10 ways to create a plant-powered menu

Chances are we all have a friend who’s jumped on the plant-based bandwagon recently. And they’re not the only ones. Eating a diet rich with fruits, veggies, and products derived from plants (like olive oil and almond or oat milk) has gained some serious traction thanks to its many benefits. A plant-forward diet gives us plenty of protein and fibre, helps us stay full longer, and gives us more variety with tons of flavour!

3 fast facts

1. “Plant-forward” diets are linked to lower risk for chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

2. Plant-based proteins (meatless burgers, tofu, beans, nuts) are growing in popularity. In the U.S., sales grew 31% between 2017 and 2019.

3. While eating plant-based proteins doesn’t lead to more weight loss than choosing animal-based proteins, it does provide key nutrients we need more of - and adds delicious variety to our diets!

Try this technique

• Build a meal, snack, or even dessert around plant-based ingredients. After you’re done, pay attention to how satisfied you are - and plan for your next plants!

• Cosy up to chickpeas. Toss them in salads or roast them for a snack.

• Swap black beans for oil in a brownie recipe. (You’ll never notice...promise!)

• Lean on lentils. They might be small, but they’re filled with some serious nutrition, and they can turn soup into a hearty meal.

• Mix mushrooms with minced beef in burgers and meatloaf. Extra flavour and fewer Points® is what we call a win-win.

• Think of tofu as a blank canvas for tons of flavour. It soaks up marinades well and is ideal for adding to a stir-fry. Use these 9 recipes as a starting point.

• Go veggie on pasta night by using red kidney beans instead of meat in a Bolognese sauce.

• Sprinkle nuts and seeds on top of a fruit salad.

• Similar to tofu, tempeh is made from soybeans. The difference? Tempeh has an almost mushroom-like, nutty, and earthy taste.

• Rely on rice! Wild or brown varieties mix well with raw and cooked veggies.

"Very inspirational to help me stay on track during this time."

"Was very easy to join & great to meet other members!"

"Feeling refocused for the next week & aiming for a loss, too."