Ideally you are starting with a diet that is already well-rounded and focused on whole foods, then reducing/eliminating meat consumption and replacing animal based proteins with plant-based alternatives. The unfortunate side effect of a plant-based diet being a fad right now is that many people skip this part and move right to just cutting out meat and dairy.

With the surge of popularity of plant-based diets has also come the increase in plant-based marketing. Walking around the grocery store, you’ll find “plant based” whole wheat pasta, donuts, and chips - all foods that are generally free of animal products anyway, and foods that don’t become automatically healthy just because of a plant-based label.

To me, salads are a great way to add veggies to your day, to clean out your refrigerator and put leftovers to good use, and to pack in a lot of nutrients in a single meal. They are easy to customize, simple to make, a great option regardless of your nutrition goals, and a food I hope we can redeem after it has been clouded by diet culture.

Eating in social settings can bring some anxiety, but it really should be all about drawing from the habits you have built while tracking your food for a while rather than throwing “rules” out the window and eating whatever you want. So, how do you approach something like a Thanksgiving dinner with some semblance of balance and mindfulness?

As the seasons change, our bodies often crave fresh ingredients and lighter meals. When you’re prepping for a busy week, it can be tough to not lean on convenience, but there are easy ways to still get in plenty of whole foods and protein from plant-based sources without spending a ton of time doing so. This easy healthy vegan peanut noodle bowl packs a punch of plant-based protein, is full of fresh veggies and is an easy meal to prep for the whole week!