With the ever-increasing pressure to save the environment, many people are turning to veganism as a way to ease their impact on the world. While the modern wave of veganism has been around since the 50s, the diet has only gained global popularity within the last few years. The good thing about veganism gaining popularity is that it has now become more accessible, meaning that more and more people can adopt the plant-based diet. The restaurant industry is seeing how profitable veganism can be too, which means that there are now more options available for vegans when they go out to eat. So, if you are thinking of going vegan, then use this as a beginner’s guide to help get your started.
Find Your Reasoning
One of the first things you need to establish before you switch to veganism is your reason behind the change. Changing your diet to a plant-based one is not something that is easy, so it is important that you have a good reason to do it, as this will keep you motivated. There are many reasons as to why someone would want to turn vegan but the main three are- environmental, health, and ethics. All three are completely valid, so if you are considering veganism, then you need to work out why you want to do it. This doesn’t necessarily mean you just get to pick one of the three options, often people turn vegan because of a mixture of the three, so take the time to work out where you stand and why you want to change your diet. Having a good idea of your reasonings will be helpful when switching to a vegan diet as it will keep you focused and motivated on sticking to it.
Start Off Small
There is no denying that switching to a vegan diet can be difficult. If you currently have animal products as a large part of your diet, then it may seem impossible to suddenly give them all up. This is why it is important to not pressure yourself into going full vegan, but instead, just start off small. If you feel like you can give everything up but eggs, then just do that. There is no need to rush into it. One major thing people fear when becoming vegan is that they will not be able to get all the nutrients. This is a valid concern, as you do have to put in a little more thought into your diet when you switch to veganism. So, if this is what you are worried about, then it could be beneficial for you to get some supplements like those from sustagen.com.au as they can help ensure that your diet is still rich in all the vitamins and proteins you need.
Learn To Read Ingredients
One important, but annoying, thing you need to learn when becoming a vegan is the ability to learn to read ingredients. A lot of packaged items have surprising non-vegan ingredients, that you wouldn’t suspect unless you look. For example, a lot of biscuits and crisps can sometimes contain milk powder, even when they do not appear cheesey or creamy. This is the sort of stuff you need to start being aware of, as it is very easy to accidentally buy food that isn’t vegan. Of course, as you go further into the vegan diet, you will soon become an expert in spotting a non-vegan ingredient, but at the beginning, you will have to look extra carefully. However, it is still important to remember that every vegan at some point will slip up and accidentally eat something with milk or egg in it, so don’t be too hard on yourself. As mentioned before, it may be very difficult for you to become vegan, so just do not pressure yourself to be the ‘perfect vegan’ straight away.
Start Cooking At Home
Another good way to help you transition into veganism is to cook at home. While most restaurants do now offer some plant-based options, it is not always a guarantee. This is why it may be better to first learn how to cook at home, so you know that if you can’t order a takeaway, you can at least make a hearty home-cooked meal. The good thing about cooking vegan meals it that they are relatively simple to make. A lot of ingredients that make up the base of meals are naturally vegan, so you will not need to waste lots of time searching the shops for special vegan ingredients. Chopped tomatoes, dried pasta, chickpeas, and lentils are all great options to start with when deciding what to cook. Again, do not pressure yourself, but instead just start practicing cooking vegan meals, until you have a few options you love.