Why I LOVE eating plant-based!

I know a lot of you are wondering if this is going to be a post trying to persuade you into becoming vegan/eating plant-based. And let me just say that this is NOT the case. I don't believe in trying to make others think or eat the way I do or how anybody "should" live or eat. This is just simply my opinion on the topic of veganism and living plant-based, and why I like it so much! 

 

Here are my top 4 reasons for why I love eating plant-based and being a vegan!

 

1. It's super EASY & SIMPLE

(Yep, these are 4 fully vegan avocado toasts!)

Now, I know this may seem far-fetched, but I have to say, being a vegan is a lot easier than you may think. I've been plant-based for over a year now and I honestly don't mind it all. IT'S NOT JUST VEGETABLES OR "RABBIT FOOD!!" The transition was a bit strange at first.. Having to cut out dairy, milks, cheeses, meats of course and products like honey and eggs felt like a lot to not have anymore.. However, as I learned the lifestyle more and more, I realized how simple it would be to incorporate vegan protein substitutes and even vegan "cheeses!". I also found out that almost every restaurant now in this day and age has at least one vegan option (I say at least at the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM!!). And of course, if a restaurant does not have specific vegan options, most are able to whip up a customized plant-based dish for you. But, if eating out isn't your thing, there are many ways to create your own personal vegan meals! You can use proteins such as beans (black, pinto, gigante, etc.), soy such as tempeh or tofu, and you can have them on their own or even made into "veggie" burgers. You can pair these proteins with grains such as rice (brown, white, jasmine), quinoa, buckwheat, and many many more. Don't forget the veggies! 

2. I can still enjoy foods 'veganized' that I used to live off of before I switched to being a vegan

(Yes, this is vegan grilled cheese!)

Making the switch to veganism was a little jarring at first because I thought I would miss out on all my favorite foods I used to enjoy on a daily basis. However, to my surprise, there are many ways to "recreate" your favorites with vegan alternatives that can even taste better than the original! Let's take your go-to ice cream, for example chocolate. Of course, that ice cream is filled with dairy, milk, cream and lactose city! But, with the help of ingredients such as coconut or even cashew paired with a sweetener like dates or maple syrup and some spices/seasonings like cacao powder, you can whip up your own plant-based "nice" cream. If nuts or coconuts ain't your thing, you can easily use mashed banana that's been frozen with some spices just like before to make a very similar end result! Something I also want to mention is that I also chose to give up refined sugars as they made me feel very "hyper" afterwards and I would experience dulling sugar crashes.. So, I decided to replace your average white/brown or cane sugars with natural alternatives like stevia, dates, maple syrup, coconut sugar/nectar or even banana. The product is pretty much identical to it's refined sugar partner, and it's also a very easy swap! 

 

3. There is so much variety + to choose from

Vegans don't just have the same thing over and over.. There is so much selection available! Let's say one day you want an oatmeal for breakfast, avocado toast for lunch, and a veganized spaghetti with pesto for dinner. This is of course all possible with vegan ingredients! The pasta can easily use a "vegan" pesto made with walnuts/almonds with seasonings such as onion, lemon basil and garlic with a little pinch of salt and your choice of noodles. The next day you could have a vegan coconut yogurt parfait for, and then maybe a vegan grilled cheese made with a nut-based cheese like cashew for example. And finally, end it off with a tofu "nourish" bowl with sweet and sour tofu, quinoa, cauliflower and maybe some lettuce greens. Oh, and of course there are so many dessert options as well! The popular "nice" cream, vegan protein "balls", raw vegan pies maybe.. The list goes on! I think the point is that as long as you're educated on what is considered "vegan" and what isn't, there isn't much of a problem/struggle. The Internet is full of great and delicious recipes that will make being plant-based an absolute breeze!

 

Here's one you can try out for yourself: https://beamingbaker.com/dark-chocolate-nice-cream-vegan-gluten-free-dairy-free/

(Note, the maple syrup sweetener in this nice cream recipe can be substituted with almost any alternative such as date paste/syrup, stevia, etc.)

 

4. It's NOT just vegetables (trust me!!)

This is a common misconception with being "vegan" or "plant-based" is that it's really just all vegetables with no substance (just lettuce with broccoli). And this is so far away from the truth! As fore-mentioned, you can use so many different types of protein sources if you're looking to make muscle like the various bean varieties, soy products or even nuts like walnuts, almonds or cashews! (Yes! There are vegan bodybuilders out there!) Of course, there are so many vegan grain sources out there, such as oats, buckwheat, quinoa, good ol' fashioned rice, and even spelt! You can even cereals that use buckwheat or spelt flakes paired with your favorite nut milk or coconut milk, even oat milk! Vegetables are of course part of being plant-based, and I know there are many people who don't like them. BUT! You can easily hide any vegetable in a veggie burger or even falafels for example. Or, you can put on a homemade sauce on top of your vegetables such as a sweet and sour, or pesto, their taste can be easily masked. However, if you are a vegetable lover like me, this won't be an issue! 

 

As you can see, being vegan does not have to be difficult or hard to manage! It's a lot easier than it may seem and can be equally or even more delicious than non-vegan food. You just have to try it out for yourself and see if you like it or not, and with that, I am not forcing you to do so.

But, if you are inspired by this blog post and want to give it a shot, check out this 7-day vegan meal plan: https://runningonrealfood.com/one-week-vegan-meal-plan/

That's all for now! Thanks for reading. :)