TOP FOOD TREND 2016-2017: PLANT-BASED FOOD

by Nguyen Truong April 21, 2017

Food trends have never been outdated. Enjoying good food and staying healthy are two primary concerns of many gourmands, including me. Recently, one food trend has become popular as it reaches those two criteria mentioned above. It is as known as plant-based diet. I create this blog as a way to introduce this food trend, as well as sharing my eating hobby and my own experience in how to stay fit and healthy by combining different kinds of foods in our daily meals.

Plant-based diet

Plant-based diet emphasizes on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, tubers, and legumes. Meat, dairy products, eggs, and refined foods are minimized. In general, vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes play a center part in the plate. Meat, eggs, and dairy are consumed once in a while and treated as condiments.

Health benefits

It is a healthy and ethical choice which can also provide numerous nutrients. Reducing meat consumption will lessen cholesterol and saturated fat. Thus, this way of eating helps decrease the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other illnesses. Moreover, plant-based foods can meet our everyday nutritional needs. They can provide us protein, calcium, vitamins, fiber, good fat, starch, and sugar.

Some choices for plant-based eaters

The following food categories are suggested for this diet.

Beans. Many kinds of beans, such as black, red, white, and green beans, lentils, kidney beans, lima beans, pinto beans, chickpeas as well as organic and GMO-free soybeans are nutritional sources of protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins. Others products made from beans, for examples, tofu, soya milk, and tempeh are also beneficial for our health.
Nuts and seeds. Raw almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, flax, hemp, chia, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, etc. can support brain and heart health. They are rich in protein, carbohydrate, antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of types and colors of fruits and vegetables every day in order to keep fit. Leafy green veggies such as lettuce and spinach, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale, brightly colored red, orange and yellow vegetables and fruits namely, bell peppers, beets, tomatoes, oranges, apples, berries, mangoes, bananas and so on can give a mix of nutrients.
Starch. Starch is important since it provides energy for the body. Starch can be found in potatoes, squash, rice, wheat and so forth.
Good fat. In plant-based diet, foods with healthy fat include nuts and seeds, avocado and some kinds of oil such as olive, rapeseed, and grape seed oil.