Her Unique Glow

Being plant based isn’t better or worse than any other diet. I don’t want your inner mean girl to all of a sudden rise up and tell you that you’ve been doing everything wrong – this is about honouring your body and finding a way of eating that leaves you feeling truly fantastic and full of life. Adding in more plants will do just that! They will leave your body feeling nourished and guess what? It’s so easy to add more plants into your diet without having to put in too much effort.

So let’s get into the good stuff and find out WHY plant-based diets are just so yummy for our cells:

CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT

This might not be your goal and perhaps the thought of weight loss is triggering for you – in which case I highly recommend you move onto the following points. However, if you are looking to lose weight then going plant-based might be exactly what you need. Plant-based diets can help to reduce the amount of saturated and trans fats you consume and also increases the amount of fibre you eat. This means that not only will you naturally crowd out those those fatty foods that aren’t necessarily good for our health, but the added fibre will leave you feeling fuller for longer.

CAN HELP KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY & IMPROVE YOUR CHOLESTEROL

Once again, decreasing the amount of saturated and trans fats in your diet can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Not only that, but the fats contained within plant-based foods are mostly monounsaturated fats (those heart-healthy fats) that our bodies and brain thrive off! Remember: We do need fats in our diet as they are our brain’s preferred fuel source, they give us energy, keep our hormones ticking along and help us absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Plant-based diets add in more of those body benefiting fats and crowd out the fats that perhaps aren’t so fabulous for us.

MAY REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CANCERS, TYPE 2 DIABETES & OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS

The added fibre, nutrients, healthy fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals found in plant based foods can help you improve your overall health profile and may reduce your risk of developing certain health conditions, hormonal and metabolic related illnesses.

MAY INCREASE LONGEVITY

If you have heard about the Blue Zones, then you’ll know that a key to living a long, healthy and joyful life is to add in more plants! Eating more plants has been shown to increase longevity: Not only increase your life span but the quality of your life too.

WILL UP THE NUTRIENT PROFILE OF YOUR DIET

Making plants the main events of your meals will help you to boost the nutrient profile of your meals which will not only enhance your health but leave your cells dancing with joy! The more plants you can add into your diet, the more nutrients, vitamins, nutrients and phytochemicals you’ll naturally bring to the table. You’ll end up naturally health-i-fying your meals which is something we can all benefit from.

CAN HELP WITH THOSE PURSE STRINGS

Eating plant based doesn’t have to be expensive and in fact, has been shown to reduce those weekly spends in the supermarket. If you’re looking to save a few pennies when doing your weekly shop then consider choosing plant based protein alternatives or making veggies, pulses and legumes the main event at meal times.

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There is no right way or magic formula of eating a plant based diet. It’s simply adding in more plants. Remember not to restrict or cut foods/food groups out, I want you to add more in! How we eat will be as individual and unique to us as we are. It will depend on our environment, cooking skills, finances, body composition, activities etc. and the way we eat will change day to day. But adding in more plant is something we can all do and it doesn’t need to be an all or nothing approach. Take your time and enjoy it! Food is there for us to enjoy!

Here’s how to get started:

• Start by adding a side salad to every meal, or perhaps steaming some veggies and having them as a side dish to your lunches and dinners.
• Meal plan and look at each meal individually. How can you add in more plants into those meals?
• Substitute one meal a week for a plant based meal. Once you feel you’ve got that down without too much overwhelm, you can start adding in more. Perhaps aiming for one meal every other day and then one meal a day.
• Get your friends and loved ones involved. Invite your tribe round for a plant based meal. Cook something exciting and get everyone to bring a dish too! Food is meant to be shared and enjoyed so why not get inspired and motivated along the way?
• Get creative and discover plant-based alternatives of the meals you love! How can you switch things up? How can you add in more plants to your favourite meals?
• Have fun! Look for new recipes and look to enhance your cooking skills and repertoire. The key is to not overwhelm yourself. This doesn’t have to be time consuming and you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen. Be realistic, acknowledge how much time you do have and have fun learning new recipes – you can even get your loved ones and family involved too!
• Need some inspiration? One of my favourite activities to do is to go to the fruit and vegetable section in the supermarket or at your local farmers market and choose an ingredient you’ve never cooked with before!
• It doesn’t have to be expensive. Work within your budget and remember that frozen foods and canned foods can be just as healthy as all the fresh produce (just have a look at what these foods are packaged in).
• Remember you need to enjoy the food you eat. If tofu isn’t for you then don’t eat it, there are a variety of plant based proteins and foods out there that you don’t have to stick with just one. Having said that, you can also experiment with the way you cook something to find a way of eating it that lights you up! For example, I love marinating and roasting tofu much more than if I were to stir-fry it. So find what works for you.

Try these plant-based recipes:

• Mushroom & Lentil Casserole
• Warming Butternut Squash Soup
• 30 Minute Meals - Chickpea Curry

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If you love these recipes then check out my ebooks where you'll find a number of other plant-based recipes*:

How To Eat Health-Fully

Glow Fit Nutrition Guide & Recipe Book

Nourished Kitchen

(*Disclaimer: Not all recipes are plant-based in these ebooks, but there are plenty to get you started!)

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