Good Morning, loves! I know a lot of you probably have goals to eat healthier in the New Year, yes? I know I do! Whether it be cutting out sweets or eating out less, I think it’s safe to say we’re all trying to make healthier choices in general! With this in mind, I thought I’d share some of my personal goals, and how I make realistic, practical choices every day that I know will set me up for success. In my case, it comes from a place of wanting to be good to my body and to the earth… I try to stick to as plant-based of a diet as I can, and to choose vegan options whenever possible. I went completely vegan for three months a while back, and I can honestly say that I felt amazing! I felt more energized and just all around lighter on my feet. A totally vegan lifestyle might not be realistic for a lot of people (myself included!), mainly because of the cooking involved, but you can always get someone like purple carrot to prepare and deliver vegan meals to your door when you’re feeling lazy, so don’t let that put you off. There are small changes that we can all make day to day that will help us rely on plants more and animal proteins a little less, even if we don’t fancy a completely vegan lifestyle.
One thing that I love to do is to fill my plate with veggies first and then add in proteins and fat second. This ensures that I’m getting enough of the good stuff that is so SO good for me! Another tip is to always keep pre-cut veggies in the fridge for easy snacking! I know that if I have celery, carrots, cucumber, etc. ready to go, I’m wayyyy less likely to go for something less nutritious like crackers or chips! Try dipping them in hummus too, it’s my fav!! I love a good smoothie in the morning too, especially if it’s a weight-loss smoothie. Try adding a handful of spinach, kale, or even a few pieces of frozen cauliflower… I swear you won’t even notice they’re in there!
Sometimes it’s hard to stick to a plant-based diet when eating out, but usually, restaurants are really great about swapping things out for you! I LOVE eating out because it’s my favorite way to catch up with friends, so much so that I’m thinking of getting the AMEX Gold Card because I heard it’s the best card to use if you eat out frequently! I like to order a side salad or steamed veggies instead of fries on the side, and most places always have vegetarian options if you just ask!
If you’re thinking about switching things up and opting for a more vegetarian-based diet, just make sure you’re still getting enough protein from other sources! If you’re someone who enjoys working out or is put off exercise because you don’t think the protein supplements will meet your vegan dietary needs, then think again. My friend is vegan and she has recently started taking some vegan protein powder that she has found on the market, and all of a sudden, exercise is good again because she is able to adhere to her lifestyle decisions at the same time as meeting her fitness goals. It just means you have to look in other places to ensure that you’re still getting enough protein. Some of my favorite protein sources are lentils, quinoa, garbanzo beans, and tempeh!
I would LOVE to hear about all of your health goals for 2018, comment below! Have an amazing weekend, friends <3
Xoxo,
Witney
This sounds delicious! I’d love to try it sometime. One of my favorite healthy staples is a kale smoothie (just a ton of kale, fresh pineapple juice, and ice). It’s amazing. Do you put dressing on your bowls or just eat them plain?
I love to make a simple dressing of just lemon juice and olive oil! There are also a ton of healthy salad dressing brands that I love – try Tessemae’s or Primal Kitchen!