Plant-Forward Eating: Why You Don’t Have to Break Up with Meat

A plant-forward diet is your best bet for healthy aging, according to a recent high-profile study, but it doesn’t mean becoming a vegetarian or vegan. Plant-forward diets encompass a wide range of diets that include some meat — including pescatarian, flexitarian, and the popular Mediterranean diet — all of which are rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and beans. This eating pattern doesn’t mean going fully plant-based; it simply means deprioritizing meat as the star of your plate. In this episode, we delve into plant-forward eating, exploring its health benefits and how to get started with this approach.    Expert: Fatima Zamudio, Registered Dietitian Interviewer: Kim Rivera Huston-Weber Notable topics covered: The health benefits of a plant-forward diet Debunking myths around protein requirements, soy dangers and protein combining What does our plate look like when meat isn’t included? The types of plant-based protein to include with your meals How to veg-ify our favorite dishes Plant-based meat alternatives: Can we eat too many burger and sausage alternatives? The easiest meal for starting a plant-forward diet (and your day) Why you don’t have to identify as a vegetarian or vegan to eat plant-forward If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog.