It’s been 2 years since I’ve given up eating beef or pork and I must say: it’s the best decision I’ve ever made! In this journey, I’ve learned what to eat, as well as how MUCH to eat. People tend to cringe when the subject of meal portions are discussed, but it’s all about what you “pig out” on. For me, it’s more about large portions of vegetables (leafy greens, colorful veggies, etc.), fruits, and smaller portions of starches/carbs & meats.
The photo above provides a wonderful visual for what I just described. Sometimes, I’ll take it further and make the plate half veggies, 1/4 grains, and 1/4 meat (fish, chicken, or turkey). Seems easy? Because it really is. For just a little small rearranging in how much I consume, this has tremendously helped with maintaining weight, digestion, and overall health.
Now before you give me the side eye, always remember to tailor this to your needs and lifestyle. This is a wonderful guide to get you started to understanding that you, indeed, need a little bit of each of these for an overall balanced diet. For those that don’t eat meat, sub the ‘meat’ section with a protein, such as tofu.
Also remember: if you’re in the process of “dieting”, make it more of a lifestyle. Don’t forget to add in exercise and at least 8 cups of water daily.
