Not at all! Contrary to common thought, plant-based nutrition is not a diet of consisting solely of leafy green vegetables and salads. Although lots of leafy greens such as chard, kale, spinach, and cabbage are part of the diet, leafy greens are a very poor calorie source so it is virtually impossible to get enough calories from leafy vegetables alone to form a sustainable diet. Perhaps the most common reason for failure in this lifestyle is when people actually try to live solely on leafy vegetables.
Not eating enough calories leads to feeling hungry, which over time, may result in decreased energy, feelings of deprivation, cravings, and even binges. These issues are not caused by switching to a plant-based diet. Rather, they are all related to not eating enough.
On a plant-based diet, the starch plant foods become the superstars! You will be building your meals around plants that may be commonly known as “side dishes”. Tubers like potatoes and sweet potatoes; starchy vegetables like corn and peas; whole grains like brown rice, millet, quinoa, and buckwheat; and legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and all types of beans.
