Plant Based Diets
amynichole119
Posts: 15 Member
Since I have switched my major to nutrition I have been seeing a lot of studies in Plant Based Diets in my research. Can someone who is on the diet explain the specs? I am very interested in trying it out sometime. 
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Replies
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Plant based diet simply means that you only consume plant based foods or their derivatives... no animal products used for food (no eggs, dairy, meat, cheese, etc.).
Do you have other, more specific questions?1 -
What about beans, lentils and grains? I would consider those plant based.1
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That would be correct... those are all plants. I think the problem here lies in your definition of "plant", because, based on your previous question it seems like you may be referring only to leafy greens as plants.
Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding.0 -
I eat a plant based diet, the only things I don't eat are meat, eggs and dairy....so any veggie, nut, bean, grain etc....are fair game. No meat athlete has some great resources.2
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It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?1
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Yes, thats what I was wanting to confirm. I was wanting to try it out but if I was going to try it out I wanted to make sure I was doing it correctly. For example the paleo diet, you arent allowed to eat grains or beans which I didnt know when I did it, so it ended up being pointless. Lol.0
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Eat a balanced diet that satisfies you. It's that simple.5
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Yep, you're ok to consume literally anything that is not an animal (that is also still considered food)
That said, most will find that A) there is no magic about a plant based diet and B ) getting adequate micro-nutrition requires planning and supplementation simply because some micronutrients are not available from plant sources such as adequate D vitamins in appropriate quantities, B12, omega fatty acids, etc.
If you choose to go plant based, more power to you, but make certain to educate yourself well or you'll set yourself up for some nutrient deficiency down the road.
Edited to correct an accidental emoji and to add this link:
http://www.veganhealth.org/
There's some good info there regarding plant based nutrition. Just ignore all the vegan references and you should be good to go.3 -
Yes it does. Now, people who changed their diet what differences did you notice?0
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Just to let you know... you'll probably have better chances at getting answers to that type of questions in some of the groups...
Here's a link to the most active plant based group that I've found here on MFP:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/45-happy-herbivores
As for my experience, things that changed for me... the cost of my grocery bill went down, and the cost of my supplements went up. I had to plan meals more effectively to avoid nutrient deficiency, and I had to go have my blood checked more often to make sure I was staying on track.
That's about it.0 -
Thank you so much for the information! I don't know how to cook meat so I am basically on a vegan diet except that I eat eggs. I don't really like cheese or milk. I also like bread, but I didn't know if that was put into the diet as well...0
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amynichole119 wrote: »Thank you so much for the information! I don't know how to cook meat so I am basically on a vegan diet except that I eat eggs. I don't really like cheese or milk. I also like bread, but I didn't know if that was put into the diet as well...
As long as the bread is free of animal ingredients, it's appropriate for a plant-based diet.0 -
Bread is fine on a plant based diet as long as it doesn't contain milk or eggs (or honey for some people)0
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Awesome! Good to know!0
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I stopped eating meat at the end of 2015. The transition to cooking meals was a little difficult at first. Mexican food lends itself to plant based diets - Italian food and stir fries are also easily switched to non-meat meals. The issue I found was that I gained weight, rather than loosing. I was eating far too much pasta and tortillas! It took me a few months and a lot of research, but I have finally gotten into the grove of eating plant based. And it is friggin' delicious! It is crazy how much I have fallen in love with sauteed spinach or roasted beets and carrots.
I make fajitas, but use portobello mushrooms as the "meat". I make lasagna, but use thinly sliced eggplant or zucchini as the "noodle". Learn to cook with spices and learn to love raw food (my favorite lunch is open faced sandwich topped with homemade pesto, avocado, sweet grape tomatoes, and broccoli sprouts). You will get plenty of nutrition on plant based....and even if you aren't doing it full blown right away, you can ease it to it...cut meat out except for special occasions or weekends maybe - or just take the plunge and go all in!
My journey began over a concern for my health, but you will find that the more you look into eating plant based, the deeper issues will effect you - animal agriculture is sickening and if you are on Facebook and start "liking" vegan pages you may just find, like I did, that your health/weight is the least of the issues when it comes to cutting out animal products. Not to mention making the change will create a better world because animal agriculture is not only horrendously cruel to the animals, it is also torturing our planet.
There are plenty of reasons to make the switch - you will no longer be consuming dead meat, you will become healthier, you will help save thousands of animals lives, you will help save the planet. I know I feel better knowing that I'm not ingesting something that died in fear and anguish - because you know putting that *kitten* in your system cannot be good for you!
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MichPainter wrote: »I stopped eating meat at the end of 2015. The transition to cooking meals was a little difficult at first. Mexican food lends itself to plant based diets - Italian food and stir fries are also easily switched to non-meat meals. The issue I found was that I gained weight, rather than loosing. I was eating far too much pasta and tortillas! It took me a few months and a lot of research, but I have finally gotten into the grove of eating plant based. And it is friggin' delicious! It is crazy how much I have fallen in love with sauteed spinach or roasted beets and carrots.
I make fajitas, but use portobello mushrooms as the "meat". I make lasagna, but use thinly sliced eggplant or zucchini as the "noodle". Learn to cook with spices and learn to love raw food (my favorite lunch is open faced sandwich topped with homemade pesto, avocado, sweet grape tomatoes, and broccoli sprouts). You will get plenty of nutrition on plant based....and even if you aren't doing it full blown right away, you can ease it to it...cut meat out except for special occasions or weekends maybe - or just take the plunge and go all in!
My journey began over a concern for my health, but you will find that the more you look into eating plant based, the deeper issues will effect you - animal agriculture is sickening and if you are on Facebook and start "liking" vegan pages you may just find, like I did, that your health/weight is the least of the issues when it comes to cutting out animal products. Not to mention making the change will create a better world because animal agriculture is not only horrendously cruel to the animals, it is also torturing our planet.
There are plenty of reasons to make the switch - you will no longer be consuming dead meat, you will become healthier, you will help save thousands of animals lives, you will help save the planet. I know I feel better knowing that I'm not ingesting something that died in fear and anguish - because you know putting that *kitten* in your system cannot be good for you!
While being a vegan is great, please don't spread misinformation about ingesting meat. It can be included in a perfectly healthy and balanced diet.2 -
It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?
I hate that the vegans have stolen the term "plant based diet". I have long called my diet plant based, in that the bulk of my diet comes from plants (but not all). What sense does it make to say that your diet is "based" on plants if plants are all you eat? Plus, they already have a name for their diet. ::grumble::
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?
I hate that the vegans have stolen the term "plant based diet". I have long called my diet plant based, in that the bulk of my diet comes from plants (but not all). What sense does it make to say that your diet is "based" on plants if plants are all you eat? Plus, they already have a name for their diet. ::grumble::
Yea, I agree with you. My diet could be considered "plant based" as well, but like you, just not all of it as I do eat meat. Majority of my diet comes from beans and veggies (yes beans are veggies but separated for clarity with a smaller portions of meat at each meal. Mostly chicken or fish.
But now it is thought of in the same light for some reason.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?
I hate that the vegans have stolen the term "plant based diet". I have long called my diet plant based, in that the bulk of my diet comes from plants (but not all). What sense does it make to say that your diet is "based" on plants if plants are all you eat? Plus, they already have a name for their diet. ::grumble::
But it doesn't describe vegans. Vegans have an ethical objection to animal exploitation and suffering. Diet is only a portion of this. People on a plant-based diet are avoiding animal products in the diet for health reasons.
They're two different things. If anything, you should be annoyed with the plant-based dieters for not coming up with a new term to describe how *they* eat.4 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?
I hate that the vegans have stolen the term "plant based diet". I have long called my diet plant based, in that the bulk of my diet comes from plants (but not all). What sense does it make to say that your diet is "based" on plants if plants are all you eat? Plus, they already have a name for their diet. ::grumble::
But it doesn't describe vegans. Vegans have an ethical objection to animal exploitation and suffering. Diet is only a portion of this. People on a plant-based diet are avoiding animal products in the diet for health reasons.
They're two different things. If anything, you should be annoyed with the plant-based dieters for not coming up with a new term to describe how *they* eat.
It's the same diet though, right?0 -
Here's a little history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant-based_diet
The Kaiser Permanente Update for Physicians cited is here: http://www.thepermanentejournal.org/issues/2013/spring/5117-nutrition.html
According to this a normal recommended diet is mostly plant-based (half the plate vegetables, a quarter whole grain or unprocessed starchy food), and a quarter lean protein, so "plant based" would mean something beyond that. I run into it meaning "generally don't eat animal products for health reasons, but not as strict about it as someone doing it for ethical reasons is and occasionally might make exceptions)" to "maybe eat animal products once a week or so" (which I think makes more sense to call mostly plant-based).0 -
i feel like plant based is more appropriate for a diet mostly of plants but consume other foods.... u know based... based on.. not exclusive lol. just say your vegan if u dont consume animal products.2
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?
I hate that the vegans have stolen the term "plant based diet". I have long called my diet plant based, in that the bulk of my diet comes from plants (but not all). What sense does it make to say that your diet is "based" on plants if plants are all you eat? Plus, they already have a name for their diet. ::grumble::
But it doesn't describe vegans. Vegans have an ethical objection to animal exploitation and suffering. Diet is only a portion of this. People on a plant-based diet are avoiding animal products in the diet for health reasons.
They're two different things. If anything, you should be annoyed with the plant-based dieters for not coming up with a new term to describe how *they* eat.
It's the same diet though, right?
It can be (although in my experience plant-based diet people often layer in additional restrictions of fat or certain types of processed foods), but the importance of the term "vegan" is that it provides a description of an ethical position. The diet stems from the ethical choice, it isn't the central thing.0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »But it doesn't describe vegans. Vegans have an ethical objection to animal exploitation and suffering. Diet is only a portion of this. People on a plant-based diet are avoiding animal products in the diet for health reasons.
Vegan by definition simply means no animal products. It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with motivation or moral objections. Some people go vegan for health, some for morals, some for both. Please just do your research, eat in whatever HEALTHY AND BALANCED way works for you, and let everyone else do their own thing.0 -
Vegan by definition simply means no animal products. It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with motivation or moral objections. Some people go vegan for health, some for morals, some for both. Please just do your research, eat in whatever HEALTHY AND BALANCED way works for you, and let everyone else do their own thing.
No, that wasn't what the term was coined to mean. I know some people have used it to describe plant-based diets by people who are comfortable with non-food animal exploitation, but the term was created to describe a specific set of ethical concerns.
Me having an (educated) opinion on what the word means doesn't mean I'm not letting anyone else do their own thing. People are still free to use the word however they would like, just like they can use "green" to describe things that are black or "mushrooms" to describe cherry pie. Someone having an opinion that differs from yours doesn't mean you can't live your own life.4 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?
I hate that the vegans have stolen the term "plant based diet". I have long called my diet plant based, in that the bulk of my diet comes from plants (but not all). What sense does it make to say that your diet is "based" on plants if plants are all you eat? Plus, they already have a name for their diet. ::grumble::
But it doesn't describe vegans. Vegans have an ethical objection to animal exploitation and suffering. Diet is only a portion of this. People on a plant-based diet are avoiding animal products in the diet for health reasons.
They're two different things. If anything, you should be annoyed with the plant-based dieters for not coming up with a new term to describe how *they* eat.
It's the same diet though, right?
It can be (although in my experience plant-based diet people often layer in additional restrictions of fat or certain types of processed foods), but the importance of the term "vegan" is that it provides a description of an ethical position. The diet stems from the ethical choice, it isn't the central thing.
I agree with this whole heartedly. This is not a dietary decision for me but an ethical/spiritual one that happened to have dietary restrictions due to its nature.
The one thing that often drives me the craziest though, is all the magical crap that gets blamed on "attributed to" a vegan diet. It's not magical for health or weight loss, that's all calories, macro, and micronutrition regardless of sources... and a vegan diet isn't suitable for everyone. Arguing over names sounds silly to me, but I can see the value others might see in it... for me, I'd rather talk about the truth of the nutritional concerns raised by eating a vegan diet without proper education as to a body's needs. That's a concerning topic for me that often never gets brought up in the context of the diet.
That and proselytism, but that's a different conversation.
*edited to clarify a statement.1 -
MichPainter wrote: »I stopped eating meat at the end of 2015. The transition to cooking meals was a little difficult at first. Mexican food lends itself to plant based diets - Italian food and stir fries are also easily switched to non-meat meals. The issue I found was that I gained weight, rather than loosing. I was eating far too much pasta and tortillas! It took me a few months and a lot of research, but I have finally gotten into the grove of eating plant based. And it is friggin' delicious! It is crazy how much I have fallen in love with sauteed spinach or roasted beets and carrots.
I make fajitas, but use portobello mushrooms as the "meat". I make lasagna, but use thinly sliced eggplant or zucchini as the "noodle". Learn to cook with spices and learn to love raw food (my favorite lunch is open faced sandwich topped with homemade pesto, avocado, sweet grape tomatoes, and broccoli sprouts). You will get plenty of nutrition on plant based....and even if you aren't doing it full blown right away, you can ease it to it...cut meat out except for special occasions or weekends maybe - or just take the plunge and go all in!
My journey began over a concern for my health, but you will find that the more you look into eating plant based, the deeper issues will effect you - animal agriculture is sickening and if you are on Facebook and start "liking" vegan pages you may just find, like I did, that your health/weight is the least of the issues when it comes to cutting out animal products. Not to mention making the change will create a better world because animal agriculture is not only horrendously cruel to the animals, it is also torturing our planet.
There are plenty of reasons to make the switch - you will no longer be consuming dead meat, you will become healthier, you will help save thousands of animals lives, you will help save the planet. I know I feel better knowing that I'm not ingesting something that died in fear and anguish - because you know putting that *kitten* in your system cannot be good for you!
I can guarantee you that I know a ton of unhealthy vegans. There is nothing wrong with eating meat. In fact, we are omnivores, so we are designed to eat meat and plants.
And I am just here to learn from Bane!!1 -
BecomingBane wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »It's a vegan diet without the ethical concerns. Does that help?
I hate that the vegans have stolen the term "plant based diet". I have long called my diet plant based, in that the bulk of my diet comes from plants (but not all). What sense does it make to say that your diet is "based" on plants if plants are all you eat? Plus, they already have a name for their diet. ::grumble::
But it doesn't describe vegans. Vegans have an ethical objection to animal exploitation and suffering. Diet is only a portion of this. People on a plant-based diet are avoiding animal products in the diet for health reasons.
They're two different things. If anything, you should be annoyed with the plant-based dieters for not coming up with a new term to describe how *they* eat.
It's the same diet though, right?
It can be (although in my experience plant-based diet people often layer in additional restrictions of fat or certain types of processed foods), but the importance of the term "vegan" is that it provides a description of an ethical position. The diet stems from the ethical choice, it isn't the central thing.
I agree with this whole heartedly. This is not a dietary decision for me but an ethical/spiritual one that happened to have dietary restrictions due to its nature.
The one thing that often drives me the craziest though, is all the magical crap that gets blamed on "attributed to" a vegan diet. It's not magical for health or weight loss, that's all calories... and a vegan diet isn't suitable for everyone. Arguing over names sounds silly to me, but I can see the value others might see in it... for me, I'd rather talk about the truth of the nutritional concerns raised by eating a vegan diet without proper education as to a body's needs. That's a concerning topic for me that often never gets brought up in the context of the diet.
That and proselytism, but that's a different conversation.
I do attribute a portion of my good health to my diet, but they're parts of my diet that most people could easily implement without going vegan (things like eating more vegetables). I don't think eliminating foods is the answer for most people regarding their health -- it's more about focusing on getting what you need, which virtually everyone can do while still eating animal products (and if people find nutrient-rich animal products tasty, it may even be easier for them to get what they need while not eliminating things -- if that makes sense).
And yes, there are some people who can't safely eliminate animal products due to their particular situation, I think it's important that we (vegans) not gloss over that. It can be really alienating to have people tell you that your concerns or situation are imaginary and it's important that we not do that.
I can appreciate your point over the silliness of debating a name. I do see the value in having a specific term to describe those who have concerns with animal exploitation. I guess I don't see why it is so important for people on plant-based diets to lay claim to the term "vegan" when they reject what I consider to be the central part of it. Maybe the answer is that they can't yet see the centrality of the ethics to what I do and they consider it an irrelevant part of the term. I need to try to be more understanding.0 -
MichPainter wrote: »There are plenty of reasons to make the switch - you will no longer be consuming dead meat, you will become healthier, you will help save thousands of animals lives, you will help save the planet. I know I feel better knowing that I'm not ingesting something that died in fear and anguish - because you know putting that *kitten* in your system cannot be good for you!
I've been eating animals and animal products for over half a century without developing any disease, syndrome or ailment. All my doctors and all medical tests (and trust me there are a LOT of tests at my age) say I'm healthy. So. how exactly would I be "healthier" than healthy by giving up meat?0 -
These are some great resources for plant based diets:
http://www.pcrm.org/health
http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/plant-based-diets
If you are looking into veganism (as an ethical and environmental issue) check out this site:
http://vegankit.com/why/
I've been vegan for 5 years and I don't fret about my nutrition (besides a B12 spray- but I was deficient in B12 when I was a meat-eater. Meat barely has any B12 anymore either- it comes from bacteria in healthy soil that we are lacking nowadays). Just eating enough and a variety of plant-based foods has given me amazing health benefits. I'm definitely healthier than I was before! My vitamin intake is through the roof- without taking a multi-vitamin! Try it out- you wont regret it!
I started a group on here called 'Happy Herbivores'. Feel free to check out additional resources we have on there!2
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