Not a vegan, but you’re interested in learning how to incorporate more healthy plant-based foods into your daily diet? Here are some tips to show you just how easy it is to add more fruits and vegetables into your day without realizing you’re eating like a vegan. The best part is, anyone can do and afford these delicious, quick meal ideas.

1. Have Oatmeal for Breakfast

Who doesn’t love oatmeal, right? Choosing oats over eggs for breakfast is a great way to start your day out on the right foot. There are plenty of ways to make your morning oats exciting. Cook up some rolled or steel-cut oats, add some cinnamon, a touch of almond butter and some fresh berries. YUM! Note* Remember to read your food labels before purchasing oatmeal. Many oatmeal brands are full of artificial sugars and other processed chemicals that are NOT good for you. Look for 0 sugar, 0 salt when shopping.

2. Mid-Morning Snacks: Almonds 

Do you often get the mid-morning stomach rumble?  Reach for something that is heart healthy such as a handful of raw almonds.  Almonds are the best way to satisfy hunger. They provide that crunch and are full of fiber, protein, Vitamin E and healthy fats. They are also handy enough that anyone can carry them around or find them in a local convenient store in a pinch.

3. Switch Out Your Dairy Milk in Your Coffee

Like to have milk or cream in your morning coffee? Swap out these for a non-dairy milk or cream instead. Some of my favorite choices are unsweetened vanilla almond milk, unsweetened vanilla soy milk and unsweetened coconut milk. These choices may take some time to get used to, but the idea of having regular milk again after having these options won’t sound good to you anymore. You will be glad you made the switch.

4. It’s Smoothie Time

Smoothies have to be one of my favorite healthy snacks! Here is my favorite smoothie recipe…and yes, it’s vegan!

• 4-5 ice cubes
• Half a frozen banana
• Handful of frozen cherries
• Fresh pineapple (about 4-6 small pieces)
• 3 frozen strawberries
• 2 tablespoons of Vega One French Vanilla protein powder
• 1 tablespoon of Chia Seeds
• A dash of cinnamon
• 3/4 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Blend all ingredients together & enjoy!

Note*Use frozen bananas for smoothies. They make a HUGE difference…in a good way. It’s best to peel the bananas first before freezing them.

5. Craft a Huge Salad for Lunch

Eating a salad for lunch is one of the easiest ways to have more raw vegetables without even thinking about it. Just nix the cheese, croutons and that unhealthy salad dressing. Toss any fresh veggies you want and top it off with some garbanzo beans, endamame or sliced almonds to improve the protein content. Check out this recipe for a healthy, protein packed salad creation.

6. Fruit Yourself 

As the afternoon approaches, you might crave a coffee or something sweet and dairy based. Try having some fruit for snack instead. Bananas, apples, berries, grape tomatoes or watermelon slices are all great snack options for the mid-day. Fruit is full of water and fiber, which will keep you feeling full.

7. Get to Cooking a Hearty, yet Healthy Dinner

It is extremely important to incorporate vegetables with your dinner meal. Vegan or not, vegetables should be a vital part of your meal. Since I don’t eat meat, I double- sometimes triple my vegetable intake so that whatever else I have, I am still eating more vegetables. 2-1 or 3-1 ratios. If you have carbs, such as rice, potatoes, pasta, etc., make sure that your vegetable consumption is more than the carbs. Think of carbs as your additional dessert item. Try to fill up on the vegetables first before you have your “dessert.” Also, try not to eat carbs after sundown. Carbs are great to have before a workout, but not after or before you go to sleep. Think nutrition before addition!