Going Plant Based For New Years? Here Are Some Tips!

Each year people around the world make resolutions to improve their life in the upcoming year. Resolutions geared toward health, fitness and dieting are some of the most common. In recent years, going plant based/vegan has grown in popularity. At Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater we are here for this trend, we are big supporters of plant based diets and the positive effects it can have on your health/life. Today, we’re providing some tips that can help with sticking to your resolution of going vegan/plant based. Have additional questions? Interested in some nutritional guidance/advice? For any of your needs, feel free to reach out.

Find A Community

When it comes to implementing change, surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can be a great help. Whether you find a local plant based group in your community or venture online it can be helpful. Facebook, Quora, Reddit and other platforms have different communities for plant based, veganism, etc.

Download The Apps

Navigating a new way of eating can be complicated, luckily some wonderful people have created applications for your phone that can help. HappyCow provides information about different restaurants that provide vegan options. Is It Vegan is another extremely useful application that allows you to scan barcodes and it will let you know if any ingredients may not be plant based/vegan friendly.

Go Slow

When it comes to implementing changes to your diet/lifestyle it can be important to do so slowly. Moving too quickly can be overwhelming and lead to failure. Start slowly, try by making more meals plant based as you slowly cut other products out of your life.

Try New Things

When people try a new way of eating, they often stick to a lot of old habits, avoiding foods they may not have liked many years ago. As you change your diet, taste can actually change. We highly recommend at least trying things you may not have liked before to see if your taste has changed or if a different preparation method works better for you.

Schedule Clearwater Nutritional Guidance Today

Interested in nutritional guidance for plant based diets in Clearwater, Florida? Dawn Potter Acupuncture would be happy to help. Schedule your FREE 15 minute phone consultation today.

Why Eat A Plant-Based Diet?

When it comes to eating food, there are a lot of different diets available. Many diets aren’t sustainable over time, typically resulting in the patient returning to their old ways. At Dawn Potter Acupuncture, we highly recommend a plant-based diet. Plant-based diets are highly sustainable and have various benefits for your overall health. Today, Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida is discussing these benefits. Have questions? Interested in scheduling an appointment? Simply reach out today.

Boost Your Immune System

With the pandemic getting worse again, now is a better time than ever to be boosting your immune system. Eating plant-based foods can increase vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants in your body, keeping your body more healthy and ready to fight.

Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation in the body has been linked to a variety of illnesses and diseases, making sure you reduce inflammation as much as possible is highly important. When eating a plant-based diet, phytochemicals and antioxidants go around your body neutralizing toxins that enter your body.

Increase Fiber

Eating a plant-based diet typically results in more fiber in the body, this improves the health of your gut and allows your body to absorb nutrients from the foods you consume. Along with this, fiber is known to stabilize blood sugar, low cholesterol and even improve bowel movements.

Healthy Weight

For many people, weight can be a struggle, resulting in cycles of “dieting” that result in weight loss that often returns quickly after. With a plant-based diet, patients are more likely to lose weight and maintain it.

Lower Disease Risk

Research has shown that consuming a plant-based diet can actually lower your risk for various diseases and illnesses, such as cancer, stroke, diabetes and even certain mental health disorders.

Schedule Nutritional Guidance in Clearwater

Are you interested in starting a plant-based diet? Need professional nutrition advice in Clearwater? Dawn Potter Acupuncture would be happy to help, reach out today to schedule your appointment.

Creamy Lemon Brussel Sprout Pasta (Dairy-Free, Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Are you looking for the perfect creamy pasta recipe that contains no dairy? Do you love the taste of lemon and Italian spices? Today, Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater is discussing Creamy Lemon Brussel Sprout Pasta which is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. You can substitute other green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli or even kale. Each one requires a bit of a different cooking technique but tastes great. For this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Ingredients

1. 15 Brussel Sprouts (Quartered)

2. 1 TBSP Olive Oil

3. 6 TBSP Lemon Juice

4. 1 TBSP Garlic Powder

5. 1 TBSP Onion Powder

6. 1 Can Unsweetened Coconut Milk

7. 1 TBSP Dried Basil

8. ½ TBSP Dried Oregano

9. ½ TBSP Dried Parsley

10. ½ TBSP Dried Thyme

11. ½ TBSP Crushed Red Pepper

12. 1 Box Gluten Free Pasta

Once you have all your ingredients ready and measured out, you’ll follow these instructions.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cut brussel sprouts into quarters, toss with 1 TBSP olive oil, ½ TBSP garlic powder, ½ TBSP onion powder and 1 TBSP of lemon juice.

3. Roast brussel sprouts in the oven for 30 minutes.

4. Add 1 can unsweetened coconut milk, 5 TBSP lemon juice, ½ TBSP garlic powder, ½ TBSP onion powder, 1 TBSP dried basil, ½ TBSP dried oregano, ½ TBSP dried parsley, ½ TBSP dried thyme and ½ TBSP crushed red pepper to saucepan, heat on low, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.

5. Boil water in a large pot for pasta, salt as needed.

6. Add pasta of your choice to boiling water.

7. Remove brussel sprouts from the oven, combine with creamy lemon sauce and top over pasta.

8. *Optional* top with vegan/dairy-free parmesan cheese.

   
   

Let Dawn Potter Acupuncture Know How It Went!

Have you tried our Creamy Lemon Brussel Sprout Pasta? Did you love it? Want to let us know how it was? Email us, we’d love to hear from you about how it went. Have questions? Interested in the treatment options we offer here at Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida? Contact us today, we’re always welcoming new patients and would be delighted to schedule your appointment with us.