You Don’t Have to Be a Vegan/Vegetarian to Enjoy a Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet

A whole-Food plant-based (WFPB) diet isn’t just for vegans and vegetarians. And it’s not a secret agenda to lure meat-eaters away from their slabs of juicy steaks either.

The great thing about a WFPB diet, is that it’s about giving you MORE food choices, not fewer, unlike so many other diets.

There isn’t anything mysterious about WFPB diets. The name says it all. These are plant based and whole foods. Although science supports the disease-fighting benefits of plant-based foods, whole foods are the other part of the equation.

Although this might make our vegan and vegetarian friends uncomfortable, wild caught fish is a nutrient-rich, whole food.

So, instead of judging a WFPB diet because you assume it’s restrictive, try to have an open mind and discover what you’re “allowed” to eat, which is a lot, by the way.

Various Diets Explained

When done correctly, even diets like veganism, vegetarianism, pescatarianism, Mediterranean, and the Ketogenic diet, can all be WFPB diets.

What some people might not realize is that the eating patterns of vegans and vegetarians don’t always fall under the category of “whole foods.”  Although sugary drinks, fries,  and chocolates are technically “vegetarian”, they’re also highly processed.

A Misunderstanding

Remember, the WFPB isn’t about excluding foods or avoiding meat.

All you have to do is add more whole, nutrient-dense, plant-based foods to your existing diet.

Blackberries are a plant based, nutrient dense whole food. However, chicken, although not plant based, is a nutrient dense, whole food. Technically, although perhaps preferred, you’re not required to eat just foods that are both strictly whole foods AND plant based.

The goal of a WFPB is to eat more of healthy, nutritious foods. It’s great if a certain food item meets both criteria. But the goal is to eat healthier overall.

Some people shy away from a WFPB diet because it’s carb heavy. But that’s not really a problem because they’re complex carbs, which are healthy.

What you want to avoid is foods that are loaded with sugar and simple carbs, like soda, crackers, and candy, which spike blood sugar.

The body and brain require carbs to function optimally. Complex carbs are the preferred fuel.

The ketogenic diet has been popular for a while. It’s designed to burn ketones instead of glucose. But even it can include plenty of plant-based options for consuming dietary fat in the form of nuts, Avocados and olives.

Conclusion

A WFPB diet isn’t about excluding meat, technically. It’s about getting much more nutritious, whole, and plant based foods rather than eating mostly highly processed food. Besides being delicious if prepared right, WFPB give you loads of power and energy, and lays a solid foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

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