If you are new to eating vegan or plant-based and landed here, welcome! We’ve all been there. The very beginning stages of the transition are tough. There’s labels to read, ingredients to familiarize yourself with, and a general feel of discomfort as you navigate this new diet. But the good thing is that is temporary. Once you find what you like, fill up your pantry, and get into a groove, it becomes natural. You won’t even think twice about your new way of life. It will simply be, well, life.
There are hundreds of resources out there to help you during this time, but I wanted to share some of my top tips for new vegans and plant-eaters. Tips, hacks, whatever you want to call them. These personally helped me and I hope that they help you, too.
If you are looking for a crazy long list of tips, you can also check out 100 tips for vegans. But for today, let’s start with 10. Not too overwhelming, right?
#1: Keep your freezer full of frozen vegetables. Having fresh vegetables is great, but what if you don’t make it to the grocery store or just run out? Frozen vegetables are perfect to have for these times. Easy to thaw and whip up a quick stir fry, add to soups, or even just use for a side. Whatever you decide, at least you have what you need instead of getting frustrated and caving. Even better, frozen vegetables are super cheap. The same goes for frozen fruit (for smoothies or a fast snack!)
#2: Meal prep on the weekend. It’s all about being prepared. If you aren’t prepared, you might turn to old habits. Set aside an hour or two on the weekend (I love Sunday mornings) to make yourself a cup of coffee/tea, put on some good music, and start prepping. A good formula that works for me is to cook a grain, a protein source, greens, vegetable, and fruit. For example, I will make a batch of brown rice, a large pot of lentil stew, some steamed kale, 3-4 baked sweet potatoes, and a fruit salad. Having these items ready to go will keep on on track on days where you are not sure what to make or simply don’t have time to cook. You can read more about my meal prep tips here.
#3: Find a way to veganize a couple of your favorite dishes right away. There is a 99% chance you will be able to veganize all of your favorite dishes. Make a list of 3-5 recipes you can’t live without and google the vegan version. You won’t feel like you are “missing out” when you can still have it.
#4: Use cashews to make mac and cheese. Cashew cheese and vegan queso was necessary for me when I first went vegan. I knew I needed to find a cheese substitute and FAST. I can’t even tell you how amazing cashew mac and cheese is. It’s vegan comfort food at its finest.
#5: Freeze a batch of bananas. If you like quick and easy smoothies or dessert, buy an extra bushel of bananas one week – peel, cut in half or slice up, and freeze. Now you have frozen bananas ready for your smoothies and banana “ice cream”. To make banana ice cream, simply blend the frozen bananas with a splash of non-dairy milk. Top with some peanut butter or whatever toppings you enjoy… so delicious.
#6: Don’t be afraid of mock meats. Sure, it isn’t the healthiest way to eat vegan but you bet your ass it is helpful when you are transitioning. If you are having a hard time giving up chicken, Gardein chik’n strips are very good. Not ready to give up burgers? Beyond Meat is no joke. Eventually, your taste buds will shift and you may mot crave this stuff as much (or hey, maybe you always will) but at least you are not eating animals. Processed fake meat or processed real meat… it’s all processed. But at least one didn’t have a heartbeat.
#7: Pasta is an easy vegan dinner. If you are not sure what to make, turn to pasta. There are endless ways to make a delicious and satisfying vegan pasta dish. The easiest is to just toss with some olive oil, garlic, and a ton of veggies.
#8: Watch YouTubers for inspiration. I love watching a number of vegan YouTubers for meal inspiration. Some of my favorites are High Carb Hannah, Tess Begg, and Caitlin Shoemaker.
#9: Find restaurants with vegan options in your area. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to enjoy going out to eat even as a vegan. It may take a bit more research, digging, and asking, but I promise that you’ll find a couple go-to spots.
#10: Find out which foods are “accidentally vegan”. Did you know Ritz are vegan? How about Oreos? There are a ton of products that you know and love that are actually vegan accidentally. Here’s a good list to start with.
I hope that at least a couple of these were helpful to you. Even if one helped, hey, at least it is something! If you ever have any questions or looking for some inspiration, never hesitate to message me. I love to talk about it and share my personal experience. You can catch me over on Instagram – DM me. It is the easiest and fastest way to connect. Even if you want to just say hi :)
I wish you all the luck on your journey towards a kinder, healthier, and more compassionate way of living. xx bianca
