3 Myths About Plant-Based Nutrition and 4 Steps To Kick-Start Your Plant-Based Nutrition

We are hearing the word plant-based nutrition more and more in our society. Already, we can see some misinformation creeping up on social media and news. We’ve done our research and want to demystify some of the false belief that is out there.

Here’s the top 3 myths we’ve found.

Plant-based nutrition is unnatural

Plant-based nutrition is in fact the original Paleo diet. We once believed that early humans consumed a large proportion of animal protein in their diet. It is from that belief that, in the 2000s, the Paleo diet (mainly comprised of animal protein) became really popular in the world of nutrition and diet. Although, we now know that the nutrition of bipedal primates and Homo sapiens was primarily composed of nuts, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds and water. In that case, the “original” Paleo Diet was in reality plant-based eating.

Plant-based nutrition is a fancy term for a vegan diet

In the world of nutrition, plant-based eating is having a large portion of one’s nutrition coming from vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, whole grains and also include legumes or other plants. A spectrum of plant-based nutrition options is available to you. Some are very strict (vegan diet), others are still adding animal products like dairy (vegetarian) and at the other end of the spectrum are those that still eat meat, poultry and fish on an occasional basis. Plant-based eating can be for everyone, the main idea is to add more vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and legumes.

Plant-based nutrition is not for athletes

It was once believed that you needed to add animal protein in your meals to increase muscle mass. In fact, the strongest mammal is the gorilla (most are herbivores). It has the ability to lift around 4409 lbs. that is 10 times its body weight. It would be like a 200 lb. individual lifting 2000 lb. If other mammals can live a healthy and strong life on a plant-based nutrition, we probably can too. Some studies and athletes have demonstrated that it is possible to increase muscles and be fit with a plant-based nutrition. For example, one of the best runners of all time and American ultramarathoner, Scott Jurek is known to be a plant-based eater!

Whether you want to save the planet, become healthier or simply feel better, the plant-based nutrition is a great option to be a better person.

Kick-Start Your Plant-Based Nutrition

Step 1: Choose Your Type of Plant-Based Nutrition

A spectrum of plant-based eating options is available to you. Considering that your nutrition will be mainly coming from plants, your options are:

1) Strict plant-based nutrition (vegan): With a strict plant-based nutrition, you are not going to consume any meat, fish or animal products like dairy foods, honey or eggs.

2) Vegetarian plant-based nutrition: In a vegetarian plant-based nutrition, you will be able to consume eggs, milk, cheese and other products of animals but no meat or fish.

3) Pescatarian plant-based nutrition: The pescatarian plant-based nutrition is similar to the vegetarian one but include fish. That would mean that your nutrition includes plant-base food, eggs, milk, cheese, fish and other products of animals but no meat.

4) Flexitarian plant-based nutrition: This option is great for individuals who would like to slowly move into plant-based eating without fully committing to never eat meat again. In this plant-based nutrition option, your meals will have a large proportion of plant-base food. In addition to small portions of eggs, or dairy foods and, on occasion, include meat, fish, seafood or poultry.

Step 2: Adapt Your Grocery

In order to ease yourself into plant-based eating, try to slowly increase the amount of plant-base food on your grocery list and stop purchasing animal protein and dairy products. Stock up on cans of legumes such as black beans or chick peas. They are fast and easy ingredients to add to many recipes (just make sure they are not full of sugar or salt). This might require a bit more shopping time at first but eventually, you will know which brand is the healthiest.

Step 3: Plan Your Meals

One of the most difficult parts about adapting to plant-based eating is to adopt new habits in the kitchen. Instead of having burgers for dinner, you have to find new ways to cook and bring more plant-based food at your table. It is recommended to try new recipes as opposed to try to adapt your old recipes to a plant-based nutrition.

Step 4: Let’s Do This!

The best way to start plant-based eating is to make small changes now. Choose a day this week when you want to have a plant-based nutrition day. That day will be the beginning of your journey in plant-based eating. Once you’ve chosen a date, pick your recipes!