Have you decided to make a positive change in your life through the incorporation of vegan foods? Very well! If you don’t know where to start, keep these tips for new vegans in mind, ideal for making the most of your new lifestyle. Of course, be patient and respect your time. Changes don’t always happen overnight. The best thing about all this? You will be leading a more compassionate and healthy life.
Focus on fresh produce
What do vegans eat? Of everything! Especially fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, and legumes. Where do vegans get their protein? The essential plant protein sources are legumes, nuts, and seeds: beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, almonds, plant-based meats, and tofu. The latter is a kind of soy cheese, which provides amino acids and a great source of calcium.
Vegan your favorite foods
Choose 2 or 3 of your favorite foods, the ones you eat several times a week and investigate how you can substitute ingredients to veganize them. A must-have: vegan ice creams. In this way, you will implement options; that you already like and are used to in your rotation.
Swap dairy for their plant-based counterparts
That is one of our favorite tips for new vegans because today, there are so many options! You can prepare your vegetable kinds of milk and cheeses based on nuts, cereals, dried fruits, or yeast. You also have the option of buying or making almond, coconut, soy, and rice milk, among other variants.
Read labels to recognize vegan food
When buying bread, pasta, condiments, or sweets, check the labels to make sure they are vegan. That is the best way to discover that there are many things you can eat and get an idea of ​​their nutritional values. Most of the pasta is vegan and; also a surprising amount of sweets, jams, mustards, ketchup, and vinegar. However, some products contain animal fats, egg remains, and even dehydrated anchovies, so it is necessary to always look at the labels.
Expand your tastes and explore new ingredients
The transition to veganism can be an exciting adventure. You certainly have seen exotic edibles with strange textures that you have not yet dared to try. How about you try it now? There are always vegan recipes to add to your menu.
Plan your weekly menu and have vegan cookbooks on hand
Nutritional planning is essential for everyone. Especially when we make changes to our diet.
Share your veganism with your loved ones
Inviting your family, partner, friends, or colleagues can be very supportive. Everything is better when shared. Remember the meaning of veganism: it is not just a diet, but it seeks to end exploitation and animal suffering. It is a compassionate way towards our planet. Now, there are several vegan communities online.
Find vegan restaurants near where you live
Being vegan, although many do not know it, means that you can eat out. You don’t have to feel like a stranger anymore; because it’s not about eating a lettuce leaf. On the contrary, it is to feed yourself with everything that the Earth offers. Visiting a vegan food joint will not only give you a break in the kitchen; but will also give you new ideas. Plus, it’s a great way to invite family and friends to learn a little more about your new lifestyle.
Discover low-priced vegan options
Some people hesitate to embrace veganism because they believe it is an expensive style of eating. While various specialty items like vegan meats and cheeses can be a bit more expensive, vegan food does not have to be that expensive. As we mentioned in the beginning, beans, lentils, chickpeas, and other peas are inexpensive protein resources. In addition, you will always find seasonal fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices.
Be patient and give yourself time
Everyone has their way and their time to make the changes towards a vegan lifestyle. Do not be discouraged if it suddenly seems challenging or if you run into people who disagree with your philosophy of life. It’s normal for people to question what differs from their own beliefs, so don’t take it personally. The compassion you decided to extend to other living beings also applies to yourself and those around you. Remember that all change takes time. The most important thing is that you enjoy and learn from the trip since, in reality, there is no final destination. Along the way, you will always find more and better ways to be with yourself, with the planet, and with the animals.
Find your “Why” and embrace it 100%
Decide what your reason for the change is, and when you get discouraged, take a few minutes to remember it. Think about your health and the benefits you will get from incorporating more plants into your lifestyle. Remember the animals that inspired you to make the change, what it means for the environment that in each meal you choose to honor our land, its resources, and inhabitants. Everything we do, no matter how small, has an impact on the whole world.
Learn some basic rules of nutrition
This principle is necessary to everyone, vegan or not. We all benefit from knowing a little about the nutrients the body needs to be healthy.
Consume responsibly
Responsible consumption implies certain form habits to protect the planet and society. Single-use plastic, for example, produces unnecessary contamination. For everything, there are ecological and respectful options with the environment:
- Learn to live without plastic.
- Find out what your ecological footprint is and how to reduce it.
- Explore how to achieve a sustainable menstrual cycle.
- Avoid food waste.
- Use apps to lead a more eco-friendly life.
Look for new sources of inspiration
There are endless resources to inspire us every day to try with love and determination. There are numerous vegan documentaries, shorts, and movies that enrich us with new perspectives.
Compassion is action and begins at home
We mean two high-priority things; on the one hand, consider that in the transition to veganism, we all go through the stage of imperfect veganism. And that’s okay! So rejoice because every little step is a key.
On the other hand, our home is the Earth; and the importance of taking action and getting involved is fundamental. Compassionate with yourself and with the natural/social environment.
We hope this info will help you get started on the journey. Do you have more tips to add to this list?
