So you’re thinking of becoming a vegan? You’re not alone.
There’s been a 600% increase in US vegans, making veganism a top consumer trend in 2018.
That said, going vegan is definitely a transition, especially if you’ve spent your entire life as a happy omnivore. Here, we’re breaking down seven essential tips to make the transition easier.
1. Take it Slow
When you first decide to go vegan, it’s easy to want to dive all in from day one. Some people can go cold turkey no problem, and if that works for you, great!
But if it takes you a little longer to adjust to veganism, don’t worry about it.
One of the easiest ways to transition into veganism is to start by cutting out meat products one at a time. Chicken and eggs, for example, are a good place to start.
You could also try shifting to vegetarianism for a while so that you can get used to not eating meat while still eating dairy and eggs.
Alternately, you could take the non-vegan things you eat most and swap in something vegan, like switching out dairy milk for almond, coconut, cashew, or rice milk.
2. Add Before You Subtract
Another good way to get used to veganism is to add things to your diet before you subtract them. This will help you approach veganism from a mindset of plenty instead of a mindset of restriction.
After all, there are a ton of things you can do with just plants! The key is to structure your diet to make the most of your options and to introduce your options so that it feels easy to stop eating animal products.
For example, any vegetarian or vegan will tell you that nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, whole grains, and soy products are essential for a healthy protein and amino acid intake. Start introducing complete vegan proteins before you cut out meat-based ones.
You can also start collecting easy vegan cookbooks and recipes so that you have an arsenal of ideas at your fingertips when mealtime rolls around.
3. Try New Things
What a lot of omnivores don’t realize is that being vegan can be a lot of fun, and to that end, take this opportunity to go on a food adventure and try new things.
This has a few benefits for new vegans. First, it will help you approach veganism from a mindset of plenty, which will make it easier to stick with it.
Second, getting away from your current food comfort zone will make it easier to find foods that are already vegan. This helps avoid the feeling that you can’t eat your favorite foods anymore.
If you need ideas, Pinterest, Instagram, and the many food bloggers of the Internet are rife with great ideas. Better still, many of them are super easy.
4. Eat Out With Confidence
One of the big things that many new vegans struggle with is eating out, especially if their friends aren’t also vegan.
The good news is that this is a conquerable problem, especially in today’s world where more and more people are vegan and vegetarian.
Before you do anything else, whip out your phone and download the Happy Cow app. This is an awesome tool that lets you see vegan and vegan-friendly eateries near you.
In a similar vein, take the time to research a restaurant menu before you go out to eat. This will give you a good sense of what your options are (or if this is a restaurant that just won’t work for you).
One of the best ways to help yourself eat out as a vegan is to be flexible. Don’t be afraid to ask your server if the kitchen can modify a dish for you. If you’re nervous or embarrassed, tell the waiter you’re allergic to eggs and dairy–they should be happy to make changes for you.
5. Learn to Read Labels
Of course, you’re not eating out all the time, and the truth is, you don’t have time to cook 24/7 either.
With that in mind, you’re going to have to learn an essential vegan life skill: reading labels.
Truly strict vegans won’t eat things that contain animal products of any kind, which means certain surprising foods are off limits.
Soda, for example, can contain insect-derived dyes (gross). Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, and certain kinds of white sugar are processed using bone char. Even certain beers, like Guinness, are processed using gelatin.
That said, there are a few surprising vegan foods. For example, Oreos are vegan, which is kind of disturbing if you think about it too long.
6. Ditch All-or-Nothing Thinking
Especially for new vegans, one of the biggest favors you can do for yourself is to drop your all-or-nothing thinking.
If you slip up and eat something that has butter or fish sauce, or if you’re stuck on the road with no vegan food options for miles, or even if you had a really bad day and you just really need a milkshake to make your soul feel like the world will be alright again, don’t worry about it.
Remember, you’re going vegan for you, not anyone else. If you make a mistake every once in a while, or sometimes you just need to bend the rules, drop the guilt. The moment a diet stops being fun is the moment you start to think it might not be worth it.
And besides, life is way too short to waste time feeling guilty about your food. Eat, be happy, and carry on living your best life.
7. Rethink How You Shop
Another key component to successful veganism is to rethink how you shop for food.
The healthiest vegans are the ones that eat a variety of food, so spend some quality time in your produce section. Many vegan staples, like whole grains, nuts, and beans are cheapest when you buy them in bulk (and they have a long shelf life).
If you’re worried you can’t use food fast enough, get in the habit of meal planning over the weekend. You can even make it fun by going to your local farmer’s market every weekend.
Staying Healthy While Going Vegan
Going vegan can be deeply rewarding for yourself and for the environment. However long the shift takes you, remember that you’re making an important change in your life.
If you need more tips to stay healthy as a vegan, check out our blog for more ideas on health and wellness, like these five reasons you should be eating seasonal fruits and vegetables.