PLANT-BASED FOR BEGINNERS, Day 3: WHAT TO EAT, NOW? If you're used to eating "meat, potatoes and veg" for dinner, it can take some adjustment to change your mindset and start thinking "outside the box". You might start with "meat substitutes" such as meat-free burgers, Quorn "meatballs", etc. However, JUST BECAUSE IT'S VEGETARIAN, DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT'S HEALTHY (this is quite a common misconception). Check out the ingredients list. If you don't understand the ingredients or if the list of ingredients is as long as your arm, the food was probably heavily processed in a lab/factory and may not be very natural/healthy. However, as you make the transition, meat substitutes might be an easier way to start. And if you're bringing your family along for the ride, meat substitutes can be helpful while they work on changing their mindset. Curries and stews can be quick and easy to make and are great alternatives to meat. They can be batch-cooked then refrigerated/frozen so there's always something convenient to reheat and serve on busy days. TODAY’S TASK: find a plant-based alternative to your favourite meal. Simply type into Google, “easy vegetarian curry recipe” or “easy vegan burger recipe” and either get cooking or write down the ingredients you’ll need to buy the next time you go to the shop. Enjoy! . * I have a 28-day guide for Becoming Plant-Based available for download on my website. I’m a plant-based nutritionist and would love to help you live a happier, healthier life by making simple dietary & lifestyle changes. Contact me through the CONNECT page on my website for a FREE, 20-minute no-strings-attached chat to see if we could work together. No sales talk, I promise! * #resolution2021 #newyeargoals #personalgoals #newhabits #vegetarianmeals #vegetarianfoodlover #vegetariandiet #veganuary2021 #veganvibes #veganmotivation #veganfortheplanet #thefutureisvegan #vegannutrition #veganmeals #veganfoodideas #veganinspiration #veganfoodlover #nutritionblogger #nutritionmatters #nutritiontips #nutritionadvice #nutritionists #plantbasedfoods #plantbasedpower #plantbasedlife #plantbasedfoodie #plantbasednutrition #healthcoaching #healthcoachtips #dietcoach

PLANT-BASED FOR BEGINNERS, Day 2: GET VEG-UCATED!⁠ ⁠ I hope you enjoyed watching a movie yesterday...or that you were able to order a recommended book. Today is another opportunity to build your knowledge bank about plant-based eating.⁠ ⁠ GET INTO PODCASTS: They’re a great way to learn new information. I’ll often go out for a walk for an hour on my own just to have an hour to myself and my podcasts, switching my phone to airplane mode and listening to whatever I’ve downloaded. (And if you are working on getting fitter, knowing there’s a good podcast to listen to is a great motivator to get outdoors and get moving!) Make sure you have a podcast app downloaded already then...⁠ .⁠ TODAY’S TASK is to listen to a plant-based/nutrition podcast such as (type these into the Search bar):⁠ 🎧 Deliciously Ella⁠ 🎧 The Plant Proof Podcast⁠ 🎧 Nutrition Facts with Dr. Greger⁠ .⁠ Once you've subscribed to these three, you'll find you're offered recommendations for other similar ones. I recommend listening to podcasts on other topics, too!⁠ .⁠ 🎧🎧🎧⁠ .⁠ * I’ve written a 28-day guide for Becoming Vegetarian which you can download at my home page or click the link in my bio. I’m a plant-based nutritionist and would love to coach you to live a happier, healthier life by making simple dietary and lifestyle changes. Contact me through the CONNECT page on my website for a FREE, 20-minute no-strings-attached chat to see if we could work together. No sales talk, I promise! *⁠ ⁠ #veganuary2021 #veganvibes #veganmotivation #veganfortheplanet #thefutureisvegan #vegetariannutrition #vegetarianmeals #vegetarianfoodlover #vegetariandiet #vegannutrition #veganfoodideas #veganinspiration #veganfoodlover #nutritionblogger #nutritionmatters #nutritiontips #nutritionadvice #plantbasedfoods #newyearresolution2021 #plantbasedlife #plantbasedfoodie #plantbasednutrition #healthcoaching #healthcoachtips #choosehealthy #dietcoach #wellnesscoaching #holisticwellness #holisticnutritionist #resolution2021

PLANT-BASED FOR BEGINNERS, Day 1: GET MOTIVATED!⁠ ⁠ Everyone has different reasons for becoming plant-based and people will always ask you what your motivations are. Educate yourself so that:⁠ 🌟 You can motivate yourself and get back on track if you “fall off the wagon”⁠ 🌟 You can educate others when they decide they know more than you do about what’s best for your body⁠ 🌟 You can stand up for yourself and your decision⁠ ⁠ I decided to go vegetarian in April 2015 after reading this article: https://ideas.ted.com/should-you-stop-eating-fish-2/⁠ My motivation? I’m an eco-warrior and the thought that, “We’re using modern techniques capable of taking far more than our natural systems can replenish,” was too much for me. I couldn’t continue to eat fish as it felt hypocritical.⁠ ⁠ Later, I watched Cowspiracy, a movie on Netflix about the shocking environmental consequences of eating meat. I didn’t need much more motivation after that!⁠ 🌟🌟🌟⁠ TODAY’S TASK:⁠ Make yourself a nice healthy bowl of home-popped popcorn, drizzle with a little coconut oil and some nutritional yeast for a healthy, cheesy-tasting, plant-based snack!⁠ 🎬 WATCH Cowspiracy, Forks Over Knives or What the Health (all three are on Netflix)⁠ 📖 READ How Not to Die, Whole or Eating on the Wild Side⁠ ⁠ Download a 28-day guide to Becoming Plant-Based: LINK IN BIO⁠ I’m a plant-based nutritionist and would love to coach you to live a happier, healthier life by making simple dietary and lifestyle changes.⁠ Contact me through the CONNECT page on my website for a FREE, 20-minute no-strings-attached chat to see if we could work together.⁠ No sales talk, I promise!⁠ ⁠ #vegetariannutrition #vegetarianmeals #vegetarianfoodshare #vegetarianfoodlover #vegetariandiet #veganuary2021 #veganvibes #veganmotivation #veganfortheplanet #thefutureisvegan #vegetariandiet #vegannutrition #veganinspiration #veganfoodlover #nutritionblogger #nutritiontips #nutritionadvice #plantbasedfoods #newyearresolution2021 #plantbasedlife #plantbasedfoodie #plantbasednutrition #healthcoaching #choosehealthy #cowspiracy #resolution2021 #nutritionmatters #healthcoachtips #crueltyfreefoods #plantpowered #⁠plantbased⁠

Today’s snack idea - "banana split”.⁠ ⁠ Cut a banana length-wise, add a spoonful or two of natural yoghurt or nut butter (see my two previous posts about natural yoghurt and nut butter) and sprinkle with cinnamon.⁠ ⁠ When I tried this snack for the first time recently, I couldn’t believe how delicious it was. And how easy!⁠ ⁠ Bananas are a tricky one...they can produce a rush of blood sugar which leads to more cravings. Try to eat the slightly greener ones which contain less sugar than the yellow/browner ones. But when you’re really craving something sweet and don’t have much time, this makes a really quick and easy...and healthy...snack.⁠ ⁠ #snackideas #snacksmart #snacksforkids #snackgoals #snacklover #healthysnacks #healthysnacksonthego #healthysnacksforkids #healthysnackideas #healthysnackstogo #nutritionalsnacks #snackhits #happyandhealthy #nutritionist #healthychristmas #eatwell #foodgoals #plantbased #vegetarian #vegan #nutritionblogger #nutritionadvice #nutritiongoals #nutritionaltherapist #nutritionconsultant #nutritionmatters #nutritiontips #snacktime #vegetariansnack #snackhealthy

Today’s snack idea - homemade granola with natural yoghurt and fruit.⁠ ⁠ Granola makes for a delicious snack but shop-bought stuff can be full of hidden nasties. I’ve posted a recipe for homemade granola before - try to make your own so you can monitor how healthy it actually is.⁠ ⁠ Serve it on top of natural yoghurt. NOT the low fat stuff; the most natural stuff you can find. When something natural is made “low fat”, it’s often had other stuff added to make it taste good. You want to be eating foods as “whole” as possible.⁠ ⁠ I like to add slightly sour berries to my yoghurt and granola. The yoghurt and berries are a little tangy and balance the sweetness of the granola.⁠ ⁠ Watch your portion size with this one - you can get carried away with the granola as it’s so delicious. Nuts are super healthy but also full of (healthy) fats. I serve this snack in a tiny bowl and eat it with a teaspoon...mindfully!⁠ ⁠ #snackhealthy #snackgoals #snacklover #healthysnacks #healthysnacksonthego #healthplan #healthcoach #mealplan #healthysnacksforkids #healthysnackideas #healthysnackstogo #nutritionalsnacks #snackhits #nutritionblogger #nutritionadvice #nutritiongoals #nutritionaltherapist #nutritionconsultant #nutritionmatters #healthyeatingplan #plantbased #vegetarian #vegan #nutritiontips #granola #homemadegranola #granolarecipe #yoghurt #snackrecipe #breakfastrecipe⁠

Mondays can be difficult, nutritionally speaking. I used to "treat myself" to a chocolate bar or sugar-laden dessert on a Monday night as a "reward" for getting through the first day of the working week. But that used to set me up for a week of unhealthy choices. Now I like to start the week as I mean to go on. Today's another day. Get on the health train by stocking up on some healthy snacks for the week.⁠ ⁠ Today’s snack idea - sliced veg with tahini.⁠ ⁠ Tahini is made from sesame seeds and is one of the main ingredients in hummus. I didn’t realise how DELICIOUS it is on its own!⁠ Hummus makes a great snack, but can be quite calorific what with all that oil. ⁠ When you don’t have time to make your own hummus, grab a jar of tahini.⁠ ⁠ Slice some carrot sticks or bell peppers and use those as a spoon.⁠ ⁠ TOP TIP:⁠ Dark tahini: made from unhulled sesame, healthier, stronger-tasting, slightly bitter. ⁠ Light tahini: less bitter; you might want to try light tahini first to see if you like it.⁠ ⁠ #healthplan #healthcoach #snacktime #snackideas #snacksforkids #snackhealthy #snackgoals #snacklover #healthysnacks #healthysnacksonthego #healthysnacksforkids #healthysnackideas #healthysnackstogo #nutritionalsnacks #snackhits #happyandhealthy #nutritionist #eatwell #foodgoals #plantbased #vegan #nutritionblogger #nutritionadvice #healthyeatingplan #mealplan #nutritiongoals #nutritionaltherapist #nutritionconsultant #nutritionmatters #nutritiontips ⁠

Use snack time as a way to nourish your body. It's the perfect opportunity to get vital vitamins and minerals into your body. Remember, food = medicine!⁠ ⁠ Today’s snack idea - oatcakes topped with avocado.⁠ ⁠ Oatcakes are way more filling and nutritious than rice cakes. And to make rice cakes taste good, they’re normally topped with something sugary and less-than-healthy. Go for oatcakes labelled “whole grain”.⁠ ⁠ Oats regulate blood sugar which means you won’t experience blood sugar spikes which can lead to cravings. Oatcakes keep you feeling fuller for longer. (Check out my recent blog post, on my website, for more info about balancing blood sugar levels.)⁠ ⁠ Most oatcakes you buy in shops are, unfortunately, wrapped in plastic in “handy” groups of five or six. But five or six is a lot so TOP TIP, take two or three out and put the rest, wrapped, in the fridge. If you’re taking them to work, you might be tempted to scoff the lot when you’re hungry so plan your portion size in advance!⁠ ⁠ I love topping oatcakes with simple sliced avocado. Yesterday, I had a bit more time on my hands, though, so I chopped up avocado and tomato, mixed it with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper...and it was DELICIOUS!⁠ ⁠ #healthplan #healthcoach #mealplan #snackhealthy #snackgoals #snacklover #healthysnacks #healthysnacksonthego #healthysnacksforkids #healthysnackideas #healthysnackstogo #nutritionalsnacks #snackhits #plantbased #vegetarian #vegan #nutritionblogger #nutritionadvice #nutritiongoals #nutritionaltherapist #nutritionconsultant #nutritionmatters #nutritiontips #healthyeatingplan