We look at the question “what is a whole food plant based diet” and consider why ferments take the cake
If you’ve been looking around for a better way to eat for health and energy, you can be pulled in a lot of directions. But before pursuing a strict dietary routine or a fad diet, just think about this - it’s simply a good idea to focus your eating on more unprocessed foods and more plants. This might bring you to the question, “what is a whole food plant based diet, anyway?” We’ll break it down for you here.
In the meantime, consider the minimally processed, deliciously crunchy flavors of Hosta Hill’s collection of cultured vegetables. Great in your favorite recipes or right out of the jar, our high-quality, naturally fermented Sauerkraut, Kimchi, and Hot Sauce are what you’re craving.
What is a whole food plant based diet: The Basics
Whole foods are foods that are totally unprocessed or very minimally processed. Unrefined, without a ton of additives, these are foods you could basically pick off the plant and take a bite out of, with all their natural goodness.
Plant-based means what you think: foods that come from plants, like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. No animal ingredients (meat, milk, eggs, or in some cases, even honey).
But it’s a broadly used term, and can include vegetarian, vegan, or even dietary choices that just limit meat to a couple of times a week.
Recipes for whole food plant based diets often use beans, legumes, whole grains, and nuts for non-meat protein sources, rather than the processed meat substitutes you find in your health food aisle.
This food list from EatingWell outlines what a whole-food plant-based diet might rely on:
Legumes: lentils, beans, and chickpeas
Whole grains: quinoa, wheat, oats, farro and more
Seeds: chia, flax, sunflower & pumpkin seeds
Nuts and nut butters: look for natural nut butters with just two ingredients (the nut, like almond or peanut plus salt)
Fruits and vegetables: frozen or fresh
Fats: like olives, olive oil and avocados
Move fermented vegetables to the top of the list
Now that you have a better idea of what a whole food plant based diet is, it’s time to consider the added nutritional benefits of cultured vegetables!
While processing foods can lead to a decrease in their nutritional content, this is not the case with fermentation. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! Fermented foods, from kefir to sauerkraut, actually have increased vitamin and nutritional content, beyond the original ingredients. They are nutrient-dense foods that have the added benefit of the fermentation process to make sure the nutrients they contain are really accessible to your body.
Plus, vegetables that have undergone lacto-fermentation are additionally chock-full of living cultures that have benefits for your gut health. If you’re going to try a whole food plant based diet, even just part-time, adding fermented veggies to your plan is a must!
Look to delicious, fresh, fermented veggies from Hosta Hill for an excellent place to start. With award-winning, complex flavors and the added benefits of fermentation, you can’t go wrong.
Enjoy a jar of our sauerkraut, kimchi or try our fermented hot sauces and krautonics today!
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash