A Week Of Simple Plant
In this one-week meal plan, Laura Wright, creator of The First Mess blog, shows off her amazing ability to turn humble vegetables into the most crave-worthy, satisfying meals that also happen to be pretty easy to pull off. Youll dig into plant-based dinners like harissa chickpea bowls, garlic sesame tofu, and sweet potato cakes.
It’s Associated With Lower Risks Of Type 2 Diabetes
Research shows that following a plant-based diet may help lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
A July 2019 meta-analysis published in the âJournal of the American Medical Associationâ looked at nine studies including more than 300,000 people and found that eating more plants is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Alzheimers & Neurodegenerative Disease
Believe it or not, even people with Alzheimers disease and other neurodegenerative conditions can benefit from a plant-based diet. While there are few documented cases of reversal, most are preventable. In fact, a comprehensive report conducted by husband and wife team, Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, concluded that over 90% of Alzheimers cases are preventable.
Much of this prevention is achievable with lifestyle strategies, and whole foods, plant-based nutrition is one of the most consequential strategies of all. Additional research has shown that this may be due in part to the brain-gut connection. A poor diet disrupts the gut microbiota, contributing to inflammation in the body and affecting the central nervous system and, ultimately, the brain. One study found that inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and leaky gut may contribute to the process of neurodegeneration in Alzheimers patients.
For more on how diet affects Alzheimers and brain health, check out this article by Dr. Michael Greger.
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What About Sugar Oil And Salt
Some plant-based doctors recommend a completely SOS-free, or sugar, oil and salt-free, whole food plant-based diet. You can decide if thats something you want to do.
I include oil, sugar and salt in my diet. I dont use a lot of oil but I sometimes use olive oil for cooking and I occasionally use coconut oil in dessert recipes.
I definitely try to minimize added sugar in my diet but I still enjoy lots of treats and desserts. Same with salt, I add it to my food but since I dont eat much processed foods, its easy to keep my sodium in check. If you eat mostly whole foods this all happens naturally so its not something I think too much about.
Getting Started With Plant
Need some inspiration to jump-start your foray into a new lifestyle? This easy WFPB meal plan has some tasty recipes to whet your appetite. Each daily menu sets you up with breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack and a salad of the day. There are tons of familiar flavors and some new surprises, so get ready to dive right in!
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A Reduced Risk Of Heart Disease
One study linked diets rich in healthy plant foods with a significantly lower risk of heart disease.
Another found that following a diet rich in plant foods and lower in animal foods was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and 31 to 32 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
There are several factors in play here, including the fact that plant-based diets can decrease cholesterol levels and lower inflammation, according to a case report.
Adjusting Vegan Meal Plans
If you decide to follow a vegan meal plan thats already been created by someone else, chances are they didnt meet your preferences 100%.
While its super helpful for beginner vegans or those trying to eat healthier to start out by following a pre-made plan, it can be frustrating if its impossible to find one thats perfect for you.
Here are some meal planning adjustment tips for you!
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Tips For Following The Plant
Many people assume that following a plant-based diet means a lot of time spent in the kitchen, but there are ways you can make your eating habits simpler, as Patel explains:
- Identify your protein sources: Some good plant-based protein sources include soy and soy products and legumes . In addition, nuts and seeds such as chia seed, hemp seeds, and walnuts provide a source of protein, and some grains like quinoa and teff can provide a source of protein. Not forgetting the vegan meat substitutes and seitan, which is made from wheat protein.
- Be prepared: Following a plant-based meal plan can be difficult if you dont have the right ingredients, so make sure that you plan out your meals in advance and stock your cupboards with protein essentials such as the ones listed above.
- Have fun with fiber: Upping our intake of fruits, vegetables, pulses, beans, nuts and seeds can play an important role in health through many processes, such as reducing cholesterol and colon cancer risk, controlling blood sugar, and also promoting the production of healthy gut bacteria. Make the most of your unlimited vegetable intake, by trying out one new vegetable each week. It will give you a chance to try something new and liven up your meals.
What To Eat On A Plant
According to a study by the Journal of Translational Psychiatry , research shows that a plant-based diet can improve your overall health and help reduce the risk of disease. Many researchers believe this is partly down to the reduction of animal products in the diet.
A plant-based diet is one that contains foods that have come from plant sources, with little to very few animal products, says registered dietitian Reema Patel of Dietitian Fit & Co
To help you discover how easy and nutritious plant-based meals can be, Patel has put together a seven-day plant-based diet meal plan.
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Plant Based Diet Meal Plan For Beginners: 21
Thinking about going plant based? The plant based diet meal plan is easier than you may think! Its a great way to elevate your health and lose weight, and there are tons of amazing recipes you can whip up yourself. The plant based diet is a whole food diet based on eating minimally processed or non-processed foods, as well as the elimination of animal products and refined foods. Theres no calorie counting or portion control you can eat when youre hungry and until youre full. However, if one of your goals is to get to a healthier weight, abstain from the fattier healthy foods like nuts, natural nut butters and avocados. Otherwise, you can go all out! Heres a kickstart guide to the plant based diet to get you started on the right foot!
Fill Your Kitchen With Nutrient
We all like a good snack . And snacking doesnt have to get in the way of your healthy living goals. The easier it is to make good choices, the more likely youll actually make them. Stock your kitchen with whole foods, like natural fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains and take away the B.S. like processed foods, meat, and dairy products.
Need snack ideas? Weve got em in spades. Some of our favorite quick and easy WFPB snacks: peanut butter , dates, dried or fresh fruit, nuts, and edamame. You can also check out these 15 plant-based snacks from Chef Caroline.
Hot WFPB tip: If you’re trying to get the family to eat more plant-based snacks, set out bowls of chopped veggies with dip, bowls of washed chopped fruit, and bowls of dried fruit. You may notice that they slowly start to *disappear*… magic!
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Gather Your Favorite Recipes
Keep a food journal to track which meals you and your family liked as well as how much effort or time they require, so you know if and when to include them in your next meal plan.
If some family favorites are non-vegan, simply replace the animal-based foods with vegan counterparts like mock chicken and cashew cream cheese.
Find our favorite vegan food swaps here!
free 7-day vegan meal plan
Your next week of eating is planned out with these quick and delicious vegan bowls, meal prepping steps & full grocery list.
Best App For Sticking With A Plant
Oh She Glows is also our pick for the best app for sticking with a plant-based diet. For many, the hardest part about eating this way is coming up with things to eat for every meal of the day. Thats why this app is such a lifesaver. You can search for recipes by title, ingredient, meal, or dish type. Each recipe featured in the app also includes detailed nutritional information. Finally, you can favorite the recipes you try and love so you can come back to them again and again.
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Want To Skip The Meal Planning Altogether
You can always order No B.S. Ready-to-Eat meals from MamaSezz. Whether you want MamaSezz every day, or to keep it on hand for the nights when cooking just isnt in the cards, weve got your back.
MamaSezz meal programs like the 2 Week Detox and Reboot, the Get Me Started Program, the Peak Performance Bundle or the Guaranteed Weight Loss Program, all come with 7-day meal plans, grocery shopping lists and top WFPB tips and tricks.
Here is a sample of Day 1 of the MamaSezz Detox and Reboot meal plan:
Healthy Meal Planning Tips
Make your daily meals delicious and healthy by keeping some things in mind. Dont cut out any food groups and try to have either fruit or veggies for each main meal.
Eat the metaphorical rainbow, fill up on fibrous foods, add those satiating staches and ensure your meals are overall satisfying to you.
Heres our full vegan nutrition guide for more information!
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Roasted Vegetable Buddha Bowl
A roasted vegetable buddha bowl is a vegan, delicious and protein-packed yum recipe. This recipe is loaded with lots of roasted vegetables such as roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, etc, and you can add any fresh vegetables, whatever you like. These fruits veggies mixed bowl is excellent for a busy dinner and lazy lunch. Enjoy this recipe with your family during any holiday or lunchtime. This is one of my favorite plant based meals that makes you complete for a long day.
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Is This Plant Based Diet Meal Plan Right For You
This plant based diet meal plan is right for you if youre looking to eat more plants! The recipes in this meal plan are easy vegan recipes. As noted above, feel free to work in vegetarian or seafood recipes as well based on how youd like to define plant based. For a vegetarian meal plan, head to 28 Day Vegetarian Meal Plan. If you also eat fish, go to our Healthy Meal Plan, Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan or Pescatarian Meal Plan.
If you have a very specific diet or health condition, consult a medical professional to understand whether these recipes are right for you.
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Three Meals That Are New To You
Lastly, youll need to get creative and resourceful. Look through plant-based cookbooks and websites to try new recipes. Keep trying until you come up with 3 new recipes that you really like that can complete that Wheelhouse recipe list.
With a completed list, you will be able to keep the main ingredients stocked in your kitchen to whip up the new favorites in a flash. In time, this becomes your new, healthier second nature.
Hang in there, because it does get easier with time!
A Complete Vegan Meal Plan And Sample Menu
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Vegan diets have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including improved weight management and protection against certain chronic diseases.
However, finding balanced, healthy meals on a vegan diet can often be difficult and overwhelming.
If improperly planned, vegan diets may cause nutritional deficiencies and health problems.
This article provides a healthy vegan meal plan and sample menu to get you started.
The vegan diet is an eating plan that eliminates all animal products, including meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and honey.
People decide to adopt veganism for different reasons, such as ethical concerns or religious principles.
Others may decide to become vegan to decrease their ecological footprint, as plant-based diets are thought to generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions and use fewer natural resources.
Still, the environmental impact of any diet depends on multiple factors, including the way that foods are produced, packaged, and transported .
Some also decide to follow a vegan diet for health reasons, as veganism is associated with a multitude of benefits and may even help prevent certain chronic diseases .
In particular, vegan diets have been shown to improve heart health, increase weight loss, and support blood sugar control .
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Is This A Vegan Or Plant
This particular plan is both vegan and whole food plant-based. Whats the difference? Well, someone who is vegan may not necessarily eat a whole food plant-based diet but they could be and someone who eats whole food plant-based may not be vegan.
You could be vegan and subsist on Oreos, vegan meat alternatives and chips but youre not going to feel very good or get enough micronutrients in your diet. If you are vegan, leaning towards a whole food diet is definitely a great way to go for your health.
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The Problem With Meal Planning Calendars
For Alex and me, one problem with meal planning calendars and weekly meal plans is that they offer no flexibility. Most meal plans weve found call for cooking something new every day of the week. Theyre overwhelming with the amount of food prep that they call for! They also dont account for your schedule: what if Monday nights I have a weekly meeting where I eat dinner? Or this Friday night Im going out with friends?
Heres what makes our plant based diet meal plan different:
- Spotlight dinner ideas. For us, dinner is our main meal where we cook and get the majority of our nutrients for the day. Our approach is to go big on dinner, and then do super simple things for breakfast and lunch. Thats what works for us! At the bottom of the meal plan youll find lists of healthy breakfast ideas, snack ideas, and lunch ideas. You can use these, or find others that fit your tastes.
- Pick 3. Each week, we offer 3 healthy dinner ideas. You can make them on any day that week! This encourages you to customize the ideas based on your schedule and particular tastes. It also encourages eating up leftovers.
- Repeats. Since we only offer 3 dinner ideas, this also encourages you to make dinner ideas you liked from previous weeks.
Fill Your Plate With Plants
Approximately 55% of calories in the standard American diet come from processed foods, while another 33% come from animal products. While research has shown just how detrimental these foods are to your health, federal nutrition guidelines have yet to catch up. It wasnt until 2011 that the USDA replaced their meat food group with a generic protein one. And while their MyPlate guidelines are certainly an improvement over past recommendations, its still not exactly the optimal balance of nutrition.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine created the Power Plate, which provides another take on what a healthy plate really looks like. Spoiler alert: Its full of plants! The Power Plate recommends meals consisting of a balance between fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. Check it out here.
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Appetizer: Baked Zucchini Fritters With Corn And Hatch Chiles
Summer tastes like these little savory pancakes made with shredded squash, fresh sweet corn, and mild hatch chiles. For an equal mix of decadence and nutrition, those veggies are held together with gluten-free brown rice flour and plenty of cheddar cheese. Top with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt for a protein-rich crown that will chill out any of the kick from the chile.
