MEAT IS NO LONGER THE CENTER OF THE PLATE!

Trying to transition to eating a Whole Food Plant Based diet just means thinking a little differently.  First, we need to get rid of meat being the "center" of the meal....now, there is no more center.  No more thinking that your plate has little compartments that need to be filled with meat, potatoes and vegetables.  Instead, your plate should be FULL of a variety of plant foods.  Who says you have to cook only one kind of plant food at each meal?  Why not cook two or three or more vegetables for dinner?  Why not have a fruit bowl on the table every night?  It's a whole new way of thinking--but it is very simple.  Here are some tips for making simple, easy adjustments to cut down on animal foods in your diet:

1. Start the day right.  Breakfast is the easiest meal to cut back on meat.  With so many options, no one needs to eat meat for breakfast.  Try steel-cut oats topped with walnuts and fruit, maybe some  raw honey for sweetener.  How about pancakes or waffles with fruit...or a breakfast burrito with beans and veggies.
2. Join the Meatless Monday bandwagon.  No matter what your goal, going meatless one day a week is an easy fix.  There is a website, meatlessmonday.com, which you can get all kinds of recipes from.
3. Shop for plants first.  Don't fall back into the "meat is the center of the plate" mindset.  Instead of planning your menu around what meat you will serve, plan it around what plant foods you will serve.  Just start your shopping in the produce aisle or at the farmer's market.  Pick whatever vegetables are in season, look the freshest and most appealing to you.  For example, if you want to try kale and it looks good. stir-fry it with garlic, herbs and maybe some tofu.  Pile it over quinoa and dinner is ready!
4. Try different supermarkets.  There are ethnic markets everywhere that offer more whole plant foods such as a variety of dried and canned beans and lentils, whole-grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.  
5. Stock a plant-based pantry.  if you have it on hand, you won't be running to the store everyday because you don't have an ingredient.  Plan a menu, make a list and go shopping--once!
6. Keep it simple.  You might think plant-based cooking is very difficult, but it doesn't have to be.  Dinner can be as easy as black bean burritos, vegetarian chili and cornbread, or an avocado and hummus pita sandwich. 
7. Convert your favorite dishes.  Don't forget this simple trick--for an easy dinner, turn your favorite meat-based recipe veggie.  Just skip the meat and add the vegetables.  Pizza for example, use broccoli, cashews, onions and basil.  Lasagna--skip the meat and pile extra servings of veggies between the layers of noodles.
8. Get your slow-cooker out.  Throw in veggies, herbs, a vegetable broth base, canned tomatoes, whole grains or bulgur and dried beans...turn the dial on and when you get home--presto, dinner!
9. Think adding foods, not eliminating.  Don't dwell on what you can't have, think about what you can have!  When you're focused on eating plats, there are hundreds of varieties, flavors and colors waiting for you.  When shopping in the  produce aisle, pick a rainbow of colors that you can pile on your plate.

It doesn't have to be complicated...need help?...Contact me...I will get you started on the road to better health, fast and easy!!

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