The phrase “plant-based” has become a hot topic in recent years, but what really is a plant-based diet? I’ve noticed that this seemingly simple phrase can mean very different things to different people.
To me, the phrase “plant-based” encompasses my diet philosophy, which is captured so well in the famous quote by Michael Pollan.
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.”
With a few minor tweaks, this three-part framework pretty much sums up both my diet philosophy, and what I think the term “plant-based” really means.
Let’s break it down, and discover what a plant-based diet really is, shall we?
#1 EAT FOOD
This is the most seemingly simple part of this whole quote, but, in reality, it might be the most complex.
Here’s what this means (to me): Eat real food that is as close to nature as possible. The more food we eat in its natural form, the healthier it is, which means the healthier we’ll be as well.
#2 NOT TOO MUCH
I might be imposing my views onto Pollan’s meaning here, but it seems like he was thinking specifically about overeating when he said this.
I prefer to approach diet from a more holistic standpoint.
Listen to your body and eat the right amount of food for you. Don’t overstuff yourself, and don’t starve yourself. When you eat, you should feel good, satisfied, nicely full, not so stuffed you can’t move, and certainly not hungry at the end of your meal. Food should fuel AND nourish you. It should NOT leave you unsatisfied, lethargic, or without energy.
#3 MOSTLY PLANTS
In this final section, Pollan and I are in complete agreement.
Eat mostly plants. The healthiest, longest-lived people in the world eat diets composed of 75-90% plant foods. Researchers found this in not one, not two, but 5 different places across the globe where people regularly live to 100 years old.
And that, right there, is why I’m always going on about plant-based diets. There are amazing benefits in this way of eating for anyone willing to put in the time and effort to change their lifestyle!
The diet that prioritizes plants is the diet that will nourish you, energize you, and extend your healthy years of life.
So now you have the answer to, “What is a plant-based diet?” Or, you have at least one answer. This is my interpretation of this term and I see plant-based as more of a lifestyle than a simple diet.
If my philosophy resonates with you, I think you’d LOVE The Ultimate Guide to Eating Plant-Based, my newly released 70+ page ebook all about the exact diet I described above. It includes information to help you adopt this way of eating, exercises to help you implement it, and a 7-day meal plan of delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert recipes.
What is your own diet philosophy? I’d love to know! Send me a DM @plantssogood on Instagram or Facebook and let’s discuss!