Tuesday, April 17, 2018

7 Vegan Nutrition Tips

In addition to making vegan foods and cooking delicious and easy, vegan nutrition is of utmost importance for anyone following a vegan diet. Here are the basics for getting all the nutrition you need out of a vegan diet.

1.    Eat Whole Foods

Eating whole foods is recommended for any healthy diet, but even of greater importance for a vegan diet. Choosing whole foods takes the guesswork out of getting good nutrition and saves you time checking labels and dealing with processed foods. When you are at the grocery store, most of your time should be spent in the produce section and the bulk section, not the center aisles that are lined with boxed foods, canned goods, and frozen foods.


2.    Enjoy Nuts and Seeds

You need healthy fats to function, and a great source of healthy fat is nuts and seeds. You should incorporate healthy nuts and seeds into your diet daily. Flax seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds are all great choices. Try adding almonds, pecans, and walnuts to your diet as well. All of these make great toppings for salads, with veggies, or just as a snack.

3.    Eat Raw Foods

Raw foods give your body some powerful nutrients and enzymes that you need. It is easier than you think to incorporate these foods into your diet. Try eating a fresh green salad daily, adding chopped avocados or tomatoes to any dish, eating fresh fruit, and adding sprouts to your grain or bean dishes. With a little simple planning, you can add these raw foods into your diet and feel great, while giving your body the nutrition it craves.

4.     Pack Your Day with Fruit

Filled with water and nutrients, fruit is a vital part of any vegan diet. Enjoy fruit on its own, or incorporate it into a smoothie for a delicious meal on the go.

5.     Eat Beans

Beans are one of the best sources of protein and are necessary for any healthy vegan diet. Beans are super easy to make yourself from dried beans, so scrap the canned beans and get boiling. By making beans yourself from dried beans, you save money, can control the amount of sodium, and can freeze additional quantities for later in the week.

6.     Vary Your Grains

There are many kinds of grains that can be used in your diet for a bit of variety. Deviate from rice and try quinoa, millet, barley, and kasha. Explore new grains and have fun trying something new.

7.     Optimize Your Veggies

Enjoy veggies raw or cooked to stack your body with the protein, carbs, minerals, and vitamins. Try new cooking techniques and flavoring ideas to dress up your vegetables. Include dark green leafy vegetables in your diet, as they have the most nutritional value. Try kale, collard greens, beet greens, mustard, turnip greens, and spinach.

Include all these elements into your diet, and you will fill your body’s nutritional needs. Vary your meals and try new things to keep it interesting, and enjoy the health benefits of a vegan diet.

No comments:

Post a Comment