Hello and Welcome to Tastefully Plant Based! My name is Mary and I’ve started this blog because I like to share plant-based, vegan recipes and other great ideas for entertaining and healthier living!
No matter what diet you follow, nobody will dispute the fact that eating more fruits and vegetables is a good idea. Many people think of a plant-based or vegan diet as restrictive and without many tasty options. It’s just not true! Many of the recipes on this blog are ones my family and I have cooked for years, long before we even knew what plant-based or vegan meant! They just happen to be so. There are so many easy and delicious vegan recipes. At my house, we like to cook. My husband and I have stacks of cookbooks we have amassed over time. We’ve found that many of the recipes can easily be adapted to be vegan. I’ll share some of our favorites of those as well.
Plant-Based and Vegan Recipes Everyone Will Like
Oh geez, sometimes using the word plant-based, or vegan can be problematic. Feeding family and friends is what my family likes to do for fun. Everyone we know loves to eat good food. You don’t want to make everyone feel as if they are adhering to some new way of eating! You’re not. The recipes you’ll find here on the blog will please vegans and non vegans alike.
We nurture people through food and when the food is plant-based and healthy, you’ll feel good about feeding it to the people you care about.
How to Start and Stick to a Plant-Based Diet
These tips apply whether you are trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet or transitioning to an exclusively plant-based diet.
- Read up! Knowledge is power. There are lots of great books about the benefits of plant-based eating. Learning about the benefits of this way of eating, will motivate and will keep you on track.
- Examine your habits and thoughts. If you’re eating meat, eggs and cheese because you think it’s the only way to get protein, think again. How do I get enough protein is the number one question (and really a concern) I get from family and friends. If you’re concerned about this, please read some of the books I recommend written by plant-based doctors. You’ll find that you will get all the protein you need. Habits and thoughts drive us at times. If you want to eat more plants and even eat an exclusively plant-based diet, focus on what you can eat, versus what you can’t.
- Keep it Simple. Keeping meals simple and sticking to fast and easy recipes during the week is helpful. Try dinners like vegan pastas, soups or just steamed vegetables on rice with a good sauce. On the weekends, when you have more time to cook, experiment with new vegan recipes and more elaborate meals. If you want to start a plant-based diet with health in mind, focus on incorporating these nutrient dense foods into your diet everyday:
- Nuts and Seeds
- Vegetables, including starchy ones like potatoes
- Fruits
- Grains
- Legumes (beans)
Make it Pretty
Plant-based food is colorful and pretty. I’ve been in the antiques and home decor business for 20 years and know that if you present things in an attractive way, it really makes a difference! Be thoughtful about this. Food is no exception. Arranging food beautifully on your plate or on a platter when serving it will greatly enhance your plant-based eating experience! The named of this blog—Tastefully Plant Based—has several meanings. First, the food tastes good. Next, it’s enjoyable to cook. Then, its presented beautifully. Finally, you’ll learn that living in a thoughtful, plant-based way can be not only tasteful and good for you but good for the planet, too.
Be Patient
If you are starting to follow a whole-food, plant based diet (wfpb), which means no refined grains, sugar, salt or oil, just know that your tastebuds will change and adjust to your new way of eating. Many of the recipes on this blog can be adjusted to be wfpb. I’ve personally found that I’ve stop craving salty junk food and sugar over time by just by following a plant-based diet.
“Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food”
I love this Hippocrates quote because it’s so true.
So many of my friends want to eat a more plant-based diet nowadays, mostly because of the health benefits. We know a lot more about the importance of this now. I have been following an exclusively plant-based diet for over 6 years now. Before going plant-based I had been trying to tweak my diet because I had achy joints and other issues most people think are due to aging. I just couldn’t pinpoint what was causing the problems. I decided to follow a vegan diet and for me, it worked. All of those issues went away and I feel much better now. I am able to eat delicious foods and don’t feel deprived in any way. You just need some good recipes and ideas! Keep in mind that you still don’t want to eat lots of vegan junk food—chips, cookies, fried foods, etc.—if you are interested in health benefits of this kind of eating. Eating this way is not about perfectionism, it’s about trying to eat nutritiously most of the time. Of course, it’s okay to indulge once in a while!
Stay in Touch!
Sign up at the bottom of this page to subscribe to our newsletter email with recipes as well as other helpful tips and information.
You’ll also find Tastefully Plant Based on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
Check out my Store!
MERCATO Italian Antiques & Artifacts
Since 2003 I’ve been traveling to Italy to hand source Italian antique furniture and decorative accessories. If you like Italy, interior design and home decor, visit my online store!
