How to think about plant based eating
There is a myth about plant-based eating—something I believed myself before going plant-based —is the idea that they just eat salads all the time. You know the ones: limp lettuce, a few sad tomatoes, maybe a lonely cucumber slice. Ugh, how boring! Who would sign up for that?
Spoiler alert: No one. And luckily, a plant-based diet is not just endless salads.
Yes, you’ll probably eat more greens than before. But we’re not talking about sad, flavorless piles of rabbit food. The truth? Eating plant-based can be deliciously exciting, and there are so many options that “boring” is off the table.
Where This Myth Came From
We can’t entirely blame people for believing this myth. Decades ago, when plant-based eating wasn’t mainstream, the options were...let’s call them limited. Fake meats like Tofurkey ruled the day, and let’s be honest, they weren’t great. If you ditched meat, you were pretty much left with salads, a.k.a. “rabbit food.”
Fast-forward to today: The supermarket shelves are packed with plant-based options. Butter, cheese, milk, yogurt, burgers, pizza, hot dogs, cookies—you name it, there’s a plant-based version. Granted, junk food is still junk food, whether it’s plant-based or not, so balance is key. But the point stands: plant-based eating is no longer restrictive or boring.
So, how do you avoid sad salads without diving headfirst into plant-based junk food? Let’s talk strategies.
Getting Started: Veggies, the Unsung Heroes
First things first: you need a good relationship with vegetables. Yes, I promised no sad salads, and I mean it—but veggies are essential. My gateway veggie? Spinach.
Spinach doesn’t have kale’s trendy PR team, but it doesn’t need one. It’s a low-key superfood that’s versatile and easy to love. Kale, on the other hand, tastes like...a fart in an elevator (there, I said it). Permission granted to dislike kale. Spinach has similar nutrients without the attitude.
Pro tip: Start with a spinach smoothie. Toss in a handful of spinach, some protein powder, a banana, berries, flax oil and water. Blend it up, and voilà—breakfast. Bonus: the spinach is so mild you won’t even taste it. Add more berries if you want to keep it purple, or go green to impress your friends. Either way, it’s delicious.
Spinach, But Make It Fun
Once you’ve mastered the smoothie, let spinach graduate to salads. But not sad salads—spinach is just the base for something amazing. Here’s how to jazz it up:
Protein Power: Top your spinach with vegan chicken tenders, drizzle on some BBQ sauce, and sprinkle vegan cheese for a BBQ chicken salad that’s anything but boring.
Edamame Magic: Those salty little pods you love at Thai restaurants? They’re protein-packed legumes! Buy them shelled and frozen, then toss them on your salad for a satisfying crunch.
Nutty Goodness: Add sliced almonds for a hit of crunch, healthy fats, and extra protein.
Fruit Factor: Apples are a personal favorite. Slice them up and toss them in for sweetness and texture. Bonus: they pair perfectly with almond butter on the side.
Dressing It Up
A good dressing pulls it all together. Store-bought options like raspberry vinaigrette strike a nice balance of sweet and tangy, but any dressing will do. Just don’t drown your salad—let the toppings shine!
The Takeaway
Will you eat more salads on a plant-based diet? Sure. But they don’t have to be sad. In fact, they can be vibrant, delicious, and downright exciting. With these tips, you’re well on your way to loving your greens—and that’s just the beginning of your plant-based adventure.
