Considering Lowering Your Animal Product Intake In The New Year?
Perhaps you’ve been wanting to transition over to a more plant-based lifestyle for a while now. Or, alternatively, you’ve just recently heard of the idea and are scared to take the leap–but, at the same time, are intrigued by it.
The good news? You don’t have to go cold tofurkey (if you will). In fact, sometimes the best way to build better habits is to do so gradually.
So here are several levels of plant-based-related resolutions you might add to your list this coming year. If nothing else, I hope they at least give you some options to think about!
Level 1: Start implementing Meatless or Vegan Mondays (or any day that works for you) into your routine.
Small beginnings are nothing to smirk at. And how easy could it be to implement one day of veganism into your life a week? Even if you never go full vegan, I wholeheartedly believe that it would still be a positive step to take.
Sample Meal Ideas: Cereal with almond milk could be a great breakfast, or a fruit smoothie. Lunch could be a faux tuna sandwich made from mashed chickpeas, or even something as simple as a can of vegetable soup with whole wheat toast. Dinner could be as easy as boiling a box of whole wheat pasta and warming a jar of tomato basil sauce, perhaps topping it with sauteed veggies or Gardein Meatless Meatballs. It doesn’t have to be difficult at all.
Level 2: Cut all meat out of your diet–also known as being vegetarian.
The difference between veganism and vegetarianism is one simple thing: vegetarians still consume dairy and eggs, while vegans reject any animal products whatsoever (even extending into clothing and personal care items, such as leather and makeup tested on animals).
If going vegan seems a little daunting to you right now, but you are still attracted to a plant-based lifestyle, vegetarianism is still a valid option. As long as you are ensuring that you get all the proper nutrients–such as b12, biotin, omega 3s and so on–vegetarianism can be a option for those who feel weighed down by an omnivorous diet but who feel intimidated by a vegan diet at the moment.
Sample Meal Ideas: You might try a yogurt parfait with pumpkin seed granola on top for breakfast. For lunch, you could have a taco salad using TVP crumbles. Dinner could be a vegetable panini with pesto. All of these options could also be made vegan, of course, but are also suitable suggestions for a vegetarian day of meals.
Level 3: Begin to eat just a vegan diet.
There are an abundance of vegan options around these days, so it is probably not nearly as hard to make the change as it has been in the past. Again, it’s just a matter of ensuring you get the proper nutrients.
If you feel ready to go straight to veganism as I once did, more power to you. It hasn’t always been an easy road, but I have never regretted it.
Sample Meal Ideas: A great breakfast might be a chickpea flour omelet with a side of fresh fruit. Lunch might be sauteed broccoli and tofu in sesame sauce, or vegetable roll sushi with a side of edamame. Hummus and pretzel sticks make for a great snack, as well as cucumber sticks with Daiya Ranch salad dressing. Dinner could be a nice pot of vegetable chili, or a grilled seitan steak with a side of steamed cauliflower.
With the internet (and this site!) as your guide, you’ll never be at a loss for meal ideas!
Whatever resolution you decide to embark on, just be sure to construct a good foundation with a nutritionist (particularly if you are skipping straight to veganism) to ensure you get and stay healthy. And just know that I’m rooting for you, because positive change begins with small steps!
If you want some more recipes, meal ideas, and supermarket hauls (with the occasional art video), be sure to check out my YouTube channel! And if you got this far, thanks for reading 🙂
See you in 2021!