Eating A Plant-Based Diet

 The word "plant-based" basically means eating a diet that consists of plants, legumes, nuts, soy, and DEFINTELY no animal products whatsoever. That means cheese, bacon, and butter are out of the question. For some people being "plant-based" is just another word for vegan, when in reality they can be completely opposites. 

When someone switches their diet from eating whatever to becoming “plant-based” it's usually for health reasons but, when someone becomes a vegan it can be for a bunch of different reasons. Maybe it's the cool thing to do or, maybe they're protesting to save the animals. I've even heard that hardcore vegans don't wear fur coats, (and if I'm being completely honest here, neither would I) and they don't eat honey because it's made by bees, which are animals. I think that's a little over the top because honey is actually good for you, and it can reverse allergies if you take a spoonful each day. Anyway, there are also different health benefits between the two. While both are healthier than eating the standard American diet of way too much meat and dairy products, being “plant-based” wins the award for being the healthiest. It’s simply in the name. This diet in based on consuming primarily vitamin rich vegetables and fruits.

Whereas being a vegan just means you don’t eat any animal products but, you can eat anything else. This is what leads to people becoming “junk vegans”. There is so much food that is vegan but, that doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Oreos are vegan. Fried tofu from Sushi House (which is awesome) is vegan. Oil is vegan, and you know what they say. “It goes straight from your lips to your hips.”

Now if you were wondering, becoming “plant-based” is not just a hop, skip, and a jump away from your old lifestyle. It takes a lot of time, effort and self-control. This is hard because the one thing people need is time, and it’s really hard to find.

I’ve found it pretty easy to try to be “plant-based” but, only because my mom did first. She had really high cholesterol so, she researched the best way to bring it down and it turned out to be a “plant-based” diet. Her cholesterol dropped 60 points, she lost weight, got rid of weekly migraines, and now for the most part my sister and I eat that way at home. It’s really hard being “plant-based” at school because, a lot of people don’t eat that way. There’s cheese and meat on everything, or there’s milk hiding on the ingredients list. This has brought me to the conclusion that it’s just easier to bring my own snacks to school.

If you’re a teenager, like myself you should totally try going “plant-based”. I’ve noticed that it’s given me more energy for school and sports, clears up my skin (whenever I’m strictly eating plant-based), has made me more fit, and I just feel better overall! All you have to do is eat more plants. Instead of making your veggies the side dish, make them your main course.