More and more people are becoming flexitarians, which means they’re opting to eat mostly vegetarian meals during the week and then having a meat-heavy meal on the weekend. The American Dietetic Association says that flexitarians enjoy their food without hurting the environment, animals, or their body’s health. Although there are many benefits to this lifestyle style and having a flexitarian meal plan, we can still improve it by adding certain tools in our personal tool belt.
- Get a cookbook
It may seem obvious, but the easiest way to start flexitarianism is by getting a cookbook. As you probably know, there are thousands of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks on the market. If cooking isn’t your thing and you don’t have time to sift through the flexitarian meal recipes, there are numerous blog sites that will give you quick and easy ideas for meals. Most importantly, choose a recipe with ingredients that are natural and healthy. The ADA promotes foods such as beans, soy products, whole grains and vegetables as good protein sources that help reduce fat in our bodies. If a recipe has processed ingredients such as quick oats or protein powder then it’s probably not the best option.
- Learn to cook in bulk
If you don’t like to cook or don’t have the time, then grab a crock-pot and start dumping ingredients inside. Once the meal is finished cooking, freeze half of it for later. With a little preparation and forethought, you’ll have meals for weeks to come. You can also get creative and try new recipes, which will keep your meals from getting repetitive and boring. Not only that but cooking in bulk makes it much easier to eat at home instead of going out to eat as often. Not only will you be eating healthier, but it will also save you money.
- Be creative
Don’t have a lot of time to prepare your meals? Then take advantage of the time we do have. Try mixing and matching different ingredients for new and exciting tastes. This is an opportunity for you to get creative without feeling like you need to eat snacks in between meals. It may take a little bit more effort than preparing the same meals over and over again, but it’s really worth the payoff. If nothing else, by using your imagination, you can change up your food intake something that can be fun in itself.
- Make cleaning up a fun activity
If you don’t like cleaning up your kitchen afterwards, then try something to make it fun. For example, you can set a timer and see how fast you can clean everything up. It may not seem like a game, but using this as an incentive to hurry can help motivate you to get the job done sooner. You can also do something similar with meal preparation. Instead of watching TV or reading a book while cooking, join in on the fun and sing or dance along with your favorite radio station. This may sound silly, but it’s sure to be an event that everyone in the family will enjoy.
