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Veg Out: Budget-Friendly Ways to Adopt a Plant-Based Diet

Veg Out: Budget-Friendly Ways to Adopt a Plant-Based Diet

written by Jason Lewis at Strongwell.org

Studies have shown the numerous health benefits of reducing meat consumption and eating more greens. Eating more plants, such as fruits and veggies, can reduce the risk of developing chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and colon cancer. Because meat production contributes to the harmful effects of climate change, switching to a low-meat or meat-free diet is better for our environment, too.

That’s where a plant-based diet comes in. Plant-based diets, although sometimes confused with veganism and vegetarianism, are more flexible. Because there’s no ethical rules for what you must eat on a plant-based diet, many people like to think of it as more of a lifestyle than a diet. Plant-based diets let you can customize your lifestyle by handpicking what to eat based on your preferences and budget. Here are some tips for getting started without breaking the bank.

Less Meat, More Plants

Typically, a plant-based lifestyle involves mindfully eating more greens, like fruits and vegetables, and trying to limit your consumption of meat, eggs, dairy, gelatin, and other animal-based products. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to cut out everything at the same time. Instead, you might have better luck slowly avoiding one type of food at a time. For instance, start by eliminating foods you eat less frequently and add more from there.

Although you still do have the flexibility to eat many of your favorite foods, you might occasionally need to eliminate one of your faves, whether for health reasons or environmental reasons. For instance, milk, eggs, fish, and shellfish make up four of the eight leading food allergies. Luckily, there are plant-based alternatives for each of these products, including almond milk, egg and dairy substitutes, and even fishless seafood products.

Grocery Shopping

You might be surprised at the variety of plant-based products you can find in your local area, once you know where to look. Many stores have entire aisles devoted to plant-based or veg-friendly food choices. If you’re having trouble finding what you’re looking for, try a major retailer like Walmart or Target. These companies offer plenty of organic, healthful options. Start with the whole foods or organic aisle and ask an employee if you need help finding anything.

If you’re on a budget, you may not always be able to afford to purchase products from the organic, vegan, or whole foods aisles at the grocery store. Fortunately, the major retailers are also typically able to offer lower prices than smaller stores. That’s great news for your bank account! To save even more money, start by searching the web for Walmart promos and Target coupon codes before you shop.

Get Creative

A meat-free meal doesn’t have to be bland. Get creative with spices, seasonings, ingredients, and recipes. Dr. Michael Gregor, M.D., one of the leading plant-based nutrition authorities, says his daily meals include:

  • Green smoothies: parsley, mint, mango, strawberry, white tea, lemon, ginger, and flax
  • Breakfast: 8-grain cereal, toasted walnuts, seeds, dried fruit, barberries, and cinnamon
  • Lunch: eating leftovers from the day before saves time, effort, and money
  • Dinner: beans, green veggies, hot sauce, salad, and seasonings
  • Snack #1: bake purple sweet potato fries, then encrust with fresh rosemary, garlic, and chickpea flour
  • Snack #2: combine refried beans, salsa, hot sauce, sautéed onions, and mushrooms, then wrap with steamed collard greens.

The world is certainly seeing a shift toward eating plant-based foods. For the past several years, food manufacturers have been scrambling to meet the increased demand for low-meat, plant-based, and vegan or vegetarian dietary choices. If you think a plant-based diet might be in your future, it’s possible to make the switch without breaking the bank. Completely changing your lifestyle doesn’t have to be daunting or expensive. Take small steps, eliminating one food at a time, and look for coupons and sales when shopping. Over time, you might be surprised at how delicious plant-based foods are and how much better you feel when eating them.

Veg Out: Budget-Friendly Ways to Adopt a Plant-Based Diet was written by Jason Lewis, Personal Trainer at Strongwell.org.

If you are ready to adopt a plant-based diet, try a 14-day vegan challenge plan or get started with a Nutrition Evaluation!

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Top 7 Reasons to Ditch Meat

Top 7 Reasons to Ditch Meat

 

You might ask yourself "should I eat meat to be healthy?" Well, technically yes, you need meat on your bones to be healthy and to sustain life. ;) But do you need to EAT meat from animals to have meat on your own bones? Not so much. I get it, I get it. You're thinking... "great, another vegan trying to tell me that I don't need meat." It might drive you crazy to think that! Well, to clarify I'm not speaking about ethics today, regardless of what my personal beliefs are there have been numerous scientific studies to show the effects of eating meat on the human body, and it's not pretty. I'm just going to touch on the surface in this article about what nutrients are in meat and what that can mean for our weight loss goals and overall health. When people hear the word "meat" they instantly think of the words PROTEIN or HEALTHY because our entire lives that is what we have been taught to believe about meat. Sure you can obtain a heavy dose of protein and essential vitamins from meat, and you can even lose weight by restricting sugar, calories, and other processed foods while on a meat-based diet. Yes, I am actually a vegan who can think outside the box!  I have seen plenty of fit meat-eaters and it would be wrong of me to say that meat makes everyone fat.

top-7-reasons-to-ditch-meat-online-nutrition-coach-vegan-personal-trainer-expert
Discover the Top 7 Reasons to Ditch Meat by Kelly Gibson, PN Level 1 Coach in Pittsburgh 

Take a look at the top 7 reasons to ditch meat and you may reconsider your meat-eating habits...

Time to answer your question about whether or not you should eat meat.  Here's what I have discovered about that 4-letter word:

  1. Cholesterol: Meat is high in cholesterol, and not the good kind. One steak (308g) constitutes 278mg of cholesterol.  High LDL cholesterol can cause increase blood pressure and cause atherosclerosis which leads to heart disease. The truth is, cholesterol is not an essential dietary nutrient because our bodies produce healthy levels of cholesterol without food. Has your doctor ever told you to raise their cholesterol? Doubtful, so don’t worry about it being too low.  Vegans average an overall cholesterol level of 133, while omnivores have levels of 200+.
  2. Fats: Meat is extremely high in saturated fats, which are different than plant fats (or oils) because animal fat becomes solid at room temperature. These types of fat can increase cholesterol in the blood and increase risk of stroke and heart disease.  Studies show that vegans are 33% less likely than omnivores to have a heart attack.
  3. Calories: Meat is very dense in calories, meaning there is a smaller volume of food per 100 grams (~3.5oz).  So one serving of meat is roughly 142 calories, but  which makes it quite easy to overeat.  Typically it takes the brain 20 minutes to send signals to your body that indicate you are full and satiated.  If it takes 5 minutes to eat a 250 calorie beef dog or burger, you might be in trouble and have enough time to eat up to 4X as many calories as your body needs before you start to “feel” full. If this isn't enough reason to ditch meat, keep reading.
  4. Carbohydrates: Meat contains minimal carbs, and that’s a bummer because carbs fuel our brains!  Ever feel groggy or tired after a meaty meal?  You could benefit from plant-based carbs for energy.
  5. Proteins: The amount of protein in meat is much higher than our bodies can handle in the longrun.  Extra protein builds up and causes kidney stones.  If left untreated then it can result in kidney failure. 
  6. Fiber: Meat contains no fiber, I mean a whopping ZERO grams per million calories, which means you’ll probably get constipated if you don’t eat loads of fibrous vegetables or take psyllium husk supplements to make up for it. Eating a high-fiber diet of at least 25g for women and 38g for men is recommended for proper digestion and overall health.  Too little fiber can cause constipation and chronic diseases.
  7. Digestion: Meat grows bacteria, which can cause e. coli infections and awful digestive issues. When is the last time you got excited about diarrhea? Right. Just say NO to meat.  

What you could ask yourself is, "is it worth it to put your health at risk in order to keep eating meat?" Despite what the Paleo or Keto diet trends have been saying, there is plenty of evidence that has debunked the myth that eating meat is healthy and essential for our survival.  Despite popular belief, meat does not convert to meat on your bones. Protein breaks down into amino acids before converted to muscle and can also be converted to fat, excreted in the urine, or build up to form kidney stones. So, unless you are working out and strength training, protein is not going to convert to muscle! I'll say it again - protein breaks down into amino acids before ever becoming muscle. "Muscles are built in the gym, and FAT is built in the kitchen" is a good way to look at it. ;)

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Muscle is Built in the Gym, Fat is Built in the Kitchen. Gym Meme by Kelly Athletics.

 

Now that you know at least 7 reasons to ditch meat, will you?  You might be thinking “but it tastes so good!” and “I need my protein!”  Don’t worry, there are plenty of delicious plant-based proteins you can have instead.  In fact, most plant-based foods contain at least 8% of its calories from protein. Fruits have the lowest protein content (between 5-8% usually), while green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds have up to 50% protein content (like spinach and mushrooms).  There is a wide variety of plant based proteins, even high-protein plant-based foods, which gives more than enough reasons to ditch meat. So if you've been wondering "do I need meat to survive?" The answer is a big fat NO.  I hope you enjoyed this post. Please share and send me a message if you have any questions about it.

References:

1. Certified Level 1 Nutrition Coach by Precision Nutrition. The Essentials of Sports & Fitness Nutrition: Certification Manual, 2nd Edition. by John Berardi PhD and Ryan Andrews MS
2. American Heart Association http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/102/18/2284
3. MyFitnessPal http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/340152145
4. PETA https://prime.peta.org/2015/05/should-you-still-be-concerned-about-cholesterol
5. Health & Medicine http://healamed.com/health/diet-weight-loss/48-risk-of-heart-disease-33-lower-in-vegetarians-than-non-vegetarians.html
6. USDA https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list?qlookup=23197

Need Help Reducing your Meat Intake? Book a Nutrition Evaluation today.

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Why French Pressed Coffee is the Best!

Why French Pressed Coffee is the Best

Are you a coffee drinker? Do you love the smell of coffee in the morning? Are you totally hooked on caffeine but have a weak stomach?  French Pressed Coffee is the best option for you!! You don’t need to quit to be healthier.

1. Cheaper than a keurig or regular coffee machine.

 

2. Faster and Easier than brewing coffee.

 

3. If you’re in a hurry, don’t wait! Just pour your hot coffee right away for some caffeine ;)  Optimal wait time is 4 minutes to use all the grounds, but you know how hard it is to wait to turn on your brains in the morning!

 

4. Cold-pressed coffee is 67% less acidic! Many of us can’t stomach brewed coffee.

Just pour in your grounds, add cold water, and let it soak overnight in the fridge before you press.

 

5. You no longer have to worry about replacing filters or k-cups, or tearing apart your machine to clean it.  

The 2-Piece French Press is so easy to clean!

 

Summary: Why French Pressed coffee is the best

1. cheaper than other coffee
2. faster and easier to make
3. less waiting time
4. 67% less acidic
5. easy as 1-2-3 to clean

Written by Kelly Gibson June 10 2015

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