Going Vegan may sound hard, but it's easier than you think!
Eating like an HCLF Vegan
So, there are actually a few different types of Vegan, but really, being Vegan is a personal endeavor, so you can pick and choose what foods work for you! Personally, I am an HCLF Vegan, which means "High Carb, Low Fat." Basically, I eat a ton of fruits and veggies, along with oatmeal, bread, pasta, etc. I "Carb up" on all kinds of foods! Why do I eat like this? We as humans were made to consume carbs! It's such a stigma these days to limit carb in-take, but carbs are NOT the culprit! Instead, people need to be cutting out animal products, as these cause the VAST majority of health problems! I also limit my fat intake, and cut out any oils. Of course, I eat the occasional bit of oil, but not normally. I get my protein from an abundance of fruits and veggies, along with nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, and foods such as almond milk and protein powder.
| PROTEIN | Hempseed | Nuts | Avocados | Seeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAT | Seeds | Tofu | Beans | Lentils |
| GRAINS | Whole Wheat Bread | Pasta | Rice | Sweet and Regular Potatoes |
| VITAMIN A | Carrots | Red and yellow peppers | Tomatoes | Leafy greens |
| VITAMIN B | Beans | Avocados | Mushrooms | Nutritional Yeast |
Getting most of my calories from carbs has changed my health completely! I have tons of energy, and I don't normally have that mid day lul anymore. However, even though I'm talking up the carbs here, fats are extremely important too! But HEALTHY fats! Since I eat such minimal amounts of fat, I usually eat half of an avocado mixed in with some greens daily! Or, I slather some peanut butter onto some toast with banana in the morning for breakfast! Other fat sources include seeds and nuts. Either way, make sure you get in you healthy fats everyday, and these are necessary for bodily functions, and keep your heart healthy!
My favorite resource to find out more about the HCLF lifestyle is on EarthyAndy's website!
Take a look!
How to fuel your body on a Vegan diet: My Experience:
Many people are confused how to eat on a vegan diet, which is totally understandable. When I first became Vegan, I would try to follow what popular Vegans on social media would do, but always ended up failing. Failing is ok, because we always learn from our mistakes. I'm going to explain to you how I eat on a daily basis, and hopefully it is helpful to you!
On a Vegan diet, especially HCLF, you have to eat more than the regular person does. This can be shocking to a newcomer, as we're so used to limiting ourselves. But Vegan diets are abundant diets, full of all kinds of foods! Food is fuel, and we have to make sure that our bodies are well fueled at all times!
In the morning, I usually start with a bowl of oats, mixed with mashed banana, water, and topped with mango or berries. The amount of oats you use is up to you! Personally, oats fill me up pretty quickly, so I only eat about 1/2 a cup. Before I eat my oats in the morning, I make sure to drink 1 bottle of water to get me hydrated for the morning. Hydration is so important for keeping up your energy throughout the day!
After breakfast and my first college course of the day, I head to the gym. By then it's been about 2 hours since I've eaten breakfast, and I grab an orange or some nuts to push me through my workout routine. An after breakfast snack is a necessity for me, especially since the foods I take in are less calorically dense than someone who eats animal products.
For lunch I eat a mega salad with ALL the toppings. I take about 2 cups of kale and 1 cup of mixed greens and mix them together. Then, I shred 1 large carrot to add on top, along with some frozen(thawed) peas and corn, sprouts, and dill. Then, I mash 1/2 an avocado, and mix it with lemon juice and about 1tbsp of dijon mustard. I used this as my dressing, and I stir it into my salad until it's completely coated. Trust me, this is the best salad in the entire world! So satisfying! (ALWAYS EAT UNTIL YOU'RE COMPLETELY SATIATED). I normally eat this with some bread on the side, or a heaping of fresh fruit eaten BEFORE I eat my salad.
Afternoon snack time! Sometimes I do this, and sometimes I don't. It usually ends up being moved as an after dinner treat, because my afternoons are usually super busy! But, if I do snack, I usually go for one of my new favorites, which is hummus and broccoli. I know, I know, broccoli isn't a favorite to many. But trust me, this snack will have you throwing out your chips in no time.
As for dinner, I usually stick to 3 possibilites, which are another mega salad, pasta, or sweet potatoes. My most common dinner choice would have to be loaded sweet potatoes, which are so tasty! Since I'm in college, I microwave 1 medium-large sweet potato, and top it with thawed frozen veggies like broccoli or corn, salsa, kale, sriracha, and lemon juice. SO GOOD! This dinner keeps me happy and full, and I think any Vegan or non-Vegan would really enjoy it!
Here's another really helpful blog that shows and explains what they eat on an HCLF diet!
