Even if you don't want to go vegan, we can all learn something from this lifestyle. Since my husband and I became full-fledge vegans, we have discovered an unending well of health, happiness and energy we didn't know existed. But, there's a "right" way to go green and a wrong way. Here are our tips on what not to do:
1. Don't just cut out meat and dairy and assume you are now a vegan. Your diet has to drastically change by incorporating more of the right foods: beans, hemp, nuts, oil, seeds, fresh produce, grains, etc. A lot of people think it's about cutting out foods. It's not. Instead, it's about what you incorporate into your diet. Instead of the processed foods, meat or dairy you normally eat, you swap them with healthier, more easily digestible foods. Swapping enriched flour with chickpea or buckwheat flour, regular pasta with quinoa pasta, swapping chicken and fish with hemp, beef with beans... Getting more seeds, nuts and the right kind of oils is important as well. Educate yourself on what your body needs.
2. Don't eat "meatless" alternatives. So many vegetarians and vegans I know eat tons of soy burgers, "fake" chicken tenders, corn dogs, etc. They try and replace meat with a meat alternative at every meal. This is just another way of getting processed foods you don't need, and most of these meat substitutes contain a ton of sodium. It's not that meatless varieties are bad - but they shouldn't be the staples of your diet. You need to focus on eating the most natural variety of foods you possibly can.
3. Don't skimp on protein. "Where do you get your protein?" It's a question we hear every single day. We get our protein from the following: beans (of all varieties), hemp seeds and hemp protein powder, nuts, seeds (seeds offer a ton of protein), homemade protein bars (so good), tofu (on occasion) and grains (such as millet, spelt and quinoa, which is very high in protein). Hemp would be our number one pick for protein. It's got all of your essential fatty acids and is a godsend to vegans and vegetarians.
4. Don't think you are limited. Since Alex plays rugby, he gets ribbed constantly. "Oh, are you sure you can eat that?" "God, you're so skinny!" "Eat a cheeseburger!" "Why not eat meat? It's so good!" It's not about meat being good. Of course it's good. So are donuts. That doesn't mean it's good for your body. Alex and I now pick foods that are easy to digest, so our bodies have more energy to do normal, everyday activities. Ever notice how you get exhausted after a pasta dinner? Your body has to work so hard to digest that food, leaving you little energy to do anything else. The foods we eat have the sole purpose to constantly heal and recover damage within our bodies. The more fresh produce we eat, the more antioxidants we get, which in turn, translates to energy and feeling great all day long.
5. Don't eat complicated foods. Many vegan restaurants have "weird" concoctions that most people wouldn't want to try. Our days are simple. They go as follows:
Breakfast: oatmeal with berries, almond butter, agave and hemp seeds or buckwheat pancakes
Mid-morning: Vega protein shake made with banana, kiwi, ice, water, protein powder and cinnamon
Lunch: Giant salad topped with fresh veggies, nuts, avocado, homemade dressing and sometimes beans and quinoa
Mid-afternoon: Homemade energy bar or fruit, seeds and raw nuts
Dinner: A variety of options, which include, but are not limited to: homemade soups with yam fries, vegetarian tacos (delicious), homemade pizzas, walnut hemp burgers with mixed greens and butternut squash fries, quinoa pasta with homemade tomato sauce, three-bean chili, etc.
As you can see, we eat pretty "normally." Yes, there are a few odd things to some people, but everything we eat is fresh and wonderful. So, if you want to take the plunge, do your homework!! And feel free to ask us questions. You have nothing to lose but a lack of energy, weight, and sluggishness. There's an entirely different way of eating out there that exists... start small and see what positive changes you can make!
Ingredients:
2 bananas
2 fresh dates
1 cup popped Amaranth (This is a great substitute for heavier flours. It adds texture and crunch. You can pop this in an air popcorn popper or in a frying pan.)
1 cup chocolate hemp milk
1 cup water (or less, depending on how thick you want batter)
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup hemp protein
1/4 cup roasted carob powder
1/4 cup unsweetened carob chips
Process all ingredients until smooth. Heat a skillet with coconut oil over medium heat. Pour batter into pan and cook 3-4 minutes per side. Top with berries and agave and serve!
Filed under: vegetarian
Tags: healthy tips for vegetarian lifestyle, tips to becoming vegan, vegan, vegan change, vegan foods, vegan lifestyle
