Vegan Food Pyramid For Health, Wellness & Optimal Nutrition

Nutrition

Vegan Food Pyramid For Health, Wellness & Optimal Nutrition

Welcome to the vegan food pyramid.

If you are here for the first time, congratulations on wanting to improve your health.

A vegan food pyramid consists of grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes and healthy fats like nuts, seeds and avocado.

There are many reasons to begin a healthy vegan diet.

Did you know that a vegan diet can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol? Since cholesterol is found only in animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs, vegans consume a cholesterol-free diet. Many studies show that replacing animal protein with plant protein can lower blood cholesterol.

Vegan diets are also linked to lower blood pressure. There is now an abundant amount of scientific evidence that people who follow a vegan diet tend to have lower blood pressure.

A whole foods plant-based diet is also the number one way to improve your chances of not getting a chronic disease.

The worst options are any foods that increase bad cholesterol like cheese, red meat and processed foods. If you are obese, you can expect dramatic weight loss. Research has shown that the average weight and BMI was lowest among vegans.

Additional health benefits are healthy kidneys, gallbladders and glowing skin. A plant-based diet can drastically improve your energy.

Vegan Food Pyramid For Health and Wellness

Plants also have high levels of dopamine and serotonin which can help boost levels in the human bloodstream creating feelings of peace and happiness. There are so many reasons to follow a plant-based diet and this vegan food pyramid can guide you.

Don’t miss Ordinary Vegan’s podcasts for the latest nutritional information here on this website or on iTunes.

Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a peaceful and compassionate week.

15 responses to “Vegan Food Pyramid For Health, Wellness & Optimal Nutrition”

Mark

Bottom right shows “vegetables all types” with a picture of a broccoli
Top left shows “leafy vegetables such as broccoli” ???

Reply
1. Nancy Montuori
  
  Hi Mark – thanks for stopping by – Kale, mustard greens, collard greens, cabbage and broccoli are cruciferous leafy greens. Cruciferous vegetables are high in nutrients and contain glucosinolates, which inhibit the growth of certain cancers. Try to eat as much broccoli as you can – it’s a superfood! Have a wonderful day! Nancy
Stephanie

Could you provide a minimum number of servings for the vegetables on the bottom that are not leafy green? I’m trying to eat a balanced diet but sometimes I fill up on grains and legumes and don’t have room for anything else. Also, do you have resources about which nutrients we need and plant sources? Thank you!

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Althea

Thank you for sharing this great chart. I am so very grateful for the resources available on your site. I am now ready to start my vegan journey.

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Jennie

Just wondering because its not marked is it 3-4 servings of vegetables? I see it is for fruit, is it the same for the veggies? Thanks! Best chart I have seen so far!

Reply
1. Nancy Montuori
  
  Hi Jennie – you can enjoy as many vegetables as you like – no limit. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for being part of our community!
Cynthia

I’m almost a week into my vegan journey and this is incredibly helpful! Thanks so much!

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Mary W

Thanks for this brilliant chart. It will help me stay focused as I start this new way of eating. It’s a bit daunting at first and I’m getting tired of beans and rice! 😀
Your site is very helpful for a newbie so thanks again.

Reply
cherith

I like the chart but am wondering why the grains aren’t flipped with the leafy greens and legumes. Aren’t they of higher nutritional value?

Reply
1. Nancy M
  
  Hi Cherith
  I look at whole grains as the canvas of a plant based diet. Grains are an important source of dietary fiber including several B vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium and selenium. Fiber containing foods help provide a feeling of fullness with few calories. It would be much harder to get that feeling of fullness with leafy greens and many people can only handle a certain amount of legumes a day. Also, dietary fiber from whole grains help reduce blood cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is definitely a plant based superfood.
sarah

great chart! as a mother of 4 and wife- this will be awesome to help teach the children! they are always learning 🙂

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Beth

This is a great help! I’ve recently started my vegan journey. It’s been a bit overwhelming, but I’m feeling really good about this!

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Arthur in the Garden!

Great chart!

Reply

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