Going vegan can be great for your health, and many people also make the decision for ethical reasons. Another reason people go vegan is to help them focus on eating more plants and whole foods. While the health-conscious choice to go vegan is becoming more popular, it can also be confusing.

When starting a vegan diet, you may notice many food products labeled vegan-friendly, and it might seem like a bonus when grocery shopping. However, just because a food carries the vegan label, that doesn’t automatically make it healthy. In fact, just relying on the vegan label could lead to eating a more processed diet instead of a healthy vegan diet.

For example, many common foods you may be eating because they are vegan, are considered junk food. When first starting out on a vegan diet, it can be easy to fall down the rabbit hole of eating anything considered vegan, especially if it is easy and tasty.

Popular processed junk foods that are vegan:

• Many sodas
• Potato Chips
• Fritos
• Pringles
• Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownies
• Cracker Jacks
• Candies, such as Sour Patch Kids, Airheads, and Fruit-by-the-Foot
• Ultra-processed imitation foods – these are vegan foods attempting to imitated traditional animal products, such as cheese and meats

So how do you avoid becoming an unhealthy processed food vegan and eat a healthy vegan diet?

START WITH THE RIGHT CARBOHYDRATES

When you stop eating animal products, you will probably replace those calories with more carbohydrates or fats. Focus on getting your carbs from whole foods instead of processed bread, crackers, or chips. While these are convenient, they are often ultra-processed with added artificial ingredients and not healthy.

Starchy vegetables like squashes, sweet potatoes, artichoke hearts, and carrots make a filling and delicious meal base. They are also quick to cook and very versatile. Whole grains like gluten-free oats and sprouted rice can also be healthier carb choices than cereals and pasta.

Beans and lentils are also an excellent carb option you can add to your meals. Beans are a great base for soups and buddha bowls. Chickpeas can be blended with tahini and olive oil to create a healthy hummus.

Great Sources for Healthy Carbs

• Starchy vegetables
• Oats
• Rice and quinoa
• Beans

LEAN ON HEALTHY FATS

Another way to replace your meat and dairy calories will be to incorporate healthy fats from plants.

Avocados are technically a fruit and a great source of fat. Plus, they are very easy to incorporate. Mash them up and enjoy guacamole with a side of salsa.

Coconuts are also a great source of healthy fat and can be incorporated into various baked goods. Many vegans use coconut milk to replace dairy and coconut pulp to make traditional desserts even more delicious and healthy.

Olives are another good source of fat. These are fun to just snack on or add to the top of a salad. Olive oil is also a great way to create your own healthy salad dressings and stay away from highly processed ones that could have low-quality oils and other ingredients.

Nuts are rich in fat and protein. They make a great snack, can be added salads and chopped up into almost any dessert. Explore nut butters without added sugars as another source of healthy fat, such as almond butter or cashew butter.

Great Sources of Healthy Fat 

• Avocado
• Coconut
• Olives
• Nuts and Seeds

PICK CLEAN PROTEIN CHOICES

It’s a common misconception that vegans don’t get enough protein and that you can’t get adequate protein without eating animal products.

Vegans can easily get plenty of protein through a balanced diet and careful supplementing. Eating a combination of beans, rice, quinoa, nuts, and seeds is a great way to get a variety of protein, packed with all the nutrients and amino acids you need. For additional protein, using a supplement Detox Organics Daily Protein is an easy way to give your diet a protein boost.

So how do you choose a protein that is healthy and not processed? Check the ingredient list for artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes. While it might sound good, anything made with artificial flavors and sugars isn’t great for your health.

Instead of super processed Fruit Loop-flavored protein, pick something simple like chocolate or vanilla that can be naturally flavored. Protein powders like Detox Organics Daily Protein contain no artificial ingredients and a good balance of plant proteins from hemp, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, and brown rice to help you consume enough protein each day.

Great Sources for Healthy, Vegan Protein

• Beans and rice
• Quinoa
• Nuts and deeds
• Vegan protein powder

GOT A SWEET TOOTH? TRY FRUIT!

Most forms of sugar are vegan, but that doesn’t make them healthy. When picking treats to indulge your sweet tooth, lean towards naturally sweet whole foods like fruit.

Fruits are perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth, and they are also versatile and can be made into healthier versions of your favorite processed sweets. For example, instead of Fruit Roll-Ups, try dried fruit leathers for a tasty alternative. You can also create a delicious sweet treat by blending a banana with frozen berries and ice, mixed with almond milk, to achieve a healthier milkshake treat.

The popular “nice-cream” recipe can help you enjoy your favorite frozen dairy treat without the dairy. The recipe turns frozen fruit into delicious ice cream by blending it with the coconut milk and freezing it. The coconut milk is so creamy and can easily replace real milk in most desserts.

If you are looking to indulge in chocolate desserts, one easy way is to try some of the very creative chocolate Detox Organics vegan dessert recipes. The best part is that all of these recipes are made with Detox Organics Daily Superfoods, a vegan chocolate superfoods supplement made with over 25 different raw, organic ingredients. This makes it easy to pack extra greens into your desserts.

EATING A CLEAN VEGAN DIET AS NEVER BEEN EASIER!

Eating a vegan diet can be good for your health if made up of healthy whole foods instead of processed ones. Don’t get tricked into thinking everything labeled vegan food is healthy. Instead, focus on whole foods that fit into the vegan diet and get creative with those.

With plant-based whole foods that incorporate healthy carbs, fats, and proteins, you can achieve a healthy balanced diet. On top of that, smartly supplementing with Detox Organics Daily Protein and Detox Organics Daily Superfoods can make sure you’re getting enough protein and greens in.