The What, Why & How of Plant-based Nutrition, for Everyone
Here’s something that might surprise you: not all plant-based diets require elimination of meat. From “meaty” to minimal to meat-free, there are a variety of plans to choose from. And whatever plan you choose, you can be confident that your plant-based diet will help enhance fitness performance, reduce your risk for acute illness, and protect against chronic diseases. In addition, your plant-based diet will play a part in reducing society’s reliance on fossil fuels, minimizing degradation of environmental resources, and supporting the vitality of Mother Earth and all her creatures.
Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about transitioning to a plant-based diet.
What is a Plant-Based Diet?
A plant-based diet is a nutritional approach that places the focus of each meal on filling your plate with plant foods and whole foods: foods that are not processed and laden with sugars, preservatives, artificial ingredients, or other chemicals and additives. The greater the volume of plant-based and whole foods in your diet, the greater your likelihood for good health.
Examples of foods that make-up a plant-based menu:
- Vegetables: spinach, kale, broccoli, collards, peppers, peas.
- Tubers (root vegetables): potatoes, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets.
- Fruits: every color and flavor enjoyed in their natural season of the year.
- Legumes & Beans: chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, edamame, pinto beans, etc.
- Nuts & Seeds: nutrient-dense essentials for any diet: almonds, cashews, flaxseed, chia seed, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds
- Whole grains and healthy starches: in their whole form, such as quinoa, brown rice, millet, whole wheat, oats, barley, and even popcorn.
What is the Difference Between No Meat and Less-Meat Diets?
Vegan and vegetarian diets, the two most well-known, eliminate meat, fish, and poultry to differing degrees. Vegan diets also eliminate eggs, dairy products, and any other products that are derived from animals. However, there are Vegetarian diet subtypes that allow for consuming different animal products:
- consume dairy and egg: lacto-ovo-vegetarian
- consume dairy, no egg: lacto-vegetarian
- consume egg, no dairy: ovo-vegetarian
- consume egg, dairy, fish, seafood: pescatarian
- consume egg, dairy, fish, and limited poultry: flexitarian
Do I Have to Completely Eliminate Meat to Benefit from Plant-based Eating?
No. A plant-based diet doesn’t have to eliminate meat. That choice is one that vegans and vegetarians often make based on personal, health and environmental considerations. Should you choose a plant-based diet, you may still eat small amounts of meat, as well as poultry, fish, seafood, and dairy (aka flexitarian or a sub-type of vegetarianism noted above).
How Do I Begin?
- Start by eating less meat at each meal, before trying to eliminate meat completely.
- Choose tempeh, tofu, or a similar based protein as a substitute for meat.
- When plating your food, start with fresh greens and a rainbow of fruits and vegetables.
- Add a whole grain and protein to your meal, along with healthy fat (e.g., avocado, nuts)
You may want to plan meals ahead of time so that you can carefully balance nutrients at each meal (that is, making sure you get sufficient protein, carbs, healthy fats and a variety of nutrients throughout the day).
Are Packaged Meat-free Meals a Good Choice?
Packaged meatless meals are available and may be a good option, in moderation. Grocery store shelves are filled with these processed plant-based “fortified with” foods. But buyer beware: many of these products (including the meatless burgers that are on restaurant menus) are highly processed. Look for foods that have a short list of ingredients, most of them being plant-derived, and free of chemical additives, hydrogenated oils, and emulsifiers.
Will I Get Enough Nutrients on a Plant-Based Diet?
When you opt for more plant-based eating, be adventurous in trying new foods and different combinations of foods to help ensure that you consume the nutrients essential for optimal health, including:
- B vitamins, particularly B12 and B6
- Calcium, zinc, selenium, and iron
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Protein and fat in an amount suitable for your age and activity level
To help you establish a plant-based diet that meets your specific needs, talk to Dr. Myra Reed to assess your nutrient status. This may involve running blood tests or other assessments to check for nutrient deficiencies in your diet.
Resources:
- ForksOverKnives.com: “Beginner’s Guide to a Plant-based Diet.”
- HeartFoundation.org.NZ: “Plant-based, Vegetarian and Vegan Diets”
- Harvard Health Newsletter: “What is a Plant-based Diet and Why Should You Try It?”
- USNewsHealth.com: “Health Buzz: How You Can Ease Into a Vegan Diet.” Posted by David Oliver (31 May 2018): https://health-usnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/health.usnews.com/wellness/health-buzz/articles/2018-05-31/how-you-can-ease-into-a-vegan-diet?context=amp
- The Vegetarian Society. https://www.vegsoc.org/