{"id":1185386,"date":"2026-02-27T09:58:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T17:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/?post_type=living&p=1185386"},"modified":"2026-02-27T10:11:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:11:49","slug":"30-plants-a-week","status":"publish","type":"living","link":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/food\/30-plants-a-week\/","title":{"rendered":"I Tried to Eat 30 Plants a Week. Here\u2019s How It Went"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I kept seeing the phrase \u201c30 plants a week\u201d pop up on my social media accounts. The idea sounded simple enough. Instead of counting calories or carbs, you count the number of foods you eat in a week that come from plants, with the goal of reaching 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every fruit, vegetable, bean, nut, seed, herb, and spice counts, so variety is key. Instead of thinking about what to eliminate, the challenge invites you to add ingredients.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"variety<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vegan foods are naturally rich in fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that aid digestion, give you energy, and support long\u2011term wellness<\/a>. And eating a variety of plants\u2014aiming for around 30 a week\u2014helps feed a broader range of beneficial gut bacteria, which is linked to better immunity, improved mood, and overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I decided to try it myself. As a vegan, I figured I had a head start. Still, I wasn\u2019t sure whether I actually ate a wide variety of plants or simply rotated through the same familiar favorites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On day one<\/strong>, I made a list of every plant I ate: oats, blueberries, cinnamon, chia seeds, spinach, tomatoes, quinoa, chickpeas<\/a>\u2014by lunchtime, I was already at eight. That alone made me feel like the challenge might be surprisingly doable. My list grew naturally throughout the day, without a special grocery trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing that surprised me was how the challenge encouraged me to be creative in the kitchen. Instead of adding more of the same foods to my meals, I found myself thinking, \u201cWhat\u2019s one more plant I can toss in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I boosted my 30 plants a week total by:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n