Vegan diets have shifted into the mainstream in recent years. Now, plant-based alternatives are everywhere from supermarkets to many fast-food restaurants. This is definitely a positive, as it makes the change to vegan, vegetarian, or even flexitarian much easier to do. However, it may also mean that people making the switch are receiving a waterer-down, less health- focused version of plant-based options.
Just because you’ve made the switch to a vegan diet, doesn’t automatically mean you’re diet will be instantly healthier, sorry! You still need to be mindful of what nutrients you need to maintain a healthy diet, regardless of whether animal products are involved. As a general rule, stick to organic and unprocessed as much as possible. Read the labels of some of the ‘vegan options’ at the supermarket, chances are they may be over-processed and contain unnecessary fats and sugars. These over-processed plant based options may cause negative weight gain.
In addition to this, make sure you’re still putting in the effort to get a well-rounded diet or fruits and vegetables. Only relying on vegan fast-food alternatives or carb-heavy foods like pastas and wholegrains, while technically plant-based, may mean you are consuming too much fat. Alongside this, if losing weight is one of your health goals, be mindful of your portion sizing. Eating too little can slow down your metabolism meaning that you’re less likely to burn off energy and calories as quickly as you’d like to.
While vegan fast-food may be quick and easy, this should only be for every once in a while. As discussed earlier, some of these options may be plant-based, but still have high levels of fat and carbs. A healthy vegan diet takes time, research, and effort. There are a lot of really great plant-based options readily available at supermarkets nowadays but you just have to know what you’re looking for.