If you are still not a vegan or vegetarian yet, but are interested in the lifestyle, I can tell you that it has never been easier to hit the plant-based road. Today there are so many great substitutes for meat, so the switch to a more plant-based diet is so much easier, than it has been in the past. Of course, the best is to eat whole plants and not processed food as the substitutes are, but especially in the beginning of the switch, it is a good place to start.
Also, most restaurants nowadays have a vegan dish on the menu, which makes it easier for vegans to eat out.
Still, it can seem a little unmanageable to change the way you eat, because it is also your lifestyle that you change. Some people change their lifestyle overnight, while others use more time to make the switch. If you are one of those people who needs more time, I have made you a guide about, how you can ease into the new lifestyle and not be overwhelmed at the same time.
In this article you will get 5 great tips to change to a more vegan and sustainable way of living.
1: A meatless day a week
A good place to start your new lifestyle, is to start small. Begin with having a meatless day once a week. In this way you only have to concentrate about, how to change your regular dishes this one day a week, and it can seem much more manageable.
And then you are at it, you can make more food, so you have leftovers for the next day, or make something that can go in the freezer. Then it is easier to just take something out, so you not always have to find a new recipe.
You can always add more meatless days if you want to. Remember small steps are also great, and you are already in the right direction to make it better for the planet, and your own health.
If you want more help to start a more plant-based diet, you can also order meal boxes with vegan dishes. It is a great way to learn new recipes, and it is very easy to manage, because you don’t have to decide what to make and go grocery shopping. The menu has already been decided, and all you have to do is prepare and eat it.
In time it will be easier for you to find out for yourself what to make, and which recipes you like.
2: See documentaries
When you are starting your new lifestyle, it is a very good idea to see some movies about going vegan, and how a vegan diet and a meat diet affects you. In that way it can be easier to keep on track, because it gives you a lot of motivation. It is also a good idea, so you have some information and facts about the lifestyle, because some people (and they will be there) will question you and your new lifestyle. Therefore, it is easier to explain yourself, when you have some facts to give them. But for your own sake and interest, it is really motivating.
These movies are very recommendable:
- Forks over knives
- What the Health
- Cowspiracy
All three of them is made with good documentation and is told in a good and understandable way.
3: Hit the books
There are lot of great books about veganism, health benefits, climate impact and animal welfare. A well-known study called The China Study, is a really big study made by the doctors T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell. They wrote a book about it, also named The China Study, where they explain all the disadvantages about eating predominantly meat and dairy, which they found out in their huge study.
Another great book named ‘Eating Animals’ by Jonathan Safran Foer, is about what it means, when you go to the supermarket and pick up something from the counter. It is well researched, and I can promise you it is very hard to eat meat after reading that book.
4: Discover a new culinary experience
Many non-vegans think that it is boring to only eat plants. But they know nothing! Eating plants is so much more than just a salad. There are so many possibilities with vegetables and other plant-based products, that tastes much more interesting than a piece of meat. It is only your imagination that set your limits. Therefore, just throw yourself into it, and try new recipes. You will truly find out how much great food you can make with plants.
5: Surround yourself with like-minded people
When you choose a new lifestyle, it is so much easier if you seek people, who lives the same way as you do, or want to do. They understand you and can motivate you to continue the amazing and sometimes difficult journey. It is always nice to have people around you, who knows what you go through. It is also a great way to share recipes and get some tips about the whole lifestyle.
A good start is joining Facebook groups for vegan lifestyle, because an online universe is an amazing way to start new relations.
Another great way to meet like-minded people is going to vegan food courses. In this way you will learn new recipes and try delicious food, and you will meet people who have the same interests as you. I hope this gave you some inspiration to get started on your new lifestyle, and how to stay on track if you need some new ideas and tricks. It is always lifechanging, when you choose a new way to live. And food means a lot to most people, so it is also difficult to go against the mainstream. But in this case, it is important that you do, because even small steps, means a lot for the planet and for our animal welfare. Luckily, the vegan lifestyle wins more and more people over, and we are going in the right direction.
About the Author
Heidi Kirstine is a freelance writer and has been vegan for 4 years now and loves experimenting with new recipies. She finds peace and joy in cooking, and loves to show people how amazing plants can be, and how good a plant-based diet makes her feel.
