Going Flexi-Vegan: Tips from Luke, Health Nutrition Lecturer
Do you want to adopt some vegan habits to your diet but don’t want to commit fully? We’ve chatted with Luke, Lecturer in Health Nutrition and Physical Activity at the Hugh Baird University Centre, on his top 5 tips on how to add protein when eating flexi-vegan.
What is Flexi-veganism?
Flexi-veganism is when an individual's diet is purposefully vegan on some occasions and not on others. An example of this is a person who eats vegan food at home but will eat meat and dairy when they are out or an individual who has a vegan diet until teatime.
See below for Luke’s top 5 tips to add protein to a flexi-vegan diet...
1. Fruit and vegetables
We find a lot of vegan diets contain a higher level of fruit and vegetables than the average person - and what many people don’t realise is that these food groups also contain protein! In summary, make sure to eat as much fruit and vegetables as you can throughout the day.
2. Supplements
A great way to boost your protein quickly and easily is vegan protein supplementation. An example of this is vegan protein powder. Most vegan protein powders contain 15-20g of protein per serving - which is super! They even come in a range of flavours including, chocolate, strawberry and vanilla!
TIP: You can simply add vegan protein powder to a shake or even your morning porridge/ overnight oats.
3. Nuts and seeds
As well as many other benefits, nuts and seeds are very high in protein!
Examples of nuts and seeds:
- Nuts - almonds, walnuts and cashews.
- Seeds - flaxseeds, chia seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Tip: Add nuts and seeds to your porridge or salad.
4. Tofu
Tofu is a popular plant-based high protein low calorie option that people use in meals to replace meat and eggs typically.
Tip: Tofu could be considered pretty tasteless, so make sure to add seasoning!
5. Plant-based milks
Switch out your cow's milk in your morning coffee for plant-based milk! As well as being rich in minerals and vitamins, they are tasty and a great source of protein.
Options include soy, almond and coconut.
Tip: Using plant-based milk can act as an extra flavour in your coffee.
If you would like you are interested in following a career in health and nutrition, take a look at the Foundation Degree in Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity course you can study at Hugh Baird University Centre.
Find out the about Foundation Degree in Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity course
Please note: You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.
