6 best tips to help you eat even more plant-based next year.

1. Take it slow

If you've been accustomed to a certain way of eating your whole life, eliminating all animal products from your diet and transitioning to a more plant-based or entirely plant-based diet can be quite a challenge. Additionally, your body needs time to adjust to consuming different (plant-based) foods.

The best way is to take it slow and give yourself the time to learn to eat differently and reduce the amount of animal products in your diet.

Don't force yourself to give up everything at once. Start by eating vegetarian for a few days a week. Begin with a Meatless Monday and gradually extend it to multiple days per week.

2. Focus on the basics

Our bodies can thrive without meat and fish if you ensure that you eat enough and diversely.

3. Replace Meat

Eating healthily without meat or fish isn't difficult. It might take a bit of extra planning at first, but there's certainly a plant-based alternative for all your favorite dishes.

If you're used to having deli meats on your bread, you can replace them with other toppings. Consider various fruits, homemade hummus, bean spread, avocado, nut butter, grilled vegetables, or sautéed mushrooms.

There are several ways to replace meat in your dinner. Tofu, tempeh, legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils), mushrooms, and nuts are excellent egg and meat substitutes.

Some examples:

• Tofu scramble cooked with various vegetables (spinach, tomato, bell pepper, mushrooms) with soy sauce/ketjap and Indian spices.
• Black bean burrito with lettuce, corn, tomato salsa, and avocado.
• Curry with lentils, sweet potato, and pumpkin.
• Chickpea or bean burger with salad and baked potato.
• Stir-fried vegetables with grilled tempeh and homemade peanut sauce.
• Plant-based chili with beans, tofu crumbles, various vegetables, and rice.

Additionally, there are now more and more good meat replacement products (vegetarian chicken, burgers, deli slices, bacon bits, etc.) available in supermarkets, making it easier to incorporate more plant-based options.

4. Replace Dairy 

There are various plant-based dairy alternatives, and there's even plant-based cheese made from coconut milk (or nuts).

Dairy products are a good source of proteins and calcium, but they are not essential and can be easily replaced when you want to eat more plant-based or follow a lactose-free diet.

For example, replace your whey protein shake with a plant-based protein shake.

Or, substitute milk and yogurt with a soy-based alternative, or make a morning bowl of oatmeal with plant-based milk or a green smoothie with frozen fruit and plant-based proteins to meet your daily protein needs.

5. Variety

When you're transitioning to a more plant-based diet, vegetables, legumes (beans, lentils, etc.), and whole grains (buckwheat, quinoa, pasta, rice) become the foundation of your meals. This is different from a typical "Western meal" where meat is the main ingredient.

So, try out new things. Especially Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, and Indian cuisines offer many plant-based dishes.

Experiment with new (seasonal) vegetables, use more fresh and dried herbs, and look for delicious plant-based recipes. You'll find that you become more creative in preparing your plant-based meals.

6. Download Our Plant-Based Guide

We've created a free plant-based guide for everyone looking to eat more plant-based, even if it's not every day. Maybe you love steak but want to incorporate more greens into your weekdays. Or perhaps you just need a little push to break your eating habits. Eating more plant-based is always a good plan.

In our plant-based guide, we've transformed the tastiest classics that usually contain meat and dairy into plant-based recipes that you'll love. We also provide useful tips to make the transition easier!

Conclusion