For the past few years, I have aimed to reduce my meat consumption to play my part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to an article from New York Times, "If everyone in the country did go vegetarian, cutting meat out completely and replacing it with plant proteins of the same nutritional value, we'd save 330 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year." Now that is some motivation!
Some may find it tricky to make plant-based meals on a whim, so I decided to share the five staple grocery items that have made it easier for me when transitioning to a vegetarian diet.
Chickpeas
Number one on my list is chickpeas. They are inexpensive hence one of my favorite items to stock up on. They are full of nutrients and packed with protein so you won't feel hungry throughout the day. You can roast these babies for a crunchy snack or toss them on a tortilla with some avocado, red onion, and salsa. Yum!
Let's not forget about hummus. I never realized how easy it was to make homemade hummus. All you need is chickpeas, some garlic, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and seasoning. Hummus is a delicious and easy way to make eating raw veggies fun!
Nuts
Recently I've come across a video on Tik Tok created by the fabulous Tabitha Brown explaining how to make taco meat with pecans. In my mind, this sounded insane, so my friend and I decided to try it out. We boiled pecans, added in some seasoning, and blended it all with bell peppers. Instead of tacos, we opted for spaghetti! I mean who doesn't love a good pasta with "meat" sauce? To our surprise, it turned out AMAZING!
After that experience, I decided to explore more ways I can incorporate nuts into my diet. Nuts are a great source of fibers and are filling as well. I love adding them to my salads for a nice crunch or blending them with some basil and lemon to create a yummy pesto sauce.
Black Beans
Black beans are my absolute favorite for creating a filling chili or making tacos and quesadillas. A bean rich diet can be beneficial to your health in many ways. Black beans are not only great for reducing your blood sugar levels, but they also are effective in lowering cholesterol levels.
If you're ever craving a burger, black beans are the way to go. There are hundreds of different variations of recipes to suit your tastebuds
Leafy Greens
Photo by Kiona Lee on Unsplash
Kale is considered one of the most nutritious vegetables and I have completely become obsessed with it. From salads to veggies rolls, I have found many versatile ways to incorporate kale into my diet. Collard greens have also made an appearance in my fridge as well. I love to cook them up in some veggie broth with onions, chickpeas, seasoning, sun-dried tomatoes, and lemon juice to create a quick meal.
Grains
I always different varieties of rice and quinoa in my pantry. They are the perfect way to bulk up a meal with carbohydrates and fiber. I cannot count how many times I've had quinoa salad this month. You can also experiment by adding all sorts of vegetables, pasta, or nuts to your salad-my favorite go-to packable lunch.
If you're someone considering reducing meat in your diet, make sure you educate yourself on how to eat nutrient-rich meals. With these whole food staples, you will have a basic understanding of what foods you need to fuel your body to reap the many benefits of a vegetarian diet.
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