Between the wide choice of fruits and vegetables offered by the season and the time saved by the holidays, the summer holidays are the ideal time to try the vegan diet. Update with nutritionist dietitian Hélène Lemaire.
With its variety of fruit and vegetables bursting with vitamins, summer offers a great variety on consumers’ plates. “If you want to eat more, it’s high season: they are good and cheaper”, says Hélène Lemaire, dietitian nutritionist. The perfect time to try going vegan. “Of course, there are more fruits and vegetables in the summer, but being vegan does not mean eating only that”nuance the expert.
While veganism involves removing all animal products, such as meat and fish, from one’s diet, as well as foods that come from an animal source, such as eggs, dairy products and honey, vegans consume cereals and legumes, such as brown rice or lentils. “It takes longer to cook than a steak.assures Hélène Lemaire. However, with the summer holidays, we are more available to prepare them and test recipes”.
Holidays, a time saver conducive to experiments
So, according to the dietitian nutritionist, summer alone is not enough to try veganism. It is the fact of coupling this season with the holidays that is conducive to food experiments. “With the notion of time, we are more able to try new things because we have no constraintssays the expert. We can wonder where we will find our favorite fresh fruit juice, rather than grabbing a sandwich in a hurry. Likewise, we are in better conditions for cooking.”
Another important point: the necessary adaptations to the change in diet. “At the start, we are not used to it; when you eat vegetables, you have to chew a lot because you eat them a lot raw. It takes timedescribes Hélène Lemaire. Inevitably, the meals will be longer: if we are stressed by the weather because we have to hurry back to work, we will eat less and we will be frustrated. During the holidays, we are more available.”
“We should not force ourselves, but listen to each other”
Although summer holidays are conducive to food discovery and experimentation, the dietitian nutritionist is categorical: you should try veganism only if you want to. “We must not force each other, but listen to each othershe insists. For example, if we are interested but do not feel like completely cutting out animal products or products that come from an animal source, we can try the vegan diet one day a week..”
This is what Hélène Lemaire advises her patients. Apart from the ecological gesture, it gives them a day to get used to their body and detoxify it. “If it can decrease the amount of animal protein consumed per day, or even per month, that’s good.says the expert. Some of my patients have gradually become vegans this way..”
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