Incorporating Plant-Based Foods

How to Incorporate More Plant-Based Meals

Whether you’re fully vegan, a flexitarian, or a meat-loving omnivore, there’s no better time than the present to give more plant-based recipes a try. You’ll find that these recipes are as delicious as they are nutrient-packed.

5 Ways to Incorporate a Plant-Based Diet

On our family-owned farms, we sustainably grow acres of sugarcane that we craft into products like Florida Crystals^® Regenerative Organic Light Brown Sugar. Our crop is at the heart of our company, and we love that it’s such an essential part of so many different types of diets. Let us show you how to incorporate our products into your plant-based diet in a few different ways.

1. Plan Your Plant-Based Diet

Eating on the go is where many sacrifice health for convenience. But there’s no need to settle for processed snacks! Prepare delicious, plant-based snacks like our Vegan Almond Butter Oat Bars in advance so you’re ready to grab and go. Pick up almond butter – nut butter is a great way to bring more vegan eating into your life – flaxseed, Florida Crystals^® Regenerative Organic Light Brown Sugar and a few other simple ingredients and, in less than an hour, you’ll have a protein-packed snack you can enjoy right away or store in the fridge for your busiest days.

2. Simplify Your Meals

Next time hunger hits, don't cook an entire meal from scratch. Instead, reach into your pantry or fruit-and-veggie basket. You’ll find what you need for a hearty, satisfying vegan meal that’s ready in no time at all, like our Acai Bowl. It uses creamy almond milk, frozen fruit, and organic acai powder sweetened with Florida Crystals^® Regenerative Organic Raw Cane Sugar as a base. Top it off with fresh berries, granola, or other organic favorites for additional texture and flavor.

3. Add, Then Take Away

At your own pace, gradually add plant-based meals and ingredients to your diet before removing the non-vegan ones. Start with versatile foods easily incorporated into any diet, such as whole grains, legumes, beans, seeds, and nuts. Then, for meal prep or when fixing snacks or desserts, start making entirely vegan dishes. The next step is up to you: either keep going until you’re fully vegan or simply reach into your bag of plant-based recipes whenever you want.

4. Start Familiar, Then Branch Out

Going vegan can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Many classic recipes with meat or dairy have delicious vegan variations and are great sources of protein. For example, you can try tofurkey this November, a unique tofu-based twist on the Thanksgiving classic. After you get comfortable making more familiar dishes, try exploring international cuisines that rely heavily on vegetables and other vegan ingredients. Countries as far-reaching as Ethiopia, India, Greece, and even Italy and Mexico all have a plethora of vegan dishes that will expand your palate while improving your plant-based cooking skills.

5. Take Dairy Out of Desserts

It’s time to hit reset on everything you know about desserts. There are vegan versions of milk, butter, and cheese readily available in most markets. But egg substitutes take the cake when it comes to vegan-friendly variations. Ground flaxseed, chia seed, and applesauce are great vegan egg replacements. Even chickpea brine, AKA aquafaba, can be used to create a fluffy vegan meringue. Florida Crystals^® has tons of inspiration and recipes for plant-based desserts. Check them out below!

Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes are a fruit-filled delight dotted with flaxseed and topped with a vegan cream cheese buttercream that uses freeze-dried organic strawberries to add even more fruit flavor.

One Bowl Vegan Brownies let everyone in your family get their chocolate fix the vegan way. They're rich, chewy, and use no milk or butter at all. And since they only take one bowl to make, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy them while you’re not doing the dishes.

Vegan Chocolate Ganache Cake is an elegant, individually sized dessert for any occasion. A teaspoon of aged balsamic vinegar in the batter adds a touch of acidity, bringing out the deep flavor notes of theFlorida Crystals^® Organic Regenerative Organic Light Brown Sugar and balancing out the sweetness of the ganache drizzled on top while fresh fruit provides a pop of color. 

Eating vegan is a great way to explore new ingredients and cuisines and try new-to-you versions of foods you know and love. And with the right recipes and Florida Crystals^® products, it can even be easy to incorporate into your diet. It’s equally easy to have your Florida Crystals® Regenerative Organic Raw Cane Sugar, Florida Crystals® Regenerative Organic Light Brown Sugar, Florida Crystals® Regenerative Organic Powdered Sugar added to an online cart to be picked up or delivered at your convenience. And when the need for a plant-based sweet treat arises, keep our collection of vegan recipes handy.