Into.Spring
A low-carb & plant-forward eating plan made easy.
Eating vegetables always seems easier when they're served over a plate of pasta, rice or covered in cheese, batter, or butter. But what if you're also trying to limit your intake of refined carbohydrates and animal products as well?
The quality and quantity of online recipes seem to dwindle once you add the tags: low-carb, high protein & plant based. Even though there are thousands of nutritious vegan dishes found in cuisines worldwide, it's always the same recipes and ingredients used over and over again. What's worse is when take the time and money to buy fresh produce, but then it sits in the fridge for days and goes bad because you didn't know what to make.
This is why we created the ultimate plant-forward eating plan.
Into.Spring is a themed recipe plan that focuses on 4 vegetables & 1 type of fruit a week.
This structure helps you appreciate the unique and vibrant taste and textures of fresh produce, spices, and whole grains by learning how to pair them together while minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.
There is no professional photography, food styling, or AI involved in any of the food photos.
We pair crowd-pleasing "high turnover" ingredients (e.g avocados, red peppers) with ones that might wilt or spoil in the back of the fridge (e.g cabbage, radishes), and structure recipes to use leftovers from previous days, so nothing ever goes to waste. We choose popular plant-based dishes from different cultures and cuisines to come up with nutritionally balanced, vibrant meals that are never boring.
What do we mean by 'plant-forward'?
You're probably familiar with the term 'plant-based' which is almost always confused with 'vegan'.
A vegan lifestyle completely eliminates all animal products and doesn't necessarily focus on eating vegetables. This is why we prefer the term 'plant-forward'. We put an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, and spices while also allowing small amounts of meat/dairy products if absolutely necessary.
To keep carbs low, we avoid all highly-processed foods and simple carbohydrates.
Into.Spring breaks many conventional diet rules that set us up for failure by being too extreme or restrictive.
When it comes to dabbling in a plant-based / low-carb lifestyle, you need to go easy on yourself. Cutting food groups out completely will never lead to consistent healthy habits.
Into.Spring: How It Works
Each week, we will focus on two vegetables, one starch or legume, as well as one leafy green and one type of fruit.
The recipe plan is for 4 days a week and includes recipes for:
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One light meal (breakfast or light lunch)
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One main meal (lunch or dinner)
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One dessert or sweet snack
Into.Spring is NOT meant to be a strict detox, diet, or cleanse. You should follow the plan as you are able, mix-and-match meals from different days, and improvise as you wish. The recipes should fit into your lifestyle, not vice versa.
Into.Spring recipes are tried-and-true, easy to follow, and customizable.
Some dishes use leftovers from previous days. All the dishes transform the starring vegetables in different ways, so you never get bored of them or let them go to waste.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
IS THIS A DIET OR A NUTRITION PROGRAM?
Into.Spring is a collection of online recipes. You can pick and choose what dishes you want to make. However, if you like, you may treat Into.Spring like a 2 week plant-based eating program, and be a little more strict about following the recipe guide for all 4 days of the week.
It's a great way to see how your body feels when you give it the nutrition it deserves from foods that occur in nature. The combination and variety of vegetables and spices maximizes the amount of nutrients you can get in a week purely from plant-based sources - promoting satiety, boosting immunity, and enhancing gut health.
HOW ARE THE VEGETABLES OF THE WEEK CHOSEN?
We choose nutrient-dense vegetables that might often be forgotten about, or too hard to work with, and pair them with more flavorful or more commonly-used veggies, spices, and fruits. We also choose one legume to add complex carbs that give you more energy for the day, as well as one leafy green that is antioxidant-rich and easy on digestion.
VEGAN?
Into.Spring recipes are 100% vegan; however, some recipes may offer suggestions to use dairy products as mere seasonings, particularly for those who wish to slowly transition to a vegan lifestyle (e.g a sprinkle of feta or parmesan). This is only to encourage eating whole foods whenever possible instead of fake meats and cheeses that can be heavily processed.
KETO?
Into.Spring meals are lower-in-carb than most plant based recipes, however the total net carbs per day will NOT keep you in ketosis. Net carbs are usually 70-90g per day.
WHAT OTHER INGREDIENTS WILL I USE?
In addition to the starring vegetables, you will also use most fridge and pantry staples (e.g olive oil, coconut milk, sweet potatoes, almond flour, etc.) There is a grocery list provided.
BUT....THOSE STAPLES AREN'T MY STAPLES?
We all come from different backgrounds, and so we all have different staples in our fridges and pantries. Into.Spring contains recipes from cultures who favor more veggies in their diet, so it's best to remain open about ingredients (e.g adding grated coconut to green beans). You never know what ingredient could make a plant-forward lifestyle much more delicious and easier to stick to.
SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF COOKING?
The light meal usually takes 5-10 minutes to prepare and the main meal takes 30-40 minutes (including time in the oven). Pick what works for you. You will likely have leftovers for the next day.
WHY AREN'T ALL THE STAR VEGETABLES BEING USED IN ONE MEAL?
Into.Spring avoids repetitive recipes, so we don't always incorporate all the veggies of the week into a single meal. For some meals, the vegetable of the week may only be a side dish or won't appear at all.
WHAT ABOUT ANY OTHER MEAL(s) OF THE DAY?
OR THE WEEKEND?
We purposefully give you only two meals and a snack a day, four days a week, because we want you to feel free to make your own decisions for the rest of the time. If you are open to experimenting and improvising, then try to create a meal using any remaining ingredients you have.
If you want to treat Into.Spring like a 2 week plant-based eating program, we suggest sticking to plant-based whole food options while eating out or ordering in.
I DO NOT LIKE THE VEGETABLE(S) OF THE WEEK
It's important to read through all the recipe cards to know if the recipes are right for you. Some vegetables are used more frequently than others. If you absolutely cannot eat a certain item, then skip to a different day, or substitute with other ingredients whenever you can.
WILL THERE BE OTHER WEEKS ADDED TO THE SERIES?
Yes, follow @novelbody.online on Instagram to find out when future weeks will be released.