With all the miracle diets in the world, it’s important to consider some of the simple benefits of getting back to the basics. Opting for a plant-based diet is one way to do just that.
Alright, alright…this isn’t something you can really mandate in your corporate wellness program. But, it is something that’s important to consider and share with your employees. The more knowledge your workforce has, the more healthy decisions they’ll be able to make. So, let’s get started.
What is a plant-based diet?
Simply put, it’s a diet based on plants. This type of diet is heavy on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Depending on the person, it means eliminating or cutting back on meat (including chicken and fish), dairy and eggs. The diet also tries to exclude or minimize highly refined foods like bleached flour, refined sugar and oil.
Essentially, it’s a flexible diet plan that places the value on plant products rather than animals. It doesn’t have to be a vegetarian or vegan diet, but can be customized to the wants and needs of the individual opting for the lifestyle.
Why eat a plant-based diet?
There are a variety of reasons to eat a plant-based diet ranging from personal goals to general facts. Some pretty much agreed-upon benefits of going plant-based include:
- Preventing diabetes
- Controlling high blood pressure
- Lowering risk of cardiovascular disease
- Weight loss
- Fiber intake which can help regulate digestion, lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar
- Improved vision and skin
- Saving the planet (or at least not harming it)
Most of these benefits stem from the fact that even processed plant-based foods are more nutritious than most other processed foods. Plants also contain fewer calories than animal products, so you’ll feel fuller on fewer calories. Overall a plant-based diet can just be an overall more health-conscious option when done right.
So, how do you start a plant-based diet?
To answer this, we need to go back to the flexibility of this type of diet. The diet can be adapted to fit your lifestyle, so take a look at why you want to go plant-based in the first place.
Then, start with research.
Do a quick Google search to learn more about opting for a plant-based diet. You can find a ton of great information from benefits to diet tips to personal experiences. Once you’ve learned a little about how a plant-based diet fits into your life, you’ll know what your goals with the diet are.
Next, make changes slowly.
This is important with any big lifestyle change. Don’t dive in headfirst and expect to excel. That’s how you get overwhelmed and eventually burned out.
When it comes to slowly starting a plant-based diet, consider opting for one or two days a week without meat, dairy or eggs. A lot of countries promote Meatless Monday, which is a great idea to test out a plant-based diet in your life. As you feel more comfortable and realize what you do and don’t like about the diet, adjust it how you need to.
Finally, make substitutions.
When opting for plant-based diet, don’t assume you need to eat a whole different menu of foods. You can make quick and easy substitutions to put a meatless spin on your favorite dishes. Look into substitutions like tofu, soy, veggie burgers or spiralized veggies. All of these foods can help you make healthier versions of your favorite traditional dishes. This makes it easier to go plant-based because you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing your favorite foods.
Ultimately, a plant-based diet can be nice because it’s a healthier alternative that you can customize to your wants and needs. While it isn’t necessarily something to mandate in your employee wellness program, it is something your workforce needs to be educated about. So, spread the word and share the knowledge about how a plant-based diet can be a health benefit.
What do you think of going plant-based?
