Watch my video above for my vegan tips!
Going vegan can be tricky in many ways. I honestly believe veganism is a journey and I am still on that journey just like every one else. Going against what society considers “normal” is never easy but I can honestly say that going vegan was the best decision I’ve made for myself.
Pre-vegan me:
I’ve been “fully” vegan now for almost four years. Before that, I was “pescatarian” but I also didn’t eat dairy or eggs from 2011-2014 so I was eating lots of vegan meals even though I wasn’t fully vegan. I think I’ve learnt a lot about what seems to work for the most part and what doesn’t seem to work when it comes to transitioning into veganism. I’ve compiled a list of some tips that I think might be useful to some people if they are thinking of going vegan.
Post-vegan me:
Watch the video above where I talk about my tips and also unbox an awesome vegan starter kit from Thrive Market. The video also has a great discount and free trial link to Thrive market, so check it out.
Here are my top tips for going vegan:
1. Go at your own pace.
Everyone is different and adjust to change very differently. Some people are great at coping with change and welcome change in many ways; whereas others are very afraid of change and prefer to remain the same. Because we all react differently to change, everyone’s vegan journey will also be different. It’s important to know yourself and understand yourself and try to go at your own pace to what feels comfortable for you. Your vegan journey may take days or years – but the important thing is that you are moving forward.
2. Set clear boundaries for yourself.
Although it’s important to go at your own pace, I do think it’s important to actually have boundaries and specific goals in mind. Setting boundaries for yourself that are clear is an important step in moving forward and actually getting things done. For instance, saying something like “I’m going to eat less meat” doesn’t really mean anything because it’s not specific and very ambiguous. It would be better to say “I will stop eating meat at home and in two months, I will stop eating meat all together” because it is specific. You are much more likely to follow through with your plans once those clear cut goals are set in place.
3. Find a community or communities.
Humans are incredibly social creatures and this is one of the reasons it is extremely difficult for many people to go and STAY vegan. Social pressures are enormous and social isolation is something humans cannot handle. This is why it’s so important to find a community, either online or in real life, that understands you and supports you for your lifestyle choices. Find different groups on social media, go to vegan meetups in your local area, vegan festivals, etc… These will help you realize that you aren’t alone and that there is a supportive community out there for you.
4. Do your research.
The more you know, the better. There is so much information out there – lots of books to read, documentaries to watch… Lots of different studies that show the benefits of veganism and the downside of animal agriculture. Also, simply knowing things like what sort of vitamins you should be taking, what kind of foods you might want to eat more of, etc… these things will really help make your vegan journey easier.
5. Don’t forget to substitute your animal based foods with plant-based alternatives.
Quite often when people go vegan, they assume that they can just take out the animal products in their diet and not really think enough about what sort of foods they should be adding in. Animal products tend to be higher in protein and fat content and can be more calorie dense than lots of other plant-based foods (especially if we’re talking about whole foods). So when we take out those animal products and not substitute properly, we can often be left underfed and feeling hungry.
Especially since animal products tend to be higher in protein and fat content, and protein and fat tends to keep you more satiated for a longer period of time, if we don’t properly add in enough plant-based protein and fat (which is very easy to find by the way), we may feel hungry very fast. So keep this in mind when you are eating plant-based and if you find yourself hungry all the time!
6. Have a few “go-to” recipes that you love and are easy to make.
If we have a list of a few go-to meals that we know we love and we can make easily, it takes a lot of the guessing game out of the equation. It can be very overwhelming to first go vegan and constantly be thinking about what to eat and how to make it. Most of us are too busy to be always thinking about food anyways. So have a list (either in your head, on your phone or on a piece of paper) of vegan recipes or easy meals that you know you love and can easily make!
7. Have fun!
Transitioning into veganism can be tough. But it can also be a really fun way to experiment, try new things and just have fun with your life! There are so many new foods to try, new restaurants to go to, new friends to make and new recipes to taste. Think of this as an opportunity to really branch out and “try something new every day”.
8. Meal prep or food prep.
I always talk about meal prepping and food prepping because it’s SO handy. It’s great for many things such as saving money and time. It can be also great for those trying to eat a healthier diet. A lot of people think veganism is a LOT of work and is very expensive – I can tell you that neither of these have to be true. If you prepare yourself, you will be much more likely to succeed.
Check out my latest meal prep video for some inspiration:
9. Follow Cheap Lazy Vegan for tips and inspiration… #shamelessselfpromo
If you want to succeed, you must definitely follow me on all my social medias for inspiration! Haha yes, I’m being cheeky but…. do it…
Youtube – @cheaplazyvegan
Instagram – @cheaplazyvegan
Facebook – @cheaplazyvegan
My personal vegan journey involved a transition as well. I had to research about veganism for more than two years to make the change since I REALLY wanted to ensure that I will stick with veganism for as long as I live. You don’t need to put so much pressure on yourself to rush into anything!