Transition from “normal” diet to plant based vegan

[artful_golfer]

I have some yummy suggestions for you to consider adding to your diet transitions. Vegan or meat is fine but . . .

1. Eat as organic as you can. Yes it can cost a little more but what all of those chemicals and pesticides do to your body is not worth any amount of savings. If you are a meat eater that means grass fed and free range without any antibiotics.

2. Drop white rice, white bread, white potatoes and white pasta. Instead choose whole grain brown or wild rice, hearty whole grain breads with seeds, sweet potatoes, oat or almond flours, and lentil, chickpea or spinach pasta.

3. Drop all processed foods (yes, all of them). You don't want the chemicals and preservatives plus you lose too many nutrients with processed foods. Eats lots of fresh fruits and veges. Choose to make your own snacks or reach for nuts and seeds, dried or fresh cut up fruit or veges, and cheese sticks. My golf course snack pack is now a small bag of carrot sticks, apple wedges and individually wrapped cheese stick.

4. No added sugar. Examples: Choose olive oil and balsamic vinegar (fig balsamic and lemon olive oil is extra delicious) for your salad instead of processed, sugar added dressing. Choose to create your own wholesome trail mix instead of processed granola bars. Water and black tea instead of any kind of soda or sugar laced drinks. If you absolutely must have something sweet - try adding a little bit of Stevia.

5. Be gluten free. It's not that hard.

6. Drop inflammatory oils (corn, vegetable, canola, etc.) Choose Olive, avocado, coconut and occasionally peanut oils.

This focuses on an anti-inflammatory diet instead of just vegan. We must have a balance of protein and good carbs in every meal or snack. I promise you will lose weight and your joints and indigestion free gut will thank you. Even my sinuses are no longer sore and swollen from allergies. You'll also be surprised what happens with your sugar and A1C levels.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

26 minutes ago, artful_golfer said:

I have some yummy suggestions for you to consider adding to your diet transitions. Vegan or meat is fine but . . .

1. Eat as organic as you can. Yes it can cost a little more but what all of those chemicals and pesticides do to your body is not worth any amount of savings. If you are a meat eater that means grass fed and free range without any antibiotics.

2. Drop white rice, white bread, white potatoes and white pasta. Instead choose whole grain brown or wild rice, hearty whole grain breads with seeds, sweet potatoes, oat or almond flours, and lentil, chickpea or spinach pasta.

3. Drop all processed foods (yes, all of them). You don't want the chemicals and preservatives plus you lose too many nutrients with processed foods. Eats lots of fresh fruits and veges. Choose to make your own snacks or reach for nuts and seeds, dried or fresh cut up fruit or veges, and cheese sticks. My golf course snack pack is now a small bag of carrot sticks, apple wedges and individually wrapped cheese stick.

4. No added sugar. Examples: Choose olive oil and balsamic vinegar (fig balsamic and lemon olive oil is extra delicious) for your salad instead of processed, sugar added dressing. Choose to create your own wholesome trail mix instead of processed granola bars. Water and black tea instead of any kind of soda or sugar laced drinks. If you absolutely must have something sweet - try adding a little bit of Stevia.

5. Be gluten free. It's not that hard.

6. Drop inflammatory oils (corn, vegetable, canola, etc.) Choose Olive, avocado, coconut and occasionally peanut oils.

This focuses on an anti-inflammatory diet instead of just vegan. We must have a balance of protein and good carbs in every meal or snack. I promise you will lose weight and your joints and indigestion free gut will thank you. Even my sinuses are no longer sore and swollen from allergies. You'll also be surprised what happens with your sugar and A1C levels.

We are fairly clean for the most part. We don’t buy organic but we grow our own vegetables in the summer and we get veggies from a farm share (my parents old neighbors). All our grains are whole.

Thanks for all the suggestions. It’s been a good transition. Just because someone is “vegan” doesn’t mean anything for sure it’s all about the proper food

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Vegan taco salad. 6 different beans instead of beef with your normal fixings (red/yellow pepper, crushed shells, shredded lettuce, salsa and vegan cheese)

[Kenny B]

1 hour ago, Lacassem said:

Vegan taco salad. 6 different beans instead of beef with your normal fixings (red/yellow pepper, crushed shells, shredded lettuce, salsa and vegan cheese)

6 DIFFERENT BEANS!!  Sorry,I had to...

 

 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

26 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

6 DIFFERENT BEANS!!  Sorry,I had to...

 

 

My mom when we were kids ALWYAS made a soup with left over ham whenever we had it.  What would she put in this soup? Goyas 16 bean mix . My gut needless to say is used to it!

funny story whenever my Memere would come over she would make it thinking she loved it….she didn’t but never had the heart to say it

 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Did a vegan Alfredo tonight. 
garlic and mushrooms sautéed and then added oat milk with nutritional yeast, flour, salt, pepper and a little bouillon. Came out pretty good.

had to cook the pasta twice since I dumped it the first time

[mikeanthony]

Keep at it man!

As someone who has Crohn’s, along with half my colon and large intestine removed, I have no other choice but to eat healthy/whole foods.

While my family and I aren’t exclusively vegan, I’d say it’s more cyclical with us. At times we’ll go a month or two on a vegan diet, then off again for a few months. But man during those months when we’re vegan, my body and mind feel f’n great! It’s bonkers what an affect it has on my body. 

But with our lifestyle, it’s just difficult to maintain over longer periods … plus, I love fish and chicken. 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

Haven’t hopped in here in a while. Summer squash gnocchi with basil and sun dried tomatoes 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

@Vegan_Golfer_PNWfound these raviolis not sure if ya have Aldi out your way but easy frozen

 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

2 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

@Vegan_Golfer_PNWfound these raviolis not sure if ya have Aldi out your way but easy frozen

 

those sound awesome! sadly no ALDI's in the PNW.