If you’re a carnivore switching over to a plant based diet, it can seem intimidating at first. It can almost seem like there is nothing to eat when you can’t count on a piece of animal protein to glue your meal together.
However, there are a lot more varieties of plants to eat than there are readily-available animals so you could be pleasantly surprised. It can seem intimidating at first but the magic is in the planning of your meals.
If you plan your meals, there is less of a chance that your mind is going to wander over to the animals you’re missing out on. Up next, we’ve got some great plant based diet meal prep tips that are going to help you.
The Best Meal Prep for a Plant-based Diet
Think about the Diet You Are Going For
Many people think about a plant-based diet as synonymous with a vegan diet. However, a key difference between the plant-based and vegan diets is the use or non-use of animal-derived products.
Vegans absolutely do not consume animal products, while plant-based eaters may do so. So, if you are a vegan, then any animal product is a no-no.
If this is your goal, then the best vegan meal prep tips for you is to avoid any ingredients derived from animals and to only go for plant-based ingredients.
If you are a plant-based eater, you can consume animal products but you intake more plant-based products. You need to increase your consumption of vegetables, fruits, grains, oils, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Find the Right Protein, Vegetable, and Fats
When picking products for your plant-based diet meal prep, you want to make sure that you pick the right proteins. If you’re plant based then you generally want to stay away from animals and animal-derived protein.
A complete protein source is soy, so you can use tofu and tempeh. You can also get incomplete protein from plant products such as legumes, whole grains, and nuts.
For your vegetables, you want to make sure that you get additional portions. In fact, experts say that veggies should take half of your plate at the minimum. Those that are in season is your best choice as these tend to have a lot of supplies.
Then, you should look for a healthy source of fats. Remember, not all fats are bad, and good cholesterol can be found in plant-based products such as olive oil, green fruits such as avocado, and nuts.
Invest in Cooking Instruments
Once you get the right products, you are ready to prepare your meals. However, keep in mind that you will be making big batches, which you will divide into portions, typically breakfast, lunch, and dinner over several days.
Because of this, you need to invest in cooking instruments that will allow you to cook in big batches. Getting big enough bowls, pots, and pans can save you a lot of effort as you can make a lot of food all in one afternoon.
You also might want to look at appliances that can process your ingredients for a low-hassle experience. After all, chopping up a big bunch of garlic by knife is much harder than simply throwing the same amount into a food processor.
Individually Store in the Right Containers
The key to meal prepping is to get the right containers. Remember, your big batch of food will be portioned and will be stored over a few days, so you need the best containers for your meal prep. You need a sealed and freezer friendly containers.
You also need to take into account that while you will prepare meals that will last seven days. The volume of each meal can vary depending on breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
For example, a sandwich for one day can fit a small container, but a rice bowl for another day may need more space than that. The best thing to do is to get different sets of containers in varying sizes.
You also need to consider the reusability of your containers. Go for items that you can put in the microwave over and over without degrading them.
Conclusion
Meal prepping for your diet can save you a lot of time. Plus, it helps you consume only the right amount and the right kinds of food.
Combined with discipline, you can achieve your fitness and wellness goals in no time with the help of meal prepping.
Table of Contents