Foodie Dané Vermeulen recently decided to adopt a plant-based diet for healthy lifestyle reasons. As a meat lover, this was no easy decision, but a sky-high blood pressure reading was all she needed to convince her to make a change. She shares her journey with Health For Mzansi readers, as well as a recipe for a delicious, no-bake brownie.
One of my fears when I decided to embark on this new culinary adventure was that I would have to eat buckets and buckets of salad to feel full after a meal.
It is easy to feel satisfied after a starch-filled meal like, say, yummy potatoes or doughy bread. This would stay within the boundaries of a plant-based diet, but it’s far from healthy. Over the years, I have convinced myself that any meal without animal protein would not provide me with sufficient fuel to make it through the day. Thinking about this now, I realise how absurd it is.
Over the past few weeks, I have noticed my body adapt effortlessly to my new diet. I eat smaller portions because my stomach is fuller quicker. I stay satisfied for longer and my cravings are minimal. You automatically eat less sugar because most sweets and chocolates are not plant-based and that is a massive step in the right direction when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.
“I had yet another big realisation seeing how easily my body and metabolism adapted to a plant-based diet. My body did not get all the necessary nutrients it needed while I was eating animal proteins, therefore it always needed more. And we all know what happens when you eat more than you should.”
When you give your body what it needs, you won’t feel bloated and uncomfortable, only satisfied and healthy.
The no-stress, no-bake brownie
This week, I decided to make something sweet, because going plant-based can sometimes be a challenge in this department. These plant-based brownies are easy and simple and they can be fun for the whole family. It can also make a great Christmas gift for your fellow plant-based friends or be a great way to introduce your friends to a plant-based diet.
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Ingredients
- Dates
- Tahini or coconut oil
- Cocoa Powder
- Dark chocolate (creative option)
- Any topping you desire
Instructions
- Add your dates and tahini into a food processor. For every cup of dates, add a tablespoon of tahini. Blend in the food processor until the mixture has a crumbed texture.
- Add a heaped tablespoon of cocoa powder and blend again until the mixture creates a lumpy, dough-like texture.
- Place the mixture in a rectangular dish, lined with wax paper and even out to mould to the shape of the dish.
- Lift the rectangular-shaped brownie slab out of the dish and cut into desired sizes.
- Cover the brownies with melted dark chocolate, add your topping of choice and set aside to cool down.
Cook’s note: For every cup of dates, add a tablespoon of tahini, cocoa powder and a slab of dark chocolate.
