Although plant-based diets seem increasingly popular these days, they have been around forever — at least since ancient Greece. In fact, plant-based diets were once named for the ancient Greek Pythagoras, who reportedly feasted on vegetables, bread and honey.
If you’re interested in joining this time-tested trend, here are some tips to help you get started — and stick with — plates of plant-based food.
A plant-based diet for beginners: Understand the key ingredients
The key ingredients of a plant-based diet vary depending on who you ask. Some definitions specify that the diet include only plants. Others expand the definition to mean eating plants more often than animal products.
What isn’t up for debate is that minimally processed vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices are included in a plant-based diet. Variations of the diet can include:
- Vegan. Only plant foods and nothing that comes from an animal.
- Vegetarian. Plant foods plus dairy, eggs or both.
- Flexitarian. Vegetarian with the occasional addition of meat or fish.
