Plant-Based Living

Adopting a Plant-Based Diet

Hope for Pain does not believe in the word “vegan.” We feel it adds extra stress and anxiety to the concept of eating plant-based. We also want to avoid the stereotypes that come with the word. Instead, we try to focus on eating local, sustainable foods that live in either a garden or the produce aisle.

We also believe it is important to incorporate plant-based eating as a lifestyle rather than a diet. Many people try out different diets and then give up because they find themselves craving/bingeing restricted foods. Instead of treating plant-based eating as a fad diet, treat it like a lifestyle.

To help guide you with choosing healthy foods, go to tips / blog / recipes on this site  and follow us @thehopeforpain on Instagram. Or send us an email to hopeforpain@gmail.com and we can work with you to find some great recipes at your level. 

Request More Resources
for Eating Plant-Based

Our Guide for
Plant-Based Eating

Hope for Pain has created a go-to guide for switching to a plant based lifestyle. Our guide details specific substitutes for items you may be eating currently that you need to cut out of your diet. Remember that if you make a mistake or have a cheat day, you can always return to the roots of this lifestyle. We encourage you to take your produce aisle by storm or discover your green thumb in a fresh outdoor garden.

Not only is it important to adopt a plant based lifestyle, but it is also key to make sure the plants and produce you are eating are fresh and local (if possible). Sometimes prepackaged items contain extra ingredients that don’t fall into your new diet/lifestyle. If you read the back of the packaging and find that you don’t know some of the ingredients, try to steer clear. The goal is to eat as many raw foods as possible, with the fewest ingredients. 

Remove These…

Alcohol, coffee, caffeinated teas, carbonated beverages, all artificial sweeteners

Replace with these…

Freshly extracted vegetable juices, distilled water, caffeine free herbal teas

Remove These…

All milk, cheese, ice cream, whipped toppings, and non-dairy creamers

Replace with these…

Fresh almond milk, rice milk,  coconut milk, oat milk, soy milk ; nut cheeses, non dairy yogurt, plant based cream cheese 

Remove These…

Refined, bleached flour products, most cold breakfast cereals, and white rice

Replace with These…

Ezekiel cereal, sourdough bread with no oil, grape nut cereal , whole wheat pasta, brown rice,  old fashioned oats, steel cut oats muesli, homemade  granola with no added oils, hemp, flaxseed, quinoa, hemp seeds 

Remove These …

Beef, pork, fish, chicken eggs, turkey, hamburgs, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, bologna, impossible burgers or very processed meat substitutes 

Replace With These…

All cooked beans, mushrooms, sprouted beans, chia seeds, wheat grass, homemade or local plant based burgers ( no added oils) 

Remove These…

All lard, margarine, shortenings, and anything containing hydrogenated oils or trans fats, vegetable oils ( avocado oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, etc - these are all high in Omega 6’s = inflammation) 

Replace With these…

Cold pressed flaxseed oil, - do not heat, if you need to choose an oil when outside of home dining choose one with less omega 6’s like extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil  

avocados  

Remove These…

All roasted and or salted nuts and seeds

Replace With These…

Sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, raw almond butter, tahini, cashews, and almonds, peanuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, pecans, etc. 

Remove These…

Refined table salt and any seasoning containing it.

Replace With These…

Fresh or dehydrated herbs, garlic, sweet onions, parsley, salt-free seasonings, unrefined sea salt (sparingly)

Remove These…

All canned vegetables with salt or preservatives, or vegetables fried in oil

Replace With these…

All raw vegetables, steamed or wok- cooked fresh or frozen vegetables, baked or roasted 

Remove These…

Canned and sweetened fruits, along with non-organic and sulfured dried fruits

Replace  with These…

All fresh organic, as well as unsulfured organic dried fruit

Remove These…

All refined white or brown sugar, sugar syrups, chocolate, candy, gum, cookies, donuts, cakes, pies

Replace With These…

Fruit smoothies, Raw unfiltered honey, stevia, agave nectar, pure maple syrup, carob