January might be a blue month for some, but we think it’s the perfect time to start anew! Just look at Veganuary (going vegan for January) – this year will see a record number of people signing up to participate.
Plant-based diets are so much more than salads. It’s a real chance to get creative and eat a healthily balanced range of food. And did you know that going vegan can help ease period pains? Studies have linked stomach-fulls of meat, eggs and dairy contributing to “inflammatory reactions inside the body”. If you don’t want those cramps to keep coming, here’s our list of tasty vegan foods to include in each meal of the day.
Breakfast
There’s a reason why everyone says breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast maintains your blood glucose levels and keeps your energy up throughout the day.
Why not start your morning right with a big bowl of porridge oats? Not only will oats fill you up for hours, but they contain lots of zinc and magnesium which prevent aches and increases your energy.
You might find porridge on its own a little boring. You can spice up your bowl with some dark chocolate; the endorphins in chocolate can help with mood swings; bananas, which are rich in potassium to stop muscle cramps; and cinnamon, which helps to relax pelvic muscles and prevent period pains.
This tasty treat makes an unbeatable breakfast!
Have a vegan period
Being vegan doesn’t have to start and end with your diet. Natracare period products are completely vegan in products and process, so your period care can be kind to animals, too!
Find out more
Lunch
As someone who has periods, you’ll know how much blood can be lost in a cycle. With blood loss you’re also losing iron. The best foods to bring those iron levels back up are leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach.
These lovely leaves also form the base of a delicious salad. Bulk salads up with more green veg like peas and broccoli, and add a sprinkle (or five) of different beans. Beans help to regulate serotonin levels, to beat that period bloat.
Dinner
Just like the oats, legumes like lentils, beans and chickpeas have tonnes of benefits. Fibre, protein, calcium and antioxidants… lentils have them all – even vitamin B6 which boosts serotonin levels – helping with period-related low moods!
We always want to indulge during our time of the month, and a tasty lentil Bolognese really hits the spot.
Dessert
People new to the vegan scene will be surprised at the endless possibilities when it comes to desserts We’ve already banged the drum about bananas for your period pains, but combine them with almonds; almond and banana muffins, loaf, smoothies, whichever you choose, you’re killing two birds with one stone by treating yourself and eating for your cramps.
Whichever mouth-watering vegan meal you decide to make, show us your creations by tagging us on Instagram!
