So, you want to eat more plants and save animals. Same. That was my initial thought before transitioning to a plant-based diet. I initially wanted to go vegetarian, but after watching some documentaries and digging deeper into research, I ultimately opted for a vegan diet.
If this sounds like you, you are in good company. Whether you are new here or simply want to see the steps I personally took to get where I am today, I hope that you find the below helpful or inspiring. Sometimes, the right words and advice is all it takes to make a life-altering decision stick. That is my hope for you.
#1: Become familiar with animal-derived ingredients. There are a lot of ingredients that you may not know are animal-derived. I know that seems intimidating, but once you familiarize yourself, it becomes second nature and you’ll be a label-reading ninja in no time. Here’s a good list to start by PETA.
#2: Watch a few documentaries for motivation. This was my #1 motivator. Yes, they are hard to watch but these are the films that ultimately made my choice stick. You can’t forget the things you see and learn. It’s not all animal cruelty, either. While that is and always will be my biggest motivator, there’s also a great deal of other motivators in these films from a health and environmental standpoint.
#3: Find a cow’s milk alternative. Soy, almond, coconut, rice, cashew, pea protein, hemp, oat… the list goes on and on. I promise you, you will find a milk alternative you enjoy. Takes some time and taste-testing, but that is all a part of the fun!
#4: Pick your protein. Not everyone is into tofu, but that is not your only option! There’s beans, lentils, tempeh, soy protein, seitan, edamame… give them all a go and find recipes you enjoy featuring these products.
#5: Veganize or find vegan recipes for a few of your favorite non-vegan dishes. Speaking of recipes, you’ll want to get in the kitchen and start experiment. It’s fun, not daunting! Try new ingredients, but also focus on some of your favorite meals. You can veganize anything these days. A quick Google search will prove it. List out your top 5 favorite meals and find the recipes to veganize. Once you have that “comfort,” you won’t feel like you are missing out.
#6: Find a cheese substitute (if you need one). If cheese is a tough one for you, try some alternatives. Some are better than others… like any product on the market. I personally love the Follow Your Heart cheese products the best, as well as Chao cheese. There’s everything from shreds to blocks to cheez-its to boxed mac and cheese.
#7: Decide on a B12 supplement. A lot of foods are fortified with b12 – like most milks (but check label), cereals, and nutritional yeast. But if you aren’t sure about your levels, you may want to look into a vitamin supplement.
#8: Motivate yourself with vegan quotes. I put together two LARGE posts featuring vegan quotes because they motivate the hell out of me. If you are interested, you can over 200 here and here.
#9: Stock your pantry with vegan snacks. In a pinch, you might want something quick to snack on that isn’t fruit or nuts. Find some fun vegan snacks. These can be a bit pricey sometimes if they are a “specialty” item, but even just pretzels and hummus or tortillas and salsa are usually vegan. Always check, but still. Have your favorites on hand so you never go hungry or feel tempted to stray.
#10: Put a few vegan meals in the freezer for a quick go-to. Helllloooo Amy’s vegan mac and cheese. There are so many frozen vegan varieties on the market, from actual meals to vegan burgers, chicken-less tenders, and more. Keep a few in your freezer for those nights you don’t feel like cooking.
Remember: it is okay to slip-up. It is not the end of the world. No one is perfect and failing should not discourage you to quit. Just do the best you can. It will become/feel natural as your body and tastebuds adjust. And if you need some motivation, you remind yourself why you choose to not eat animals or their counterparts. Sometimes a little reflection is all it takes.
Good luck on your journey, and please, never hesitate to message me on IG if you want some tips, advice, or personal experience on anything. I love talking about it and would LOVE to hear from you. Proud of you and believe in you. xx bianca
