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The WayFare Guide to Going Plant-Based

A baking sheet of nachos topped with WayFare Nacho Cheddar with Jalapeños.
It’s January, and you know what that means: Veganuary is upon us! Veganuary poses a wonderful opportunity for people to dip a toe or two into plant-based eating and for others to go further with a vegan lifestyle
 
Here at WayFare, we wholeheartedly believe plant-based eating can improve health (the science agrees!). We want to make sure that your journey to plant-based eating, whether during Veganuary or otherwise, goes as smoothly as possible. If you’re on your way to plant-based eating right now, welcome! We’re glad you’re here, and we know the road ahead might feel intimidating. For many, it’s uncharted territory. You may be the first among your family or friends to begin to introduce these foods to your diets. Without brand recommendations and recipe tips from your social circles, you may feel like you’ve been left adrift. 

No matter your reason for introducing plant-based foods, WayFare can help. Here are some tips and an easy guide for going plant-based that can help you integrate more plant-based foods into your diet.

Easy Guide for Going Plant-Based    

  1. Try Different Brands

If you didn’t like the first plant-based dairy or meat substitute you tried, don’t give up hope. Try out different brands of plant-based products until you find the ones you like. With different bases, protein sources, and textures, there are bound to be some that you enjoy more than others. Also, the industry is growing so quickly that new and improved products are being added to grocery store shelves all the time.  

      2. Hone Your Skills at a Few Good Recipes  

Most of us have spent our lives thinking about meals in terms of animal meat and dairy. Swapping for more plant-based dishes forces us to rethink the meals we regularly rotate through, but it also opens doors to new flavors that could become favorites. There is a wide range of vegan and vegetarian cookbooks and online blogs. Toss the word "vegan" before the food you’re craving in the search bar, and Google will spit out pages on pages of awesome ideas (Ex: Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe). Once you find recipes that work for you, add them to your weekly rotation of meals. Taco Tuesday can live on with a wide range of plant-based replacements. Tofu, lentils, beans, or store-bought meat substitutes can accompany plant-based sour cream and cheese.

 

     3. Eat More!  

Many plant-based foods are much less calorie-dense than their animal-based counterparts. Some people can perceive a drop in energy when they switch to plant-based foods, or they feel satiated for less time following a plant-based meal. This could result from a simple calorie deficit. You may need to eat more to stay full and energized. That means you get to indulge in the delicious recipes you’ve been working on. Some foods that will help you feel full longer are beans, nut butter, and avocado.  

     4. Take Things at Your Pace 

There’s so much to learn when making the transition to plant-based. It can be quite shocking to find out just how many of your pantry staples contain animal products. Learning to read ingredient lists for obscure ingredients like D3 (often sourced from sheep’s wool and found in many fortified cereals) or red food dye (certain types like carmine are made from crushed up beetles) is a skill that takes time. 

If you want to dive headfirst into research and become an overnight expert, go right ahead! That’s awesome. But most of us don’t have the time or energy to learn all this so quickly without becoming bogged down. The most important part of this journey is the forward motion, not the speed. Integrate new foods and phase out old ones at a sustainable pace.  

 Look for labels on packaging to help light your way in the meantime. If you see a vegan or plant-based label on an item, you can think of it as a yellow light. It’s not a guarantee that the item is vegan, but it’s a promising sign that you should check out the ingredient list.   

Delicious Plant-Based Recipes and Meals

Get off on the right foot using the recipes and meal ideas listed below. You’re going to do great!

Breakfast: 

Oatmeal with plant-based milk, peanut butter, and maple syrup  

Toast with plant-based butter 

Bagel with plant-based cream cheese 

Tofu scramble (Sound weird? Search for a recipe and trust us on this one!) 

Lunch: 

Rainbow Raw Thai Salad 

Pasta salad  

Crazy Salad (Toss any grain, green, and protein in a bowl with some dressing. No such thing as bad combinations!) 

Snack: 

Vegetables and ranch dip 

Crackers and hummus  

Fresh fruit  

Plant-based pudding cup 

Dark chocolate  

Dairy-Free Nachos 

Dinner: 

Vegan Loaded Baked Potatoes 

Plant-Based Stuffed Shells 

Totally Plant-Based Lasagna 

Tacos or Nachos 

Pasta with red sauce and your choice of protein 

Grilled Cheese 

Ready to Start? We've Got Your Back!

If you're ready to start your plant-based journey, shop our tasty selection of plant-based products today. Not only are our range of dips, cheddars, and puddings plant-based but they are dairy free and soy free, too! Enjoy making your meals simple, delicious, and amazing with WayFare.