Let’s test a plant-based diet for one day !!
Everyone wants to start eating healthier yet it is something easier said than done.
Many people though still cannot remove steaks, cheeseburgers, ice cream and a lot of other delicious yet unhealthy foods from their diet.
While it is true that these types of food are really tasty, they are not really healthy for our body.
A good change that more and more people should start doing is eating a plant-based diet.
This means cutting out meat and other processed foods from our diet and instead only eating foods derived from plants.
A plant-based diet may include fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes but without any animal products.
After reading and hearing about the advantages of plant-based diets I became really interested and wanted to give it a try.
I have always wanted to eat healthier but I have not actually considered eating plant-based foods completely.
From reading about plant-based diets, milk and dairy products are big no-no’s and this can is certainly something challenging for me since I have been drinking fresh milk everyday ever since I was a teenager.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy but with the motivation of having a healthier body in my mind I went ahead and decided to go through a plant-based diet for a day to see what all the fuss was about.
READ : Why Vegans Don’t Drink Milk?
Breakfast
To start out my plant-based diet, I prepared a healthy smoothie for breakfast.
While I normally have a glass of fresh milk to start out my day, I replaced it with a banana-strawberry-spinach smoothie instead.
It was actually a lot tastier than fresh milk so I would say that it was a very good start to my plant-based diet.
I drank this with a whole grain English muffin and it already made me full as I started out my day.
At around 10:30 AM I was a bit hungry and I would normally just eat some chips or a candy bar.
Resisting temptation, I ate a big, red apple instead.
I love apples and it was a really good alternative as a snack.
If you plan on going on a plant-based diet, I would advise that you start eating fruits and vegetables that you enjoy so as to make the transition a lot easier.
READ : Transition to a vegan diet step by step
Lunch
With lunchtime already around the corner, I was already planning what I could eat which did not contain any meat or dairy.
On a normal day, I would enjoy a club sandwich or a juicy burger but this time I had to keep my mind on my mission to only eat plant-based food for the entire day.
I decided on a fresh garden salad which contained lettuce, arugula, kale, white onions and black olives with balsamic vinegar.
The vegetables were really fresh and I thoroughly enjoyed the salad.
The great thing about my lunch was that I was full but without feeling that my stomach would be bursting.
This is unlike the feeling that you get after eating a big, juicy steak that you don’t want to move and just want to lie down and rub your belly.
The salad was really refreshing and it likewise satisfied my appetite while giving me a boost of energy for the afternoon.
I would usually grab a quick snack by mid-afternoon composed of a cupcake or some hot dogs but to resist the urge I chose to munch down on my favorite raw nuts trail mix instead.
Dinner
For dinner, I went with vegetable stir-fry coupled with a delicious potato salad.
The vegetable stir-fry was really colorful as it had broccoli, red and green bell peppers, onions, carrots, and peas.
It was very tasty too and was the perfect complement to the potato salad.
After going through an entire day eating only plant-based food, I would say that it is certainly effective and made me feel healthier even if I did it only for a day.
I didn’t feel that I was not eating enough and I was actually really full with my lunch and dinner.
I felt like I had more energy throughout the day even though I didn’t eat any meat products which was what really surprised me.
The challenge that I experienced with it though is looking for a place to eat.
Finding a place to eat a healthy salad is a lot harder compared to finding a fast food place although the extra effort will surely be worth it.
READ : Eating out while vegan
If you want to have a healthier lifestyle and you have not tried going on a plant-based diet yet, I suggest that you give it a try.
I’m sure it will be one decision that will certainly help change your life for the better.