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When you start learning about veganism, there is a lot of information to digest. Just the thought of making the transition to a vegan diet can feel overwhelming and intimidating. Where do I start? What will people think? Am I doing it ‘right’?
Perhaps you’re interested in going vegan to lose weight, lower your environmental impact, or advocate for animal rights. Whatever your reason for switching to a vegan diet, there are certain things you can do to make the process smooth and stress-free. I promise you, going vegan is actually quite easy – really!
Whether you’re looking to go to vegan in 30 days, overnight, or slowly with your family, these tips will help you successfully transition to a vegan diet – and stick with it.
top tips for an easy transition to a vegan diet
Prepare and stock your kitchen
And no, this won’t be as expensive as you think! You might discover you have quite a few staple vegan ingredients in your kitchen already that you can form budget-friendly meals around.
Stocking up on cheap and nutritious ingredients such as rice, oats, frozen vegetables, potatoes, your favourite fruit, and herbs and spices means you’ll have plenty of food choices and combinations to keep you on track.
veganise your favourite meals
If you want to go vegan or start introducing vegan meals into your diet but don’t know where to start, try veganising your favourite meals first. Honestly, you can make vegan version of pretty much anything these days! Search “how to make vegan (recipe)” on Google or YouTube and you are bound to find a few options.
Seeing it how easy it is to still eat your favourite meals on a vegan diet will give you peace of mind knowing you won’t have to give up tastes you love, plus you’ll learn some handy vegan ingredient swaps along the way.
Keep it simple
A common mistake beginner vegans make when starting a plant-based diet is thinking they have to become a whiz in the kitchen. It’s actually the complete opposite! Sure, there are many fancy meals your could make, but the same could be said for any diet. Throwing together vegan meals is super simple, which is great if you don’t like spending time in the kitchen.
Most of my main meals are a bunch of starches and veggies thrown together and topped with avocado, salsa or hummus. A lot of your favourite easy meals could be vegan without you realising it. Baked beans on toast, peanut butter and jam sandwiches, cereal with fruit, or veggie pasta anyone?
READ MORE: How to eat vegan on a budget (and enjoy it)
Get creative
Have fun with the process! Experiment with new foods, find new sources of recipe inspiration, or challenge yourself to try one new food each week. Going vegan can really open your eyes to delicious ingredients you might have never thought to try before. Being creative and enjoying the process while transitioning to a vegan diet will help you stick with it long-term.
learn from a variety of resources
Education is key when starting out on your vegan journey. Keep learning about the positive impacts of veganism and the reasons why you went vegan in the first place. You can do this by watching vegan documentaries, listening to podcasts, reading books or following reputable sources online such as nutritionfacts.org.
Vegan advocate and foodie Bella from @belliebone says it’s important to be open to learning from a variety of sources as you transition to a vegan diet.
Take information from both regular people who have been fully plant-based for a long time and also from renowned experts in the world of plant-based nutrition. This will give you a balanced view and help you create a vegan diet in a way that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Bella – @belliebone
go at your own pace
Whether it’s going cold turkey or replacing one meal a week – whatever timeline feels easiest for you is the right one. Some people will go vegan overnight, while for others it will take a few weeks or months. As long as you’re working towards sustainable, long-lasting change then you’re on the right track. Just because someone you know was able to make the switch straight away, doesn’t mean you’re less ‘successful’ because you’re taking a little longer.
There is no shame in doing it gradually. Slowly but sustainably is better than going full on instantly but only carrying on for a short period of time. An abrupt change can sabotage your chances of maintaining a plant-based diet for the long-term. Start simple. If you are not used to eating a lot of fruits and veggies , do it gradually.
BELLA – @BELLIEBONE
FIND SUPPORT
Even if it’s just one or two fellow vegans, being able to connect with others who share the same values as you will make a world of difference on your journey. Searching for local vegan groups on Facebook is a great place to start, and if you can get a friend to join you then even better!
In a nutshell…
There area so many benefits to going vegan that any effort you make towards transitioning long-term is doing yourself, the planet, and animals a world of good.
Are you struggling to stick with veganism long-term? Have any questions about transitioning? Leave them in the comments below!
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