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What do vegans eat? What is there to eat? These are the most commonly asked questions for those thinking about making the plunge to veganism. Let’s look at the food pyramid.
All food pyramids are not created equal. The beloved “USDA Food Pyramid” that we all grew up with and were reminded of every single day in school, does not quite satisfy the nutritional needs and desires of vegans. Two reasons why many people fall off the “vegan wagon” are; people do not “feel full” or people say they become sick on a vegan diet. The main causes of these two ill symptoms of veganism are rooted in one issue; they falsely believe that there is lack of nutritional foods and supplements to support the body. Often times, alot of people don’t know how to eat properly, thus, leading them to feel sick or not feeling full and satisfied from the foods they are consuming. This leads to them loading up on veggie burgers, pre-packaged foods, pizza, cheese sandwiches and junk food, just to try to satisfy their hunger, all the while sacrificing their health.
To prevent vegans from failing at their lifestyle and diet; to prevent vegans from eating too much of the wrong types of foods (i.e. veggie burgers, soy-based meat alternatives, and carbohydrates) and to prevent you from getting sick, here is a vegan food pyramid to empower vegans and aspiring vegans with the foods that they should focus on eating everyday to support their bodies and their appetites.
The foundation of your vegan diet should be fresh vegetable. You should eat at least 4-6 servings per day of vegetables and fruits. This is really important because the plant kingdom provides many nutrients, vitamins and trace minerals that vegans need to provide their bodies with energy and vitamins to support cell growth and development. Avoid canned fruits and vegetables as these types of products do not add much value to the body. Instead, opt to eat fresh or lightly steamed vegetables to maximize the healthy benefits that the plant kingdom has to offer. Vegetables and fruits are also packed with fiber and are a great way to naturally cleanse the body. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much more energized they can feel just by eating fresh vegetables and fruit.
Remember a few years ago, everyone was “anti-carbohydrates?” During that time, carbohydrates caught a bad rap. The trick is eating complex carbohydrates in moderation. As a vegan, grains and pastas are a staple of this meatless diet. Do not not eliminate this important fuel from their diets. Just make sure to eat at least 4 servings per day to support the functioning of the brain and provide your body amino acids.
Beans and nuts are great sources of healthy fats, fiber and proteins for their diet. 3 servings is the ideal amount to consume to balance their meatless diet. Try to avoid canned beans because these beans are loaded with preservatives and salt. To really receive the most nutritional value from beans, use dried beans cooked slowly in a crock-pot.
Meat alternatives such as veggie burgers, textured vegetable protein (TVP), tempeh, tofu, and seitan should be limited to about 2 servings per day. It is better to eat tofu, seitan, and tempeh then it is to eat the processed “faux meat” products on the market. The less processed the foods, the more nutrients vegans will receive from meat alternatives.
Incorporate fats, sweets, and oils in to your vegan diet sparingly. When selecting fats and oils to eat or cook with, try to select the healthier fats such as oils from avocado and olive oil. You can apply the same principal for sweets. Try using agave or applesauce as sweeteners instead of sugar. If sugar is all you have access to, try cooking or baking with raw sugar cane.
VGNAF.com is not a medical body. We do not diagnose conditions or prescribe medications. Continue to follow the advice of your doctor or healthcare professional. VGN AF content is not meant to be a substitute for Professional Advice from Your Professional Care Provider and We make no warranties, express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy, or appropriateness for any purpose of any information or content contained in VGN AF content. You are advised that health advice and other professional advice is often subject to updating and refining due to medical and other research and developments.
