Plant Power

Eating a more plant based diet is becoming more and more popular for many reasons. Here at EasiYo we have yogurt options for plant based eaters as well as dairy yogurt lovers but we wanted to talk a bit about how you could start to get more plant based in your diet - if you wanted to!

There is no surprise that plant based diets are not only becoming more popular but easier to incorporate into everyday life.

Maybe you or someone you know has already made the switch to eating more plant based foods. But what are the benefits of eating plant based foods? What does plant based actually mean and how do you go about introducing plant based into your lifestyle?

This month, we would like to help answer some of your plant based questions to see if this lifestyle is right for you.

What exactly does ‘plant based’ mean?

In simple terms, it means making plant based food the center of your meals. Foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, nuts and seeds would all be considered plant based, and so a plant based diet means consuming more of these, and cutting back or removing meat and other animal products such as eggs and dairy.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to plant based. It might mean plant based meals three or four nights of the week, or it could be a total commitment to plant power (completely vegan!).

Why make the change?

People choose to follow plant based diets for a range of reasons, and eating more plant based may provide a range of health benefits including:

• Boosting your immune system
• Reducing inflammation
• Helping you maintain a healthy weight
• Increasing fiber intake

So, where to begin?

• Research. Eating plant based doesn’t necessarily mean eating healthy. Oreos, hot chips and soft drinks are mostly vegan! It's important you are getting the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins from your plant based alternatives.
• Breakfast is a great place to start. Try swapping bacon and eggs for a smoothie, plant based yogurt or veggie-loaded toast options.
• Stock up on fresh produce, either from your local supermarket or farmer’s market. Keep lots of options in the fridge and fruit bowl.
• Think creatively. Try new ways to make your plant based meals fun, exciting and delicious from eye-catching presentation to flavourful ingredients.
• Start slowly. You don’t have to get it perfect right away, but you can gradually make lifestyle changes that build into a long term, positive shift.
• Worried about not getting the right nutrients? Get some extra plant goodness on the side! Nutrient Rescue™ shots are a great option for busy lives. The experts at Nutrient Rescue™ have searched out some of the best New Zealand-grown superfoods available, then powdered them into shots to make it easy for you to boost your daily nutrition intake.

We have paired up with Nutrient Rescue™ to create our delicious and nutritious ‘5 a day smoothie’, to pack your breakfast with plant power!

You’ll need:

• 1 banana, peeled (frozen or fresh)
• ½ cup mixed berries
• 1 orange, peeled and deseeded*
• 20ml chai syrup / 1 Tbsp chai powder - or substitute with ½ tsp cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg and 1 tsp golden syrup)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsweetened plant based milk
• 1 cup EasiYo Plant Based Original Yogurt
• 1 scoop Double Shot Nutrient Rescue

*Can also be substituted with ½ cup orange juice.

Blend all ingredients together until smooth and enjoy!

It’s important to keep in mind that a plant based diet may not be for everyone. But, if you’re looking to shake things up in a way that’s good for your health and the planet, then why not give it a go.