Mindful masticating

Being vegetarian / vegan means you're super healthy right? WRONG! 

As with any diet there are foods which are healthier than others, some foods are high in sugar or fat, or both. 

Yes; meat, dairy & eggs are all high in cholesterol so if you stick to a plant based, whole-food diet you will probably be healither than your traditional omnivore counter part.

However; with vegan options becoming more & more readily available there are a number of vegan options which certainly aren't whole-foods. 

Take Burger Fuel for example, they now have the V8 Vegan burger & Vegan Aioli, they taste amazing; but they are not a healthy choice by any stretch of the imagination! Having a leafy green salad with quinoa or brown rice would be a much more nutritious choice.

I've been plant based for about 3 years, I lost weight initially and my cholesterol levels dropped significantly (I have family history of high cholesterol, heart disease & stroke) but that was because I was eating predominantly vegetables & legumes. 

If you're going vegan & want to loose weight then stick to your vege, fruit & legumes and yes you absolutely will drop those kgs.

Nuts, seeds and oils are a great natural source of vitamins, minerals, fiber & protein but they are calorie-dense which means they are also high in fat.

So those delicious "refined sugar free" slices, cakes & bliss balls are high in calories. They're great if you want an energy boost but they're still extra calories for your body to process so bare that in mind next time you're tempted, maybe just have 1 instead of the entire packet - I know I'm not the only person guilty of that!!

Food diaries are a great tool to use whether you are looking to loose weight or gain weight, you know exactly what you're eating and when, you can then make adjustments to lower (or up) your calorie intake to get the results you want. 

If you have a tendency to beat yourself up when you eat something you have labelled as "bad" (i.e like me) then take a breath & change your perspective; understanding your habits is healthy, condemning yourself for being human isn't.

My view is everything is good in moderation, if you want that burger & fries or a decadent smoothie & a sweet treat go for it - but make it a treat & really enjoy it.

80% of weight gain / loss is due to diet, being mindful about what we consume is essential for a healthy lifestyle regardless of whether you are plant based or not.

Julia x