Many people across the globe are turning towards veganism. A vegan diet is free from all animal products which includes dairy, eggs, fish, and meat. A vegan diet is considered good for the animals and the environment. With the ongoing debate on the dark side of the dairy & animal farming industry and the various benefits of a vegan diet, more and more people are going vegan.
If you have decided to join the force, you might want to know a few things before you ditch everything meat and dairy and embrace a plant-based diet. It is going to be a bit hard on you if you are a hardcore meat-eater, but as they say, taking the first step already means victory. To make your transition easier, we have listed 5 things that you should consider before switching to a plant-based diet.
1. Make sure that you consume enough protein
Yes, we know that you have been told multiple times that plant-based foods aren’t rich in protein and you might get protein deficiencies while on a vegan diet. Well, we would like you to know that it’s not the case. Plant protein is complete in itself as it has all the essential amino acids your body needs. You just have to plan your meals carefully to ensure that you get your daily dose of protein. Pulses, beans, legumes, tofu, quinoa, nuts & seeds, oats, and sprouts are some great vegan protein sources. You can also add plant protein powder to your diet, such as bGREEN plant protein that offers 25g pure plant protein per serving along with a potent antioxidant repair blend to support muscle growth and recovery. This would help you stay at par with your daily protein needs and will also support your workout routine.
2. Getting over those silly old cravings
It is going to be hard as we quoted at the beginning of this article, but, we never said it was impossible. You might get drawn towards the smells, flavors, and textures of meat and would drool when your friend is enjoying the delicacies in front of you, but you need to revamp your thinking. These days, vegan food is as appealing as meat. You can experiment with multiple flavors and dressing. Vegan food is also colorful as compared to other foods. You can have all the colors on your plate and dishes that are creamy and crunchy. You can hunt for various vegan recipes that are available online and give yourself a vegetarian protein treat.
3. Losing & maintaining a healthy weight while on a vegan diet- very much possible
If you’re thinking that you’ll only have to feed on salads to trim down, you’re wrong. Veganism is indeed a blessing as you can try multiple foods that are good for your health irrespective of age and gender. Plant-based foods are rich in all nutrients and fuel you with sufficient calories to support a healthy weight loss and also help you maintain weight. Veganism is not restrictive. It gives you the freedom to eat many things, but you just need to be careful of the choices. If you crave something sweet, you can have juicy fruits, raisins, etc. And if your taste buds crave something crispy, you can go out and buy vegan cookies and lots of other stuff. Just as we said, be smart with your choices and you can have it all.
4. Be watchful of your vitamins and minerals intake
Meat, fish, and eggs are a great source of vitamin B12 and dairy products are good for getting the daily dose of calcium. B12 can be obtained from fortified foods and dairy alternatives such as dairy-free spreads, and breakfast cereals. You can also consume a B12 supplement that is easily available. You can consume fortified plant milk to fulfill your calcium needs as they contain the same amount of calcium as cow’s milk. You can also consume soy and tofu for getting plant protein.
5. Veganism is safe for children
If you are planning to turn vegan with your whole family but are worried about your kids’ health and nutrition, stay relaxed. Vegan children are as healthy as meat-eating ones. Plant-based foods are rich in all nutrients that kids need for proper growth and development. Visit Vegan Society as they have a list of vegan diets for kids belong to different age groups. You can also introduce them to vegan protein sources.
We hope that you will be able to start your vegan journey without any worries now and enjoy this transition of becoming healthier, wiser, and happier. To help you with this journey, bGREEN offers a variety of vegan products including vegan protein powder that fulfills your daily protein needs, Supergreens & Fruits to enrich you with various micronutrients, and Up-Beet Pre-workout powered by Rednite to prepare you grueling workout sessions and energizing you. The brand also offers you a perfect post-workout aid in the form of bGREEN Citrus Vitamin C that also helps in enhancing immunity. For all those who want to lead an active vegan lifestyle, the brand also offers vegan peanut butter which is really low-fat and helps you manage your weight.