5 Ways to Take Charge of Your Health and Connect with Your Food In 2020

Planning to do better in 2020? You’re not alone. It’s a new year — and a new decade! That makes it the perfect time to turn a new page and leave the 2010s behind. Whether you’ve been thinking about trying out a plant-based lifestyle, or you already eat plant-based some of the time and are ready for a deeper dive, now is a great time to make a change. You don’t have to be all-or-nothing to make a difference. Check out these tips for kicking off the new year with habits that are good for you, and the planet.

After interviewing OMD founder Suzy Amis Cameron about how plant-based eating benefits not just your health, but the planet, Oprah Winfrey vowed to take the 30-day OMD Challenge, pledging to eat at least one plant-based meal every day for a month. Over the Challenge, Lady O shared 30 delicious plant-based recipes with readers to enjoy and follow along. At the end of the month, she said the change was doable, so she sometimes ate two plant-based meals a day! Be like Oprah, and try a 30-day OMD Challenge. Share your eats with us by tagging your pics with #omd4theplanet!

One of the biggest joys of digging into curiosity is getting the chance to explore the bounty of the produce aisle or farmer’s market. This year, expand your horizons by experimenting with a new fruit or vegetable every month. Sample it raw or in a dish to learn about its flavor and texture, then try it out in different recipes each week. You might just find a new family favorite! You can also break out your passport and lean into adventure by trying new-to-you, savory flavors from around the world like Thai, Ethiopian or Indian cuisine.

New York Times food writer Mark Bittman famously transformed his health by going vegan … before 6 p.m. The idea? Even if you eat whatever you want for dinner (and dessert!), you can still make a big difference in your diet by sticking with plant-based foods during daylight hours. The “VB6” plan makes it easy to get the benefits of plant-based eating without being all-in.

Pick one item in your kitchen or pantry that you use regularly, and replace it with a plant-based substitute for the year. Try swapping non-dairy milk for conventional milk, sub an olive-oil margarine for butter or use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth. You can also up your game by learning to make delicious veggie broth from scratch!

Eat for advocacy! Ordering a plant-based menu item when you go out to eat can be a great way not only to get in your OMD, but also to show restaurant owners that the demand is real. If you find yourself in a restaurant without any entrées options on the menu, speak up! Ask your server if the kitchen can modify your dish to make it plant-based, and leave a comment card to request a delicious plant-based option (that’s not just a side salad) that all customers can enjoy.