You guys! I really cannot believe that 90% of my meals lately are plant based. As a life long meat eater, I never saw myself being able to take a turn down “plant eaters lane”, but here we are, and Honestly, after having CJ, I was having a tough time getting back to myself. I was eating healthy and dabbling in exercise, but it wasn’t until I started eating 1 plant-based meal a day and then two and then 3 that my world started to open up. All of a sudden my mind became clearer, the final bit of weight came off, sleep got better and my postpartum acne cleared up! All it took was a bit of experimentation and a mindset shift from: “I have to eat this” to “I get to eat this”. Then all of a sudden, plant based eating at home and at restaurants became easy!
For me, I will never put myself into a certain eating category. I make food choices based on what makes me feel my best and plants empower and power me to the max! Of course, so do the occasional cheeseburger or slice of pizza topped with gooey, greasy cheese, but o a totally different level. Oh hey, soul food! I love plant based meals that are easy, nutrient dense, while still allowing you to feel full and satisfied. If you are thinking of going plant based or not, try this easy “Nut Butter Toast” from #BaptistHealthy!
My tips when creating breakfast toast is to try and maximize the nutrient density! Choose sprouted or whole wheat toast instead of white and up the nutrition level with super seeds with omega-3 and fibrous chia seeds.
So what next? How about a plant-based dinner.
My go-to items lately are quinoa bowls, fallafel salads or a hearty bowl of whole wheat pasta! On occasion, my husband and I make plant based Impossible Burgers and homemade sweet potato fries as an indulgence. Yes, I used the words plant based and indulgence in the same sentence. Guys, just because something is labeled vegan or plant based does not mean it is necessarily healthy.
Environmentally friendly? Absolutely! For me, that is reason enough for me to replace a traditional meat patty with a plant based alternative. According to this article: One analysis found that the carbon footprint of the ImpossibleTM Burger is 89 percent smaller than a real beef burger, and its production requires 87 percent less water and 96 percent less land. Climate change is also a concern; roughly 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock alone, placing factory farms among the most greenhouse gas-intensive sectors in manufacturing. Climate change is REAL and we cannot ignore it for much longer. If the environment is a concern to you, consider making the switch!
With that said,“A homemade plant-based burger patty made from beans or lentils, such as a delicious #BaptistHealthy Lentil Veggie Patty, would be the healthiest version of a plant-based burger,” Ms. Talamas says, Registered Dietician from Baptist health South Florida. I am sure by now you have heard of the Impossible and Beyond Meat burgers, but just because they are plant based, are they necessarily healthy?
Let’s look at the quarter pounder Impossible Burger:
Same amount of protein as a lean beef patty
Impossible Burger has 40% more calories and 7 times more sodium
The impossible burger also has more saturated fat and a list of processed ingredients
Basically, plant based burgers like these are essentially junk food for vegans. I will say, they are delicious and much more sustainable, but should be eaten in moderation, just like a traditional burger.
Ms. Tamalas advises: “Ultimately, a healthy diet is based on a healthy eating pattern – not just what you eat in one meal, but what you eat over the course of time ,” Ms. Talamas says. “Try to eat fewer processed foods and more whole food sources of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and a variety of proteins, which includes plant-based beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.”
Take a look at your plate. If the majority of your meals look like the photo below, you are doing amazing! And, if you like me think going plant based is REALLY HARD, I want to encourage you to try and replace one animal protein meal a day with one plant based meal for 30 days and see how you feel. We can all benefit from more fruits and vegetables. So the next time you look at your salad, adjust your way of thinking from “I have to eat this to I get to eat this! How lucky are you?