Are you thinking about starting a plant-based diet, but you’re not sure if it’s the right choice for you? You may have heard some myths about plant-based diets that stop you from making the switch. This post will bust some of those myths and show you how easy and healthy it can be to eat a plant-based diet. So if you’re curious about trying out a vegan or vegetarian diet, read on for some tips!
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A Plant-Based Diet Is Too Expensive
Many people have a concern when thinking about switching to a plant-based diet is the price. They think it’ll cost so much more than their current meat-based diet, and they don’t know if they can afford it to be any more expensive. The truth is, you may spend a bit more money on groceries at first because there are certain items you might need to buy to make some new recipes. But once you stock up on staple ingredients like beans, grains, vegetables, spices, and other essentials, your grocery bill won’t go up all that much.
It’s possible to eat plant-based on almost any budget by eating lots of whole foods like fruits, veggies, and legumes and skipping highly-processed items like vegan meat substitutes. Shop the perimeters of the grocery store to find whole foods that you can use to make your meals at home with little money, and avoid anything that comes in a box or wrapper as much as possible.
You Don’t Get Enough Protein
Another myth is that you need meat to get enough protein. In reality, plant-based diets are full of protein from foods like beans and legumes, tofu, tempeh, quinoa, seitan, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. If you have a balanced diet with lots of variety from each food group (grains, fruits, and veggies), then your body will quickly get all the protein it needs without the help of meat products.
This is especially true if you’re an active person or athlete; carbs and proteins together can give your body what it needs after a challenging workout. It’s hard to over-eat protein on a plant-based diet because it’s not easy to find too much protein without eating fat and carbs that you don’t need.
Plant-Based Diets Are Low In Calories
Have you heard that a plant-based diet is lower in calories than a meat-based one? While this might be true if your goal is to lose weight, there’s no evidence that a plant-based diet is the only way to lose excess pounds. The truth is, many people overeat everything – including junk food and processed food with added sugars – which leads them to gain weight or grow out of shape. If these foods have been replaced by whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits on a plant-based diet, weight loss is likely a natural side effect.
But keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to calories and plant-based diets. Some people might need more calories because they’re very active, while others might find they lose weight more quickly by eating fewer calories. Listen to your body and find what works best for you.
