A Shorter Veganuary
You may have heard a lot recently about Veganuary. After the indulgences of November and December, many people use the month of January to reset their dietary habits by going plant-based for 31 days. There are several benefits to eating a diet devoid of animal products, but for some, a whole month without meat and dairy is a bit too much to ask. Even a week of vegan eating may encourage you to incorporate more plant-based meals yearly.
Why Go Plant-Based?
The term plant-based diet is used when the reasons for eliminating meat and dairy are health-related rather than ethical. Vegans use no animal products for ethical reasons. A plant-based diet may not be 100%, and those who follow such a diet may still choose to use animal products such as leather. Essentially, “plant-based” means the bulk of your diet comes from plants. There are several health benefits to eating this way. Numerous studies have concluded that a plant-based diet can reduce inflammation and significantly decrease the risks of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers. That’s incentive enough for many of us to try to eat more plants and fewer animal products.
How Does the 7-Day Challenge Work?
The challenge is simple: consume no dairy, meat, seafood, poultry, or eggs for 7 days straight. You may choose to announce your challenge on your social media profiles to keep yourself accountable, but that is up to you. If you enjoy how the one-week challenge makes you feel, you may want to keep it going – turn it into a 14, 21, or 30-day challenge. You never know; you may end up converting to a plant-based lifestyle. If you do, remember to buy some B-12 supplements, as that is the only vitamin one cannot get through a diet solely of plants.
Keep it Simple
The week-long Veganuary plant diet can be accomplished very simply. While processed foods are not the best options for repeated consumption, in the short term, convenient plant-based options can be easily found, making the week of ditching meat and dairy a no-brainer.
Breakfast Options
Finding plant-based breakfast choices is easy. Besides eggs, bacon, and sausage, many standards will fit the bill:
- Cereals with sliced banana – use almond, soy, coconut, or another type of plant milk
- Frozen waffles with peanut butter
- Smoothies with plant milk, bananas, ice, and frozen berries – add ground flaxseed to increase the nutrients.
Lunch Ideas
Trader Joe’s is a goldmine of vegan products, as is Amy’s brand.
- Amy’s canned chili (many varieties) or Roasted Vegetable Pizza
- Trader Joe’s Lentil Soup with Ancient Grains
- The classic peanut butter & jelly sandwich
- Toasted sourdough bread with mashed avocado and sliced tomatoes on top
Dinners
Try making a cashew-cheese-based pasta dish such as Vegan Stuffed Ricotta Shells with Spinach, created by the blogger Vegan 8. This dish is easy, delicious, and will likely become a staple even when (or if) you decide to end your plant-based experiment.
Many other blogs besides Vegan 8 offer simple and delicious plant-based dinner recipes. Minimalist Baker is another. You could enjoy a grilled Impossible Burger with sweet potato fries. Or maybe you would instead order for pick-up. Here are some options:
- Chipotle – their flavorful sofritas offering is tofu-based and used instead of meat. Skip the cheese, meat, and sour cream on any menu item.
- Papagayo’s is a Mexican restaurant in Fair Oaks with an extensive vegan menu.
Watch the YouTube video with more recipes to help you overcome the 7-day vegan challenge.
Snacks and Treats
If you are intent on keeping the week as healthy as possible, try these snacking ideas:
- Fruit
- Raw vegetables dipped in Trader Joe’s Vegan Caesar Dressing.
- Nuts and seeds
- Crackers and Hummus
If you want to plan a few less healthful treats for your plant-based week, remember that many types of junk food are “accidentally vegan,” including many varieties of potato chips, original Cracker Jacks, and even Oreos.
El Dorado Hills Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thanks for reading our exploration of Veganuary. I’m Ed A Smith, a personal injury lawyer in El Dorado Hills, California. If another person’s negligence has caused you to suffer injuries, the injury attorneys at my firm can provide compassionate, free, and friendly advice. If appropriate, we can then set up a no-obligation consultation to review the facts of your potential case. Call us at (916) 921-6400 or dial (800) 404-5400 if you are outside the local region.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/avocado-breakfast-bread-food-1844894/
mm [cs 816] bw