Going vegan: How to shift to an organic or plant-based diet

There are many interesting whole grains you can eat which are packed with nutrients. The less processed the grains, the more nutrients they deliver to your body, which is why instead of white rice, you should go for brown, red, black or wild rice. Quinoa and adlai are also excellent alternatives to white rice— they both have lower glycemic indexes, as other less processed whole grains do—which means they take longer to digest and will keep you full for longer since they release glucose into your system at slower rates. This also means you won't have as many sugar crashes. 

Related: Rice alternatives you need to try

Since you won’t be eating meat and fish, you will need to get your daily dose of protein through other avenues. Luckily, there are many plant-based proteins which you can incorporate into your diet to ensure you do not have any deficiencies.

1. Tofu
2. Edamame
3. Beans
4. Lentils
5. Whole grains (e.g. quinoa)
6. Nuts (e.g. almonds)
7. Chia seeds
8. Chickpeas
9. Tempeh
10. Oatmeal
11. Hempseeds

See also: Benefits of a high-protein diet: better skin, muscle retention, and more

Instead of dairy milk, try alternatives like nut or soy milk. There are so many options, all of which bring their own flavour profiles which can enhance your meals, shakes, desserts and recipes. Play around with these milks: cashew, coconut, almond, walnut, pili, hempseed, pumpkin, and so much more! 

See also: 5 Milk alternatives to try

Cold-pressed oils are often made at room temperature or around 27 degrees Celsius and are processed without chemicals. This method keeps most of the oil’s nutrients and beneficial facets intact, which means that it is better for our consumption. The heat from hot-pressed oils can affect the structure of the oil and cause it to lose nutrients along the way. 

See also: How different cultures approach healthy eating

Don't depend on faux meats or foods made in laboratories. Yes, they are gorgeous developments in the fields of science, and can enrich your meals with intriguing textures and flavours. But these faux meat substitutes, more often than not, do not taste like the original and will leave you wanting more. Diners may not feel satisfied, and it may make it harder for you to stick to your cleanse or meal program.

I personally am not a huge fan of foods that are engineered to try to be other foods. Instead of ingesting meals that go through complicated chemical processes, why not work with whole foods and cook up innovative recipes that show off the produce? You can create cauliflower crust pizzas, sandwiches, chips, arancini, broccoli tater tots, wraps, pasta, skewers, and so many different kinds of desserts or bread. When cooking up plant-based meals, treat your vegetables like meat and cook them up the way you’d do proteins. There is no reason why you cannot season them just like you would your favourite steaks and birds. Vegetables have great natural flavours that can be complemented by herbs and spices. 

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