What is a Plant-Based Diet

What is a Plant-Based Diet – interested in eating a little more plant-based? This is a great place to start!

Images for a chickpea salad, veggie lo mein, vegan enchiladas, avocado rice bowl, and the title \"what is...plant-based\".

Learn where to start, resources and try some fun new plant-based recipes!

(This is informational ONLY. If you are considering a plant-based diet please discuss with your doctor or a dietitian)

Table of Contents

When you follow a plant-based diet you choose to eat foods from plant sources. You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to follow this diet. It’s just focusing on foods primarily from plants.

What foods are not typically eaten on a plant-based diet

If you are following a plant-based diet you might eliminate these foods entirely or you might just try to lessen or limit the following foods in your diet:

Meat
Dairy foods
Eggs
Fish

There are many people that try to eat MOSTLY plant-based foods while still eating SOME of these items. It varies for everybody.

What are some benefits to following a plant-based diet

By lowering your intake of meat you might notice improved gut health, lower cholesterol, a more stable blood sugar, and it can help you maintain a healthy body weight.

Where is a good place to start

Some people start simple with “meatless mondays”, which is planning a plant-based or meatless meal every Monday night. It’s a great place to start sprinkling in some recipes to see what you like. You can always build from there and try to gradually make more and more plant-based meals.

Now that you have identified why you want to try this diet and how to do it, find what foods make your body feel great!

Ok, it can be hard knowing that some foods that taste absolutely delicious don’t jive well with your body. But when you see how good your body will feel after omitting the foods that give you trouble – I promise you, it’s worth it!! There are so many delicious foods in this world and we are here to help you with some amazing recipes to fit the diet that helps you feel your best!

Here are a few plant-based reader favorites

Interested in a plant-based diet: Tips on Starting

Learn more about plant-based foods
Track how you are feeling when you eat more plant-based foods
Talk to a doctor or dietitian
Start experimenting with new recipes! Here are a few we love:
Resource: here is a great resource from Harvard about why you might want to try plant-based eating!