A Plant Based Diet consists mostly or entirely of foods derived from plants (including vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds and legumes) and no animal products. The phrase "Plant Based" has been used to describe the vegan diet as well. Eating a plant based diet has been shown to have numerous health benefits such as a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and inflammation. The biggest critique when it comes to any type of non meat eating diet is the concern of protein intake. Many people think that because you aren't eating any animal products that you are not getting in any source of protein. What these people don't know is just how much protein is actually in our vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts and seeds. And there are many benefits to getting protein from plants, the main one being the amount of fiber that you get from eating plants which helps keep the digestive system balanced. Eating plant based is not as hard as you may think either. A lot of meals that you may love can be made vegan including pizza, pasta, soups, etc. Eating out with friends can still be enjoyable as well because pretty much anywhere you go, there are vegan meal options! And cooking plant based meals at home are just as fun and exciting, and might even be easier.

When it comes to sustainability, a Plant Based Diet plays a huge role especially in reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions as well as the amount of land, water and fertilizers used for agriculture. A large percentage of crops are being used to feed more livestock than humans and researchers have found that eating more plant based can contribute to minimizing climate change and biodiversity loss.

This diet may not be for everyone and that is okay! Incorporating some more plant based meals into your week can still contribute to positive changes in overall health of people and the planet. Maybe tryout Meatless Mondays with some friends or family and find a meal that you think everyone would enjoy. And if you are looking to try out a Plant Based Diet just remember to listen to your body and fuel yourself the best way for you!

A vegetarian diet, while similar to a plant-based diet, is a bit different. Vegetarian diets consist of foods that do not contain meat. The term "vegetarian" can often get mixed up with vegan, and even though vegan diets are also don't include meat they go one step further to cut out all animal products. For example, a vegan diet wouldn't include foods such as marshmallows which contain gelatin (animal bi-product) in them, whereas a vegetarian diet does allow for those foods to be consumed. The health benefits to having a well balanced vegetarian diet are plentiful with risks of chronic illness decreasing and vitamin and nutrient levels increasing. For a lot of folks, the ethics and sustainability behind a vegetarian diet may seem appealing but are concerned about how hard following the diet may actually be. The good thing about eating vegetarian is that it is delicious, nutritious, and easy to do! Your favorite recipes can likely be made vegetarian through substituting beef for a plant based substitute, lentils, or chopped mushrooms. While you can substitute meat out for plant based products like "Beyond" beef, another healthy alternative is to get familiar with hearty foods that have plenty of protein in them. Chickpeas, for example, are high in protein and are a great addition to your meal.