How To Transition To A Vegan Diet
So you’ve decided that you’re going to go vegan. If you’re anything like me, it was quite a challenge, and I had no idea where to even begin. Here are some tips that will guide you on how to transition to a vegan diet.
Know your why
It is going to be important for you to understand why you embarked upon this journey, so you can stand strong when temptations arise or questions get asked. When you have a solid grasp on your why, you will feel prepared when people ask questions about your new lifestyle. And believe me, they will definitely want to know! Also, when you are frustrated and miss your old way of eating, knowing your why will keep you motivated and on the right track.
Don’t get upset if you fall off the wagon
Transitioning to a vegan diet is a lifestyle change not a race. There are going to be times where you slip up and that’s okay. Don’t be hard on yourself. You’ve been eating a certain way for a long period of time and it takes awhile to give that up. Focus on what you’re achieving and not what you’re missing.
Keep an open mind
As you try new recipes you may start to miss your favorite dishes. This is normal. Try to veganize them. I think you can veganize just about anything nowadays. This brings me to my next point. You may not particularly like the taste of vegan food…yet. Your taste buds have been hijacked by food companies. They add all sorts of “natural flavors” and chemicals that leave you wanting more. You taste buds are going to have to go through a detox period. Pretty soon you will taste something that you’ve always liked, and you’ll realize that it doesn’t taste as good as you remember. That’s a serious win when you get to that point. Check out this post here for some vegan recipe inspiration.
Just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy
Oreos are considered vegan and we all know they don’t get a gold star in the health department. You may use different plant based alternatives to help you transition to a vegan diet. That’s great and they are helpful when you are just starting. However, some are very processed and have tons of ingredients and some are very high in fat. You don’t want to rely on them daily/weekly for the long run. It’s there to use to get you locked and loaded in this new lifestyle, but once you get the hang of it, maybe substitute the alternatives for beans or a vegetable like cauliflower.
Start filling up your pantry and refrigerator with staples
Rice, beans, brown rice pasta, vegan condiments, organic spices, plant milk, hummus, etc. Have these items on hand so there’s no excuse to not be able to whip up a healthy vegan meal. As you try new recipes, you’ll have a better idea of what you like and don’t like and you’ll be able to change what you keep handy.
You may also find that these staples items are more expensive then what you were buying, especially if they are organic (see my post here of why it’s important to buy organic). Start slow. You don’t need to buy everything all at once. Each time I ordered groceries, I would add a few new staples, so I didn’t have to come out of pocket all at one time. Another trick is to stock up on items when they are on sale. If Jovial’s brown rice pasta is on special for the week, buy a few extra boxes. Also, you will get to know which stores have the best price on vegan items that you use regularly.
Build up your kitchen tools
You are going to notice that you may need different kitchen tools as you transition to a vegan diet. When I started, the blender I was using, did not work well to make cashew cheese that I loved. So, I chose to upgrade because it was something that I used all the time. Just like with the other staples, you don’t have to get everything all at once. See what you need and what you regularly use and go from there. Ask for these items for your birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc. or save up for them. The items that I use the most are my Vitamix blender and a food processor.
Enjoy the journey
This lifestyle is a journey and slow and steady wins the race. You are going to have struggles but you will reap a greater reward when you transition to a vegan diet. You will also probably notice lots of health benefits, as well as, conserving water and land by not eating animal products, and you will be saving animals. The only downside is you’ll wish that you had started sooner!
