Why going plant-based (or, plant-first) really isn’t as scary as it sounds.

Let’s be real - there is nothing particularly revolutionary about going vegetarian, or vegan for that matter. In fact, so many of us “trial it” for a period, before giving up and heading back to our old eating patterns (i.e. meat loaded).

 However, it doesn’t need to be one way or the other. In fact, simply cutting down on our meat consumption (before going the full hog and eradicating it from our diets completely), is not only good for you (and all of us), but it is something wonderful for our planet too. No matter how small you think your impact is, or how small the changes are that you make, it’s safe to say that in 2020, the little things really do add up.

 As we all come face to face with the reality of climate change and the advocacy so many of us are getting behind, it’s no wonder that plant-based eating is taking the limelight in 2020 as a wellness and environmental movement to jump on board with. Author of Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?, Mark Hyman, MD has stated that there are a few reasons why people are showing more interest in a more plant-based diet, however the environment is certainly a leading factor: “... people are stepping up to the realities of climate change, and factory-farmed meat and the way we grow most of the food in this country is damaging our land, our air, our water, our communities, and our bodies".

With that mentality at the forefront of our thinking, it may never be easier than now to make the mental switch from meat-first eating, to plant-first eating. Thanks to plant-first eating finding more and more mainstream momentum, businesses are also stepping up to the plate (figuratively and literally) with more and more flavourful plant-based alternatives. Businesses are there to listen to and answer consumer needs and so, take a venture down any of your grocery store aisles, or peruse the menu at your favourite restaurant and we guarantee you there are more plant-based options glaring right back at you. 

MO+ co-founder, Barbara Choy made the switch to a largely plant-based diet with her husband in December 2019. For total transparency, meat hasn’t been totally eradicated from their diets, however for 4-5 days of the week, their diets are completely plant-based. The reasons were two-fold. Firstly, it’s a healthier way of eating, and secondly, it’s kinder on the planet. As touched on above, animal products make a huge dent on natural resources during their creation process.

However, before saying fare-thee-well to your previous diet, it’s important to have all the facts around a plant-based diet, and what a meal of this type should look like. It’s about working in your vegetables (sorry - potato fries don’t count!) and fruits, but also thinking about whole grains and limiting refined grains, healthy proteins (beans and nuts) and of course, healthy oils (our favourite is, of course, a good quality olive oil). These are vital to ensuring your plant-based eating doesn’t leave you devoid of energy and is really having the most positive impact on your mind and body as you transition your daily diet. Need more convincing? Let's just say our skin is going to be taking a breath of fresh air too - the vitamins and active compounds found in fruits and vegetables can have incredible benefits on creating healthy skin. But you knew that. So up the ante on vitamin C rich foods - a key vitamin that aids in the stimulation of the body's natural production of collagen - so you can, naturally, go to work on reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

 The idea here is not that you have to go completely vegan or vegetarian 7 days of the week, rather it’s about reaping the benefits of eating more plants while lightening the load on our planet. In 2020 - this eating movement doesn’t need a label - we’re simply eating more mindfully and in a way that works for all of us!