Can You Go Vegan with CF?
A vegan diet excludes all animal products and focuses instead on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and beans. Typically, people who adopt this plant-based lifestyle do so for environmental reasons, health benefits, or to make a statement about animal welfare and to avoid participating in their exploitation.
Nutritionally speaking, with the high fat and calorie needs of a person with CF, you may think a vegan diet may not be possible for you. It is true that eliminating animal products from your diet will make it more challenging to gain weight if you are trying to do so. But, it can be done if you have a plan. If the vegan lifestyle is something you would like to try, your weight is stable, and you have the approval of your care team, here are some guidelines to help you include the highest calorie and highest fat foods in a healthy way.
Focus on Calorie-Dense Foods. Since most plant-based foods contain a lot of fiber and water, we usually feel fuller faster than if we were eating a steak. That means you won’t consume enough calories at one “pit-stop” to maintain or gain weight. So it’s important to include some higher calorie plant foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, or olive oil at every meal increase your daily total intake.
Larger Portions. When consuming lighter foods, another way to get more is to eat more. Sounds obvious, but by mindfully increasing your portion sizes by at least half, you will be adding to your daily total calories. If you usually have one bowl of pasta, go back for seconds and fill your bowl halfway. If you usually cut up half of a banana into your oatmeal, slice the other half and top with some nut butter.
Don’t Skip Snacks- Whether you are vegan or not, a well-balanced diet includes 3 meals and 2 snacks daily. A healthy CF vegan diet which requires more food, definitely can’t be skimpy on the snacks. Eating something every 3 to 4 hours is a good rule of thumb to follow. If you live a busy life, or feel like you don’t have time, choose portable snacks you can keep in your bag for a snack emergency at any time. Pre-packaged trail mixes with nuts and seeds, individual pouches of nut butters, protein bars with oats and nuts or seeds, or ready to drink protein are great options.
Knowing how many calories you typically consume per day prior to trying out the vegan lifestyle is important. This will help you plan your vegan meals so that you’re getting enough to maintain your weight.
If you want more guidance on whether a vegan diet is right for your unique body and how to get what you need to thrive, remember to schedule a complimentary call with me!
Next time…a favorite vegan recipe