7 Painless Tips to Eat Plant-Based More Often (Without Going Vegan)

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So you’ve heard the buzz about eating plant-based. You’ve seen the latest plant-based menu item at your favorite restaurant. And, you’ve seen the commercials for the newest meat substitute. 

But you love your bacon. 

And your filet. 

And don’t even get started on cheese.

There’s no way you’re giving up those staples. 

Buuuut. You can’t help but be curious. 

Does eating a plant-based diet benefit your health? 

Can consuming less meat reverse global warming? 

And what about the animals? … You hadn’t thought about how many lives could be spared by eating more plant-based.

Your curiosity is piqued. Could your actions really make that much of a difference? 

Heck yes, they can. 

Little changes practiced by many can have a big effect. 

And does eating plant-based fit into your busy life?

You want to know more. But you don’t want to feel pressured to do anything drastic. Like, go vegan. 

That’s ok! It doesn’t have to be all or nothing! 

And I pinkie promise not to be pushy in this post. 😘

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. Thank you!

Ready to Eat More Plants (But Not Go Vegan)?

Before I lay out some tips to help you eat more plants, let’s clear this up: If you eat plant-based, it doesn’t mean you have to be vegan. 

Eating plant-based and being vegan isn’t the same.

When we eat plant-based, we eat foods that don’t have any animal ingredients in them: no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, gelatin, honey, and other insect ingredients. 

When people say, “I’m plant-based,” they may consume plant-based food all the time, most of the time, or some of the time. 

When people eat vegan, they eat the same as a plant-based diet. 

But when someone says, “I’m vegan,” in addition to avoiding animal ingredients in their food, they try their best to avoid animal products in all items they purchase and use.

“Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”

The Vegan Society

My point in clarifying this difference is that anyone can try eating plant-based foods. You don’t have to be vegan, or want to go vegan, to try out the tips below. 😉

Now that that’s cleared up, let’s jump in! 👇

7 Realistic Tips to Eat Plant-Based More Often

As we go through this, keep the mindset that you’re gaining more plants on your plate. (Rather than losing those staples we talked about earlier. )

This isn’t meant to make you feel like you have to “live without.” 

Here are some painless ways to try out plant-based eating.

1. Bravely educate yourself.

Why do we have to be brave? Because we’ve grown up thinking eating animals products was best for us. To flip that belief upside down, we need some solid information. 

Watch plant-based documentaries. (We liked Forks Over Knives and The Game Changers.) Read literature from plant-based doctors. Like Dr. Micheal Greger’s site NutritionFacts.org. Or his books How Not to Die and How Not to Diet. Follow others who’ve walked before you and learn what plant-based meals work for them.

And chances are, it may be uncomfortable. It goes against what we’ve always known. But learning something new takes courage.

2. Patiently read labels.

If you don’t already read labels, you’ll quickly learn how. Allow for extra time at the grocery store when you start out. 

After all, shopping for whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables is straightforward. But common processed staples like bread, granola bars, frozen goods, chips, and others that don’t specify “plant-based” on the bag, may take some getting used to. 

Look at the ingredients. Here in the US, usually, allergens that aren’t plant-based like eggs, milk, and shellfish happen to be clearly labeled. But you’ll need to scan through the list of ingredients for items like meat, gelatin, honey, and confectioner’s glaze.

3. Confidently put plants on your plate.

If a 100 percent plant-based meal is too intimidating, start small by adding more fruits and vegetables to your plate. 

Tonight when you eat dinner, add another vegetable to the plate. When you grab a snack, go for an apple and a handful of nuts before the granola bar. Sprinkle berries on your oatmeal. 

If you need some inspiration, check out the Daily Dozen app. Throughout the day, my husband and I often scroll through the Daily Dozen checklist to see what other foods we could add to round out our day.

4. Courageously cook a vegan recipe.

Yeah. This will take courage if you aren’t an adventurous cook. (I wasn’t and still don’t consider myself to be.) But you can do it!

Find a plant-based recipe that’s practical and approachable. Try to follow it with plant-based ingredients completely. If it calls for dairy-free cheese, try it. If it uses tofu instead of chicken, have faith. 

Once you’ve tried cooking and sampling fully plant-based recipes, you’ll have a better idea of how this style of cooking and eating will fit into your life.

5. Willingly order a plant-based menu item.

Start looking for plant-based options at fast-food chains, fast-casual diners, and sit-down restaurants.

The next time you see a plant-based item on the menu, order it. If it comes with mayo and cheese, nix it and see how it tastes fully plant-based. Whether it’s a barbecued vegan burger and fries, a salad, or a pasta dish, give it a go.

If you can’t find a fully plant-based item, build one. Order a baked potato with beans, veggies, and guacamole. Or a taco with beans, veggies, and salsa. Or a salad with plant-based ingredients and Italian dressing instead of ranch or Caesar.

6. Fearlessly sample dairy-free creamers in your coffee.

This may not seem like a big deal. But. I know you “coffee with cream” drinkers feel me here. There’s a reason this point is second to last. Subbing out an ingredient of our morning ritual is daunting. 

Sample the options. If you use non-fat milk, almond milk may work fine. But if you’re a half-and-half user like I was, you’ll want something thicker. My advice? Give Barista Oatly a go. 

Whatever you find that works, keep using it for a few days, maybe a week, maybe longer. See how it feels to sub one of your staples with something new. Maybe you’ll be apt to risk replacing another staple!

7. Spiritedly shift to meatless Mondays (or tofu Tuesdays or…)

Ready to make eating plant-based a regular thing (but not an always thing)? Dedicate one day a week to eating meatless—maybe even entirely plant-based.

Try meatless Mondays. If that doesn’t work, chose a different day. Maybe tofu Tuesdays? 😅 Keep it simple so it’s doable, even on a busy day when you lack the creative energy to try new recipes. Maybe oatmeal with berries, flaxseed meal, nuts, maple syrup, and almond milk for breakfast. A pasta salad with crisp veggies and Italian dressing for lunch. And vegan chili for dinner. 

Need inspiration? Here’s what we eat in a day!

So, can you eat more plants?

Yes! 

Does it have to be painful? 

No!

If you eat one plant-based meal does it mean you have to only eat plant-based meals? 

Nope. 

If you try plant-based eating, do you have to go vegan?

Nope again.

Try it for a meal. A day. A week. Do whatever feels good for you!

You’ve heard the plant-based buzz. You’ve wondered if it would work with your busy life. 

And now, you can take a few small steps to see how it fits.

Good luck! Feel free to reach out to me here or on Instagram if you have questions!

Stay mindful, even when your mind’s full,
~Chelsea

P.S. Don’t forget to pin this post for later! 📌

And P.P.S., if you want a few pointers, check out my free plant-based meal plan below! 👇👇👇