Turns out a plant-based diet can make you stronger, faster, and even more powerful than you might think.
Eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables has increasingly become synonymous with healthy eating. Even still, for many living a fit, active lifestyle, lean animal-based protein and dairy are also a consistent part of a nutrient-rich diet. Recently, even the most active athletes from fitness competitors to professional football players are adopting a vegan lifestyle.
“The new version of Canada’s Food Guide has more choices for plant-based diets,” says Pamela Ferguson, a Vancouver-based registered dietitian specializing in plant-based nutrition. “It’s friendlier to the environment and overall people want to make better, more ethical choices,” says Ferguson.
While you may not want to eliminate fresh fish or grilled chicken entirely from your diet just yet, there are some real benefits to be had by adopting a vegan diet. It could be only one day or one meal each week. Before you do anything, we checked in with a registered dietitian and plant-based nutritionist for her best tips and advice. This will help you make the switch as smooth and seamless as possible.
Caloric Needs, Fueling Your Active Lifestyle on a Plant-Based Diet
For many people who are considering making the switch to a plant-based diet, one of the biggest changes they will find is the need for a higher caloric intake. Active people, especially women, need to be aware of the need to increase their calories. When you think about it, most fruits and vegetables are not as calorie-dense as dairy, or lean meats including chicken or fish, so it just makes sense. “The caloric density of a plant-based diet is lower,” says Ferguson. As a result, she says active individuals especially may need to eat more frequently. Use larger portions of fruits and vegetables, which are packed with nutrients.
PRO ADVICE: Advanced meal prep is important when you’re planning a vegan dish. Depending on your activity level that day, you’ll want to incorporate an additional serving. Especially when it comes to foods including leafy greens, that are less calorie-dense.
Balancing Nutrient-Dense and Convenience Vegan Foods
As with any processed foods labeled as health foods, ones labeled as vegan aren’t necessarily better for you. “There are lots of convenience vegan foods but you aren’t getting a major advantage from eating these,” says Ferguson. As with any healthy eating plan, she suggests concentrating the majority of your diet on whole-plant foods. Make beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, and fruits and vegetables readily available. “Eighty percent of your nutrition should be coming from these foods and the other 20 percent can be from vegan sausages or ice cream.”
One of the benefits of vegan foods such as sausage, as Ferguson points out, is that these foods tend to be higher in protein with about 20 grams in one serving. This can be a benefit for active individuals who may require more protein in their diet. The same can’t be said for Ben & Jerry’s vegan options, which (sadly) are no healthier than the brand’s non-vegan varieties.
PRO ADVICE: Just because you’re powerlifting, speed training, or knocking out a killer combat class, this doesn’t mean you can eat any snack. Instead of processed convenience foods, look to add an extra serving of packable nuts, seeds, or fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Snacks such as apples and almond butter or carrots and hummus to snack on when you’re in a rush.
Meeting Protein Requirements, Plant-Based Sources for Strength and Muscle Building
For women who are competing and lifting very heavy, they need to be conscious that they are eating high-protein foods. This ensures they are getting enough protein overall,” says Ferguson. Fitness competitors aside, according to Ferguson most of us don’t need to be as concerned about the amount of protein we’re getting on a plant-based diet.
The fact is, most adults (even active ones) are able to get enough protein on a plant-based diet. “You don’t need animal protein to gain strength or build muscle; a healthy variety of whole foods will help you meet all your nutrient requirements,” she says. Ferguson suggests looking to beans, lentils, and soy as sources of plant-based protein. “There is some fear around soy, but there is no increased risk of breast cancer, and it is a high source of protein,” says Ferguson.
PRO ADVICE: Whether you choose lentil soup, add more beans to your chili recipe, or include nut butter with your whole-grain toast. As long as your diet is focused on whole foods, you’re likely meeting your protein requirement.
Balancing Food Density, Measuring Calorically Dense Foods in Your Diet
As you’re getting used to including more plant-based foods in your diet Ferguson suggests measuring each serving to know what that looks like. This is especially important for more calorically dense foods such as nuts and seeds, which can be easy to overindulge in. That means counting out the nuts so you’re not mindlessly snacking from a bottomless bowl. “Nuts and seeds don’t tend to lead to weight gain. They are a rich source of nutrients.
You’ll need to measure out a quarter cup of seeds a few times before you know what it looks like,” says Ferguson. Many times, those who are new to a plant-based diet ignore feeling hungry or see weight loss as an added benefit. But if you’re constantly hungry or find your weight is dropping lower than is healthy for your height that’s a sign that you need to up your intake of calorie-dense foods.
PRO ADVICE: Take a good look at your meals and see if you are relying too much on salads. Ferguson suggests adding beans to salads, preparing a stuffed baked potato, and adding coconut milk into a soup or stir-fry to add density at mealtime.
MICRO MATTERS
Despite the nutrient richness of a plant-based diet, there are still some micronutrients you may be missing. Iron is a key micronutrient that can be easy to miss. Your body is not able to absorb plant sources of iron from leafy greens like spinach. That said, pairing your spinach salad with vitamin C-rich foods including a citrus salad dressing will help your body absorb the iron.
Ferguson says that many people may be concerned with getting enough calcium in a vegan diet. Greens such as kale, tofu, fortified nuts, and soy milk offer as much of this nutrient as cow’s milk. For active women, especially those who are in strength training, zinc is an important micronutrient that helps in tissue repair. Zinc can be found in pumpkin seeds and nuts. Vegans also lack vitamin B12, which can only be found in animal products. Ferguson suggests looking for fortified foods or taking a supplement. She also recommends a vitamin D supplement, especially during the winter months.
PRO ADVICE: Make energy balls with peanut butter, dates, chia seeds, and oats. Enjoy them as a portable post-workout snack
