As you embark on your healthy journey and decide to follow a plant-based diet, don’t just try to stick to the same processed and packaged foods. It is so much better for your health if you can eat clean, whole foods, and they are better for the environment as well! Here are some tips for eating a whole, plant-based diet.
- Beans, Lentils, and Grains
If you want to go more whole and clean plant-based with your vegan diet, start by purchasing these food items in the bag. This means no more boxes of rice that you throw in the microwave. Instead, you will buy big bags of rice in bulk, rinse and soak them, and cook them over the stove or in your rice cooker. The same can be said for all sources of grains, beans, lentils, and oats. This will save you money, and while it takes a little longer, they are easy to prep in bulk for meals.
- Avoid All the Packaged and Processed Foods
Another way to ensure you are eating as clean and whole as possible is by avoiding anything that is processed. What this means is avoiding most of the canned, boxed, and bagged foods. There are some exceptions like buying rice or grains in bags, but for the most part, try to stay away from stuff that comes in a can. Make as much as you can from scratch with fresh ingredients, and you will be on the right track.
- Get Fresh or Frozen Produce
A good amount of your plant-based food is going to be produce, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Try to get it as fresh as you can if you want to follow a clean, vegan lifestyle. If you want to save some money, check out local farmer’s markets and CSAs, as this provides local produce that is often much cheaper than traditional supermarkets.
If you can’t get all fresh produce, the next best thing is to get it frozen. Just avoid anything that is in a can or jar, as this often includes added sugar and preservatives, and might not be considered clean.
- Cook Everything at Home
While you can find healthy, vegan options when you go out to certain restaurants, there is really no telling what they put into their food and how fresh their ingredients are. If you can’t be certain it is completely clean, you are better off cooking as much as you can at home. This will also save you money and ensure all ingredients are completely plant-based.