WHAT ARE PLANT-BASED DISHES?
Plant-based dishes are just what they sound like: they are dishes that have plants as their main ingredients. Such dishes are gradually gaining fans in current years. This increase in popularity is great news for anyone looking to eat this type of diet for these reasons, more restaurants will cater to the vegan diet, vegan ingredients will be easier to find in grocery stores and markets.
Living on this type of diet can be a lot of work. It takes time to figure out exactly what is vegan, prepare well-balanced and hearty meals, and of course, sacrifice or replace foods you are comfortable with. However, the sacrifice and extra effort are worth it. A vegan lifestyle is a healthier, more ethical lifestyle, and the longer you stay committed to it, the easier it becomes. Over time, you’ll learn exactly what foods you can eat and exactly which restaurants can accommodate vegans.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO THE PLANT-BASED DISHES CONTAIN?
Ingredients may consist of, but are not limited to, fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and any other natural animal-free ingredients. That means anything that comes from an animal is off limits, plant-based dishes do not consist of meat, fish and shellfish, dairy, eggs, or honey.
Plant-based dishes can offer healthy, highly nutritious meals for a well-balanced diet free of animal products. These dishes are the foundation of any healthy vegan diet. Just because a vegan diet is free of animal products doesn’t mean the food can’t be delicious. Plant-based dishes can consist of delicious seasonal vegetables, soups, delicious chocolate desserts, cakes, and fruit smoothies.
Also, there are vegan alternatives for just about everything. For example, applesauce or bananas can be used as egg substitutes, and tofu or seitan can be used as meat substitutes. Plus, there are also tons of great cheese substitutes (rice cheese, daiya), as well as milk substitutes like soy milk, hemp milk, almond milk, and coconut milk.
DOES EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS?
A plant-based diet can provide you with important vitamins and minerals, which have been shown to boost your energy levels and improve your mental state. These dishes can also help you lose weight. Replacing meats and cheeses with more vegetables, fruits, and grains can help you lose weight naturally.
Plant-based meals and dishes may also provide long-term health benefits ranging from preventing cancer and diabetes to drastically reducing the risk of heart disease.
ARE PLANT-BASED DISHES ORGANIC?
If you’re still wondering why anyone would choose to eat this type of diet, take a closer look at some of the ethical and environmental impacts this diet can have on our planet. A vegan way of life is commonly referred to as “cruelty-free” due to the fact that it has no connection to farming at manufacturing facilities and typically inhumane living conditions for animals. Cows living on cattle farms are responsible for emitting more greenhouse gases into our atmosphere each year than all cars combined. To help put this in perspective, a single burger saves an average of 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and 133 gallons of water.
Whether you are looking to reduce your consumption of animal products or are preparing to take the step towards a completely animal-free diet, it is recommended that you start with as much knowledge and understanding as possible. Take the time to familiarize yourself with some plant-based staples to make the switch healthy and easy.
