Plant Based, not Vegan

There’s been a lot of confusion lately with the dietary term ‘Plant Based’ and I want to share my thoughts with you on what having a diet based on plants actually means.

I’m not Vegan, I love my eggs and cheese too much! It’s something I have considered on and off, as there are many benefits to a vegan diet, however it’s a little too restricting for my lifestyle and there are also some concerns that vegan’s need to be aware of. Vegans need to be super conscious of getting a varied amount of different plant protein sources in their diet to make up ‘complete proteins’ as many plant protein sources do not have the full 9 amino acids that we need. It’s also important to be aware of B12 deficiency as this is mostly found in animal products. Basically, you really do need to know what you’re doing and make sure you’re getting a nutritious balanced diet, which can be a bit more tricky with vegan foods and it may involve supplementing for some people (to be advised by a qualified Nutritionist). Having said that, I believe it’s absolutely possible to be a healthy vegan if you choose to be and I respect those who are.

I refer to my diet as being plant based. Contrary to what popular documentaries such as Game Changers have you believe, this is not the same as a vegan diet.

To be plant based, literally means eating a diet that is predominantly based on plants. This does not necessarily mean that the individual never eats animal products such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Many plant based eaters consume these in small amounts but their plates are mostly made up of vegetables and foods from plant sources.

Plant based foods Include:

• Vegetables

• Fruits

• Legumes (beans, peas, lentils etc)

• Grains

• Nuts & Seeds

Personally, I tend to eat eggs most mornings (I love my veggie scrambles!) and sometimes cheese such as halloumi for lunch with salad and grains, and I have a spash of milk in my cuppa, but I pretty much eat a vegetarian diet during the week at home and then at the weekend if we go out, I often enjoy having some nice locally caught fish. But my plate will always be colourful with lots of different vegetables no matter what!

I’m not here to tell you what to eat, everyone is unique and thrive on different foods. I know that I feel my best when eating a whole food plant based diet and there is a huge amount of evidence showing the link between improved health and eating more plant foods, I don’t think anyone in the nutrition field is disagreeing with that. Whether you choose to consume meat and dairy is a personal choice and we don’t have to put a label on ‘what we are’, it doesn’t identify us!

If you’d like some guidance on changing your diet to be more plant based I would be happy to help you. I’m a qualified Nutrition Advisor and can therefore help with healthy eating, habits and mindset around how we eat and provide meal ideas etc, but if it’s advise on supplements you need, I would recommend you see a registered Nutritionist.

Stay tuned for part two, which will go into the benefits of a plant based diet and how to make some easy swaps to get more plants on your plate!

About Lou

Louise Critchlow is a Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach who helps busy women accross the Channel Islands and UK to live a healthier, happier and more balanced life via 1:1 and online coaching. #newwavesnewyou