1. The sky is the limit with green veggies!

Kale, broccoli, broccoli rabe, spinach, brussels sprouts, peas, and collard greens are among the few of the greens that I can name off the top of my head! If you are not used to eating these with your meals, start with small and manageable servings with lunch or dinner.

Green vegetables like the ones I mentioned above are the best foods you could be eating. Full of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants), water, and fiber! That’s the combination that gives life!

Add as much seasoning to taste; salt, pepper, garlic, oil, paprika, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes. It doesn’t matter at this point if you can no longer taste the “green”. 😉 Prepare them how you wish; roasted, baked, boiled, raw, microwaved. You name it! Get them in! Find more inspiration with online recipes or in cookbooks at your library.

Produce purchased fresh or frozen also doesn’t matter at this point. Typically, 1 serving of these veggies equates to 1 cup prepared fresh/frozen or ½ cup cooked. I aim for three servings a day –not including my 1-2 servings of “other veggies” (carrots, corn, cauliflower, potatoes, etc). After a while, you may even notice if you’ve missed a serving of greens for the day and start to crave them. Lucky!

2. Vary your protein sources!

Lentils, beans (black, red, white, pinto, soy, chickpea), quinoa, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are the top plant-based protein-rich food choices that come to my mind. Don’t be afraid of these! Start small and add a little into your diet each day. If you miss out on these power-packed plant proteins, you’ll be missing out on feeling great!

Remember, the amount of protein in terms of ‘grams per serving’ comes secondary in importance to the amount and variation of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) each plant source contains. Don’t be fooled by marketing schemes of the “big name” food producers. You can get more than enough (grams) of protein in your diet through plant sources without the inclusion of meat or dairy. Meat and dairy are actually poorer sources of protein per calorie! Use cronometer as a guide here.

3. Don’t feel any pressure to like or even try meat replacements!

If you find Tofurky or Gardein products a little off-putting for one reason or another, join the club! Especially after learning about the horrors of the meat industry, meat or meat-like products might be a turn-off. Vegan or not. It happened to me! Not to worry! Food in its whole form, without processed additives/chemicals and whereby the nutrients and fiber is intact for instance, can prove to be more beneficial for the body anyway.

4. Drink plenty of water!

With the additional fiber you are adding into your diet, it is important to increase your amount of hydration as well. I know that when I’m adequately hydrated, I notice positive changes to my skin as well as to my ability to achieve and remain focused throughout the day. I strive for a gallon or 128 fluid ounces of water per day, especially if I am working at my physically demanding job or exercising much during the week. This is your time to experiment! As you increase your fluid intake, monitor how you feel (mood, energy) on a week to week basis.

5. This is your journey!

Switching to 100% plant-based will not always be easy. There will be times of trial and error. Like most big changes in life, making this switch will prove to be a journey remarkable for its unique and individual learning curve. There will times whereby the vegan option is a readily available and convenient choice, other times not so much. Don’t get too hard on yourself when a less than ideal situation presents itself unplanned or otherwise. (Resto without a true vegan entrée? A rest stop on the road without options?) Always have snacks on hand. Learn from the experience and aim to do better next time. If your intentions and actions align with your beliefs, then you are on the path towards meaningful and purposeful living. Oh how sweet it feels!