A Beginner’s Guide to a Plant-Based Diet: 6 Essential Tips

If you want a more sustainable diet, you should consider changing to a plant-based one. It focuses primarily on consuming plants, including plant-derived products. Usually, you will eat whole grains, herbs, nuts, seeds, and oils, and you will stay away from red meat, poultry, and dairy products.

Learn more about how to start a plant-based diet when you continue reading.

What Are the Types of a Plant-Based Diet?

1. Vegan

Veganism means a total elimination of animal products, including dairy and eggs. Vegans eat grain products, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and soy. You will often see them eating tofu, a by-product of soybeans, and you will find it in everything from hot dogs to burgers, meatballs, and stews.

2. Vegetarian

A vegetarian diet eliminates meat, poultry, and fish but will still allow dairy, eggs, and some processed foods. If you are a vegetarian, you do not need to eat an entirely plant-based diet unless you want to.

3. Flexitarian

Most people who want to change their diet to a plant-based one do so because they want to lose weight. This is why most people start with a flexitarian diet, a variation of vegetarianism. You can have some dairy and eggs, as long as you have no meat in your diet.

How Can You Start a Plant-Based Diet?

1. Use Salads as Your Base

A salad is one of the most accessible foods to eat on a plant-based diet. You can load up your salad with toppings and dressings of your choice and add some legumes or tofu to make it more filling. 

2. Cook a Vegan Meal at Least Once a Week

If you want to eat a plant-based diet, you will have to cook plant-based meals once in a while. That way, you know what you are putting into your body. For example, you can make vegan pancakes for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and a tofu stir-fry for dinner.

3. Get into Juicing

In a plant-based diet, you will often eat a lot of vegetables. You can get enough nutrients from them if you eat them regularly, but you can also do it through juicing. You can use vegetables or fruits to make your juice and tweak your recipe to make the most delicious one for you.

4. Look for Easier Plant-Based Food Options

When you start following a plant-based diet, you may feel like missing out on some of the foods you love, but that’s not the case. Today, many meatless meals are based on plants. For example, you can find mock meats, like burgers and sausage, in the grocery stores or meatless substitutes for chicken, fish, and pizza.

5. Add Good Fats to Your Diet

Nuts and seeds are one of the foods you will see on a plant-based diet. These are healthy fats, but you should not rely on them entirely. To have a healthy, balanced diet, you will need a mix of good fats, such as olive oil, seeds, avocado, and nuts.

6. Eat Fruit for Dessert

If you are on a plant-based diet, you will have to find a way to satisfy your sweet tooth. The best way to do this is to eat fruit for dessert.

Final Thoughts

A plant-based diet is a great way to lose weight, improve your health, and ensure that you eat a clean and balanced diet. However, you should sustainably follow the diet, and you can start it through the tips you've received today.

For more information on a plant-based diet for beginners, check out Plant-Based Jeff today. We offer resources you can use for this new journey—from guides and meal planners to weight loss trackers. Purchase one today and begin your new plant-based diet!