What Is The Best Diet?
Are you thinking about making a change in your eating habits? If you are on this site, you are clearly committed to eating right, and want to embrace a diet that will enhance good health and well being. Each individual has to decide what the best "diet" is for the long term, and by that I mean, formulate an individual, (what works for you), eating plan.
Why Diet?
Because the word "diet" connotes restriction and deprivation, and is not a lifestyle that is sustainable, I don't like to call eating healthy a "diet". Yo-yo dieting is unhealthy and detrimental to long term health; we must have a eating plan that is compatible with our tastes, lifestyle and health goals. My manta on eating is "I want food to nourish and sustain me, not just entertain me". This practice sometimes means that when I make food choices, I keep my goals in mind.
When you are formulating a plan to nourish and sustain yourself, you have to set your own eating goals. For me, the most important goal is, I don't want to take prescription medication for life to treat conditions that can be addressed with healthy eating and exercise. At this point in my life, I have succeeded at that, while my peers take pills for cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, pancreatitis etc. No. To. That. If. I Can. Help. It. Read some amazing health recovery stories here, (diabetes) here, (asthma) here and here. (heart attack)
Don't Be Rigid-Be Chill
This website has featured many recipes that are vegan or vegetarian because I believe that each and every recipe is a healthy alternative. If I can choose between a bacon cheeseburger and fries, and a nutrition packed Buddha Bowl, it will always be the bowl for me. I like the food better, and I am committed to nourishing and sustaining my body.
The thing about deciding what kind of eater you are is weird. It seems that society wants you to label yourself, limit yourself and become a rigid proponent of a certain diet or eating plan. Whether it is vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, keto, whole30, plant based...well you get the point. Don't box yourself into anything.
The standard American meat and potatoes diet with dessert, doesn't really have a name--it is just the unhealthy alternative. I think the one thing that unites all in search of the perfect eating plan, is a desire to eat healthier.
In my personal plan, the majority of the meals that I eat are vegan and plant based, but I also eat vegetarian meals. I try to eat raw foods, and drink green juice, really anything green and colorful. I avoid alcohol, additives, preservatives, chemicals, antibiotics, hormones and, yes, I limit sugar and carbs that convert to sugar. The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more 25 grams of sugar per day, and men 36 grams of sugar per day.
If you are trying to transition to a healthy eating plan, and considering a plant based diet, take a look at the latest New York Times article on the subject, Antibiotics in Meat Could Be Damaging Our Guts. Gut health is believed to be a significant factor in overall health and well being.
My recommendation is that you start your journey one meal at a time. Try a plant based meal, a plant based snack, and go from there. I think you will be surprised how easy it is once you get familiar with the plant based diet. If you go from meat and potato, junk food eating to eating any plant based meals, that is a great accomplishment. Don't let food stress you out. If you want to have a chicken burrito, do it. I have chicken recipes on my blog because not all of the people that I feed eat plant based. Don't get to the point where food choices dominating your anxiety--just focus on your goals.
The Biggest Misconception About Plant Based Eating
I have been doing this for many decades, and public opinion about various eating programs is almost like politics. People are entrenched in their positions. It doesn't have to be that way. Vegan, vegetarian or plant based diets are rooted in a desire to be healthier, to live longer and live a more quality life unencumbered by health problems for as long as possible.
With that said, for some trying to eat healthy is a struggle for many reasons--physiological, financial, time constraints, consistent availability of healthy options or maybe you are just a lover of meat and potatoes. The one objection to a plant based diet that I want to dispense with is that plant based eating is boring, flavorless, bland, difficult or limited. Not.at.all. The secret to a great plant based diet can be found in spices, sauces and seasoning.
What Exactly Is A Plant Based Diet?
Well, the basic definition of a plant based diet, is what you would think---you don't eat animal products and eat food that comes from plants, mainly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds and legumes. People are often surprised that sometimes the foods that they eat are manufactured in factories, and aren't actually food at all. The essential goal of a whole foods plant based diet is to eat foods that are not processed.
There are many films on Netflix, Amazon and Hulu that introduce you to plant based diets...Forks Over Knives is my favorite. They all definitely address the well know health benefits of a plant based diet, so if you want the whys, check those out.
How To Start A Plant Based Diet
Ok, simplest way to start a plant based diet is to start with one meal. I don't know about you, but I think that most people are creatures of habit--they often eat the same meal for breakfast, and often have only 5-10 meals that they consistently make. You don't need to know how to make 100 recipes to make a plant based meal plan. Start with a list of your favorites in each category, and then combine to create your meal. Here is a sample list of plant based meals that you can start with.
Plant Based Breakfast Ideas
- Oatmeal with fruit
- Vegan yogurt with fruit
- Quinoa with fruit
- Egg substitute omlette with vegetables
- Avocado Toast
- Breakfast Bowl with rice, beans, vegetables and spices
- Adding superfoods to your breakfast bowls can add nutritional value
Plant Based Lunch Ideas
- Salads with vegetables and fruits
- Soup
- Tacos
- Buddha Bowl (combination of grains, vegetables and spices)
- Grilled Vegetable Sandwich
Plant Based Dinner Ideas
- Black Bean or Lentil Pasta Bowls
- Quinoa or Bean Burger
- Vegetable Pizza
- Chili or Stew
I make many of my dinners in the Instant Pot. If you want to learn more about pressure cooker cooking, check out my review here.
Substitutions On Plant Based Diet
When you are starting a plant based diet, you might want to go to your favorite foods. That is actually easier than you would think. There are substitute meat products, that, although processed, are really very good.
Also, as you transition, you will find that there are vegan cheeses, eggs, yogurts, butters and just about anything else that you are used to using. To make your change easier, try some of the substitutes and adjust as you go. Take it...one meal at a time.
For more ideas, check out all the Recipes