How to Ease Into a Plant-based Diet

As mothers, we always tell our kids to eat their veggies, but should we be taking our own advice?

From the time we are very young, we are always told of the importance of eating our vegetables. Personally I have trained myself to enjoy them, and I always make sure my kids get balanced meals, even if I have to turn the process into a fun game. That being said, as adults it becomes very easy to forget to eat your greens, especially if you are a working mom with very little time to spare.

Plant-based diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, but even if you can’t stick completely to one strict regime, adding any amount of vegetables to your diet is a step in the right direction. These tips should help you ease into a more plant-based diet without disrupting your entire life.

Limit meat, and processed foods. The first step is to cut out most processed foods, which are full of artificial sugar, corn syrup, sodium, and all sorts of other chemicals. Even though you don’t know it, you are probably at least a little addicted, so take your time phasing them out.

Become knowledgeable on fruits and vegetables and how to prepare them. There are plenty of different ways to cook plants and vegetables, some of which are truly delicious. Don’t be afraid to try out new recipes to trick your kids into eating their greens!

READ MORE: How to Teach Your Kids to Eat Healthy for Life

Mix it up in terms of your intake. You can get your fix of fruits and veggies via smoothies, soups, desserts, or even snacks like seaweed chips, veggie crisps, or dried fruit.

If you can, take up gardening. It doesn’t matter if you just buy a self-sustaining wall-hanging kitchen herb garden, or plant a full-blown backyard garden complete with zucchinis and watermelons, growing your own fruits and vegetables will help you adopt the diet and integrate it into your lifestyle, as well as insure that your greens will be free of unwanted chemicals.

Visit farmers markets on weekends to stock up. I know it may sound like a fantasy, especially if you are super busy, but you can take your kids with you to the market, and turn your chore into a fun experience for the family. It’s also a great way to increase your children’s knowledge about healthy eating.