What is plant-based eating? What to eat and how to start
Plant-based eating means building your diet mainly around plant foods, choosing minimally processed natural ingredients, and staying flexible to suit your lifestyle.
What to eat
- Vegetables and fruit
- Whole grains
- Beans and pulses
- Almonds and seeds
- Plant proteins such as tofu, tempeh and plant milk
Plant-based isn't the same as vegan
- Plant-based: mainly plants, may include meat or animal products sometimes
- Vegetarian: no meat, but still eats animal products such as milk and eggs
- Vegan: no meat and no animal products at all
Why people choose to eat mainly plants
- Plant foods contain vitamins, minerals, fibre and a range of phytochemicals
- On the environment, the images state that producing plant foods uses less water and produces fewer greenhouse gases than producing meat
- Details and references (WHO, FAO, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and others) are in the image series
6 ways to start
- Start with one meal a day and adjust gradually
- Add more colourful vegetables and fruit
- Vary your plant proteins: beans, tofu, tempeh, grains
- Read labels: choose plant ingredients, fewer additives and less sugar
- Plan meals ahead
- Keep going and enjoy learning
More images in this series (tap to enlarge)
Read next: Peas, quinoa and rice: three plant protein sources to know ›
Read next: Plant protein: meet Protein Plus Select ›
Read next: What are phytonutrients, and why "eat the rainbow"? ›
Want plant protein for busy meals? See the pea, rice and quinoa protein product below.
Image and reference from official material in the MyHerbalife media library: What is plant-based? (added to the library: 18 Sep 2026)
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