Are you looking to add more plants to your diet, but aren’t sure how? I’ve got you! Here are five ways how you can increase the plant content of your diet. I’d recommend picking one or two of these options to start with and then adding more later on or whenever you feel comfortable.

1. Include Fruits and Seeds As Part of Meals

Do you like eating oatmeal, avocado toast, or a smoothie bowl in the morning? Great! You can top these with some fresh fruit and/or seeds. I like to add some seasonal fruits or frozen fruit (in the winter) as well as hemp seeds or pepitas – but you do you. Seeds such as sesame, hemp, pumpkin, chia, or sunflower are always great to sprinkle over any meal. They also add a complex flavor and a little crunch. 

2. Keep Frozen Greens on Hand 

If you have a freezer, this tip is for you! Keep frozen greens on hand so you always have fresh food, even if you haven’t done your grocery shopping. I like to add frozen greens to soups, smoothies, and sauces to bulk up my veggie intake. My favorites are frozen kale or spinach or even green beans or peas. 

3. Swapping Out Your Regular Burger for a Plant-based One

Plant-based eating isn’t about eating only chopped veggies all day long. We’ve got burgers, too! So, for your next barbecue or date night, why not try a plant-based option? There are great veggie burgers made from beans, beetroot, or sweet potatoes. There are also some incredible “meat” substitutes, like the beyond or impossible burger. Make sure to give this a try.

4. If you are meal-prepping, include one plant-based item or meal

Are you team meal prep or are you looking to join the club? My recommendation is to try out one plant-based option for your next meal plan – or do something like meatless Mondays. To make it even easier, you can always try a vegan version of a dish that you already like, such as a vegan butter chicken or a veggie chili.  

5. If you have a favorite meal, try the plant-based version of it 

As I already mentioned, I’ve had a great experience with simply swapping a favorite childhood dish with a vegan one. That way, you can expect a similar flavor and texture and it doesn’t feel like you’re missing out on anything. You can go more whole foods or just find a vegan substitute for the animal product – at the end of the day, it all comes from plants.

And just like that, you’re adding more plants into your diet – it really can be this easy. Usually, the first step is the hardest, but then you will gain more confidence on your plant-based journey and before you know it, you might be fully plant-based and can’t imagine eating any other way.