How To Eat Healthy As A Vegan

Are you vegan? Or, are you thinking about starting a vegan diet? There are countless great reasons to become vegan. We all know that eating vegetables is healthy. We have heard countless times how we need to cut back on meat.

Then there is the fact that many people simply don’t want to consume animal products. All of these are valid reasons for going vegan, and I applaud every one of you that makes this decision.

Eating a vegan diet is terrific for your health if your diet consists of whole grains, fruits, legumes, and vegetables. The problem is if you don’t eat a well-balanced diet.  If you do decide to make the switch to vegan, you must remember that to not miss out on essential nutrients; you need to plan out your meals very well so that you do not miss out on vital nutrients.

Learning how to eat healthy as a vegan takes a little bit of practice and probably some trial and error, but it’s great once you are used to it!

Eating Healthy As A Vegan

Focus On What You Can Eat

When you put all of your focus on the foods that you can no longer eat, you are always going to be disappointed. Instead of thinking about what you are missing out on, put the focus on what you can have.

Plenty of foods that you can eat as a vegan are delicious and full of flavor. There are great recipes out there just waiting to be tried.

Eat a Variety of Recipes

Any eating plan is going to be boring and easy to veer off if you eat the same things over and over. The key to staying happy with a vegan diet is to eat a variety of recipes, so you don’t get burned out.

Additionally, the more variety in your meals, the more likely you are to maintain a good level of minerals and vitamins.

Put the Emphasis on Those Veggies

You don’t even have to be vegan to know that many of the best recipes out there are veggie-based. Salads, Stir Fry Dishes, Veggie Pizzas, and the list goes on.

If veggies hold that much importance in meat-filled diets, you’ll be amazed at what they can do on a vegan diet. Veggies can easily be the star of your meal.

Skip the Refined Grains

White bread and pasta are not good for anyone, and that includes vegans.

When following a vegan diet, you need to be eating whole grains like quinoa and brown rice. These whole-grain foods add iron and B vitamins.

They also help add fiber to your diet, which is known for keeping you feeling full longer, which is excellent for weight loss benefits.

Avoid Processed, Pre Packaged Vegan Foods

Some things are just not good for our diets, no matter what eating plan we follow. Processed foods are one of those things.

Processed foods are often filled with saturated fats, trans fats, and sugar. None of this is good for a healthy diet. For maximum health benefits, stick to whole foods.

You might want to try something like Freedom Jars if you are looking for convenience. They are great for breakfast or a snack and can even be delivered to your office!

You can learn more about plant-based meal delivery services at https://mealmatchmaker.com/best-plant-based-meal-delivery/.

Take a Vitamin D Supplement

People often get their vitamin D from dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese.  For vegans to get a sufficient amount of vitamin D, they should spend a lot of time in the sunshine during the summer, as that is when our skin can synthesize vitamin D the most.

Most importantly, though, vegans should take a vitamin D supplement regularly.

Consume Plant-Based Protein

For optimum health, it is recommended that men get 56 grams of protein per day, and women 46. This can very easily be met with plant-based proteins.

Many people mistakenly believe that animal products are the only readily available source of protein. This is not true. There are plenty of plant-based protein sources available for our consumption.

These proteins include tofu, soybeans, nuts, legumes, and more!

There are also many plant-based protein powders on the market too. Just grab a water bottle and fill it with your favorite plant-based protein smoothie recipe, and you are good to go!

Pay Attention to Your Iron Intake

When switching to a vegan diet, you must pay attention to your iron intake. The fact is, animal proteins (meat and chicken) are the best sources of iron, so dropping these from your diet means that you need to replace that iron somehow.

Beans, leafy greens, and legumes are high in iron, but iron from this source is not as easy to absorb. Be sure to eat iron-rich plant-based foods with vitamin-C rich foods, as it helps absorption.

You may also want to lay off the red wine from your favorite custom wine club because it can inhibit your body's ability to absorb iron. Maybe opt for a less tannins rich beverage.

As long as you eat whole foods, and pay attention to the vitamins and minerals that you are consuming, eating a vegan diet can be incredibly healthy. For those of you that are nervous about making the jump, you just might be surprised by how delicious it is too.