Veganism is a lifestyle choice that many people are getting drawn towards. It may seem simple, but becoming completely vegan can be challenging. If you are considering veganism as a lifestyle, you have come to the right article, as we will be exploring ten tips for anyone considering going vegan!
There are a lot of things that you should keep in mind if you are considering becoming a vegan. Some essential items out of all these factors are taking it easy, going slow, researching, starting with something you like, and gradually getting adventurous with your recipes.
Being a vegan is undoubtedly a challenging task. This is especially true if you were a non-vegetarian before you considered switching to a vegan lifestyle. It would help if you gave up on many essential things in your diet.
Moreover, dairy and meat proteins are vital in our diets since they help us with many nutrients. So, although it may seem easy, giving up all that and looking for entirely new options can be challenging.
But, although it may seem intimidating and even impossible to some of you, the transition can be smooth in many ways, just if you keep a few things in mind. So, let us explore all the tips you need to remember before you turn vegan.
Tips To Keep In Mind Before Becoming A Vegan
There may be several factors that may have influenced your decision to turn completely vegan. It is not at all an easy task to say goodbye to all the food you love and move to a completely different lifestyle with some restrictions.
So, just the fact that you are considering making such a huge decision in life is half the battle won, and kudos to you for that! There are indeed a lot of good things about turning vegan. Firstly, it is excellent for health in many ways than you may have imagined!
Other than that, there has also been proof that going vegan can help reduce carbon footprint. Regardless of what your reason may be, it is indeed a good call. However, most people think that the options for vegans are minimal.
Most issues start here, and people leave the whole thing halfway through. But I am sure that after you read every tip mentioned in this article and keep them all in mind, your transition to veganism will be a vegan cakewalk! So, let us explore all these tips.
1. Do Your Research
The first and foremost thing to remember, especially when doing a lifestyle change as significant as this one, is to be thorough with your research. On the surface, veganism seems very simple, but it can be much more complex than you may have thought.
While you can’t eat animal-based products, other things revolve around this lifestyle. You will have to research what you can and cannot eat thoroughly.
Once you know the options that are acceptable in a vegan diet, you can figure out if you would also like to include these options in your diet. So, take some time, learn about the food options, and proceed.
2. Take It Slow
If you have been eating animal-based products all your life, making such a giant switch is undoubtedly tricky. There will very likely be a lot of meat cravings and even cravings for essential dairy products.
The point to remember here is that all of this is very normal, and if you do end up having cravings here and there and cave into them, you should not be too hard on yourself. For some people, making transitions is like ripping a bandaid.
Some people can make an instant switch and never look back, whereas many struggles to make significant changes. If you are the latter, start slow, with a few meals daily, before you do it full-fledged.
3. Start Simple
Once you are done with your slow transition, or even while you are transitioning, it is essential always to start simple. After you have a look at all that can be eaten on a vegan diet, make a list of everything you like.
Once you have the list ready, start making food with all the ingredients you like and have enjoyed. This will make the transition easier and leave room for trial and error.
4. Don’t Shy Away From Being Adventurous
Most people think vegan only means limited options, so cooked vegan dishes are also limited, bland, and tasteless. It is one of the biggest misconceptions ever. The ingredients you can eat on a vegan diet may seem fancy, even a little out there.
But once you get a list of how to use them and what can be made with these ingredients, no one will stop you from experimenting! So, while you stick to things you like, don’t stop trying something new now and then.
5. Take A Creative Approach
When making a vegan version of any dish, many people think that all you need to do is replace the meat with options like tofu or tempeh. Well, those are some options for sure, but so much more can be tried out!
Remember that you must know the composition of different types of food and the effects they can have on any dish. This way, coming up with various kinds of vegan dishes won’t be a task.
A simple example would be making a cheese sauce with cashews instead of a bechamel base and cheese. Although this may seem out there, cashews have a similar effect to cheese! So, keep these little things in mind for a creative approach.
6. Make Your Dairy Substitutes
When deciding to go vegan, most people find it the most difficult to give up dairy. Of course, more than anything else, dairy forms an essential part of our diets. Moreover, whenever you go out to eat, finding options with no dairy in them can also be a task.
As I mentioned before, tofu and tempeh make fantastic alternatives for protein, but sadly won’t give you the same feeling as eating some cheese. However, you can easily make your cheese versions with cashew and a lot more with nut-based milk.
7. Make Vegan Food For Everyone
One of the most challenging times is when you are hosting a party. This is mainly because so many options can be tempting and keep you off track. So here, you can stay on track by making vegan food for everyone.
Many people think vegan food is minimal and just a bunch of salads. But you can prove them wrong by making a bunch of vegan recipes that are so delicious that they won’t be able to tell the difference! This will also keep you motivated enough to try new recipes.
8. Find A Community
Choosing to be vegan is a lifestyle change. These things have a much more significant impact on our lives than we give them credit for, and just like everything else, there are good days and bad days when trying to be vegan.
One easy way to help you stay on track, get the support you need, and help you with beautiful recipes is to be a part of a vegan community. Although this is not mandatory, being a part of a community is always super helpful.
Final Word
Lifestyle choices can be challenging to adapt to, including veganism. Veganism has too many misconceptions that revolve around it, so many people are scared to adapt.
But, if you want to go vegan, now you know it is not as difficult as it may seem. Just keep an open mind and all the tips that are mentioned above, and it will surely be a much easier transition, all in all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does a vegan diet have protein options other than tofu and tempeh?
Yes, there are many protein options that can be tried out while being vegan, like beans and lentils.
Can you make cheese with cashew?
Yes, cashew cheese is ubiquitous with vegans.
Do you get dairy alternatives quickly in supermarkets?
Most supermarkets have adapted to vegans and have many more options, including various dairy alternatives.
Do you get vegan food quickly at restaurants?
Just like vegan groceries, vegan food has also become extremely popular, and most restaurants tend to have vegan options on their menu.
