What does eating plant-based mean?

Eating plant-based means that your meals are centered around plant foods, and there is less reliance on animal products in your diet. Animal products are foods like meat, dairy, eggs, fish, and seafood. It doesn’t mean you have to remove them from your diet completely, just that you shift the focus of meals from animal products to plants. Animal products become a side dish, a condiment, or a flavor enhancer as opposed to the main event we so often see on American plates.

Why should I eat a more plant-based diet?

Different types of plant-based diets have been shown to have a lot of health benefits. By switching over to a more plant-based way of eating, you reduce your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancers, and laundry list of other health conditions. Research also finds that people who eat more plant-based tend to have better weight management and increased longevity. Plant-based diets can also help improve mood, energy, and reduce inflammation. 

The benefits don’t stop at personal health – eating more plants and less meat is a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment as well.  As an added bonus, your wallet will thank you, too, since most whole plant foods are some of the least expensive foods around. 

What foods are included in a plant-based diet?