Five years ago, I came across a documentary on Netflix titled Forks Over Knives and was inspired to give the plant-based lifestyle, also known as veganism, a try for eight weeks. Recently, Jake S. requested a post detailing my experience with a plant-based diet so here are five things I think you should consider before you start, based on my experience.
1. There are multiple types of vegan diets.
Yes, there is more than one type of vegan diet. I followed the Raw Till 4 vegan diet which consisted of eating only raw plant-based foods until 4PM, after which I was able to eat cooked vegan foods. Many people choose this diet as it is believed that foods may lose some nutritious value after being cooked. In a typical day, I would have a large smoothie bowl topped with additional fruits and nut butters, some veggies and hummus or fresh fruit for a snack, a large salad for lunch, followed by a second snack before 4PM. Then for dinner, I’d cook something like lentils or vegan chili as a main dish. Other types of vegan diets include gluten-free veganism, whole food veganism, paleo veganism, amongst others. Do your research to find which diet will suit you and your lifestyle best.
2. You should be intentional about consuming adequate protein, especially if you are physically active.
For those who say it’s impossible to obtain adequate protein while following a vegan diet, ignore the fact that there are many protein rich plant-based foods. In fact, the majority of Americans over-consume protein without knowing so, most of which comes from animal products. While plant-based foods are less protein-dense, meeting your macro goals is definitely attainable. If you’re switching over to a plant-based diet, I would recommend tracking your macros for at least one week to make sure you are consuming enough protein and calories in general. Check out the list below for some high-protein vegan options:
3. You’ll probably save money.
While you will be consuming greater volumes of food to meet your nutrition goals, whole vegan foods tend to be cheaper than most animal products. When I was following a vegan diet, I was able to buy a lot of frozen produce for smoothies in bulk from Costco and spent no money on meat and seafood which tend to be some of the more costly items on a grocery bill. Additionally, because of the limited diet, you’ll spend less money on extra items or treats such as cheese, ice cream, pre-packaged/frozen meals, etc. If I had to guess on average, I saved anywhere from $10-15 per week on grocery shopping alone. Additionally, I saved a lot of money because I ate out less and made more meals at home to make sure they were vegan.
4. Many healthy vegan foods have a short shelf-life.
Some foods like nuts, canned beans, seeds, or frozen items will have a much longer shelf-life but your produce will be a little harder to keep fresh. I found this especially difficult with being on a raw vegan diet. Since I followed this plan while I was in college, I found it cumbersome to carry a cooler around campus to ensure my meals stayed fresh. Additionally, I found myself purchasing only enough produce to last 3-4 days to ensure whatever I had on hand was fresh and nothing was wasted, so I ended up going to the market more frequently than I would have liked.
5. In general, you will increase your carbohydrate intake.
Especially if you choose a raw food diet, you will naturally get more of your calories from carbohydrates. The central nervous system, which includes the brain, prefers carbohydrates which is maybe why I felt much sharper and more energized while studying. But the quick digestion of carbohydrates definitely made the need to be close by snacks constantly a must. So definitely plan to get hungrier quicker by packing snacks and doing your best to include enough protein and healthy fats in each meal to help with satiety.
So while full-time veganism is not for me, I do try to incorporate at least one plant-based meal per day. If you’re looking to add more fruits and vegetables or fiber to your diet, one plant-based meal per day might be a great place to start! So what do you think? Are you going to give veganism a try? Let me know in the comments below if you have tried a plant-based diet or are thinking you might!
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