Why and How I Switched to a Plant-Based Nutrition Plan

By: Erin Schoeberl

NOTE:  The following is for informational purposes only and represents the personal experience of the author.  Prior to making any changes to your diet, please speak with your doctor or a nutrition professional.

For several years I had been struggling with headaches and lethargy with no known cause. I had bloodwork done, allergy testing done, saw a neurologist etc. and nothing came back conclusive. I was struggling to get through workouts without taking pre-workouts that made me feel awful but it was the only way to get a good energy kick before attempting a workout. 

I suspected I may have issues with dairy and cut it out of my diet. I felt about 50% better. I decided to cut out all animal products and within about a week, I felt like a new person. While I could not say for sure the change was the cause for improvement in how I felt and the symptoms I was experiencing, I believed there was a correlation, so I continued to do additional research.

In collecting more information and doing more research on a Plant-Based Nutrition Plan, I learned about the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables and clean foods made from plants.  I learned about different examples of people with different backgrounds and careers having success with this type of nutrition plan.  Taking what I learned from research, discussions with my doctors, and factoring in my own experience, it made me want to stick with a plant-based lifestyle even more.

Adopting a plant-based lifestyle wasn’t super hard for me. In general, it’s advised to start cutting out animal products little by little. Start with dairy, then red meat etc. Going out to eat can be a little bit tough but knowing which establishments offer plant-based options is essential. Animal products hide in many things so it’s also important to do your research on labels etc. (I found out the hard way about Lactose in Beer).  There is also a plant-based alternative for basically everything these days so I don’t feel like I was saying goodbye to most of my favorite foods.

If you are looking to make a nutritional change and think a plant-based option may be for you, you should start with a conversation with your doctor and a nutrition professional.  Between the two and with your feedback, you can receive guidance on the best course to begin and transition into a plant-based nutrition plan.

Here is a snapshot of what a day of Plant-based eating looks like for me:

Breakfast: Plant protein shake with almond milk.

Snack: Iced coffee with oat milk, banana with peanut butter.

Lunch: Tofu meatballs with veggies, plant-based protein bar.

Snack: Almonds or trail mix (if working out in the afternoon I will also add fruit).

Dinner: Black-bean burger with salad (mushrooms, carrots, cherry tomatoes and bell peppers), plant-based dressing.