Are you thinking about starting a vegan diet but don’t know where to start? A vegan diet means you don’t eat animal products: meat, dairy, fish, and even eggs.
However, for many people, the thought of cutting out all dairy and meat can definitely be overwhelming, especially if you like to eat out and aren’t a whiz in the kitchen.
One option that works for many people is to start gradually. The following 8 tips will make the transition easier and smoother, so you’re more likely to stick with the change:
1. Start by eliminating red meat
The first step has to be pretty easy. And for many people that starts with cutting up red meat (we’re not as attached to it as we are to our cheese, it seems).
Start by eliminating all pork, beef, lamb, and other red meats from your diet. Still allow yourself white meats like fish, chicken, and shellfish.
You can also start trying meatless versions of bacon and other meats that you can find at your local grocery store or health food store, just to see which versions you like. When you start to feel comfortable about not eating red meat, you can move on to the next stage.
2. Chop the chicken
Eliminate chicken, but still include shellfish and fish such as tuna, salmon, shrimp, etc.
You can also start trying to make some vegan meal recipes (you can find many online, and they are often reviewed by other vegans as well, so you can find the ones that REALLY taste good).
3. Eliminate shellfish and fish
By now, you’re pretty much at the vegetarian stage. Congratulations! Now is the time to cut back on shellfish and fish, but keep trying other meat alternatives like soy-based patties, etc.
Your protein will also come from vegetables like lentils, chickpeas, and black beans. There are also whole grains, vegetarian minced meat, vegetarian patties, a few other meatless items like vegan bacon.
4. Say goodbye to cheese
Well, this might be the most painful part for many of us. We love our cheese. But there are cheese alternatives like rice cheese and soy cheese. You’ll have to experiment here to find what type of cheese works for you.
For example, I can’t stand soy cheese, but there is a rice-based cheese I can buy at my grocery store that is fantastic, it even melts like real cheese!
5. Eliminate eggs
This can also be a little challenging, mainly because eggs are used in so many baked goods and recipes.
But there are plenty of egg alternatives that you can use to bake your treats. Some people use gelatin and water mixes (which are fine for recipes that use less than 3 eggs).
Other options include applesauce and egg replacement powders which can often be found in many specialty health food stores.
6. Eliminate Cream and Butter
Again, this can be challenging as cream is often used in coffee, and butter is often used in recipes for baked goods.
But the good news is that there are great vegan alternatives. Coconut oil is a great replacement for butter in recipes (it’s basically a 1:1 replacement ratio). You can also use olive oil if you are cooking dinners like stir-fry dishes.
And for cream, there are great alternatives to non-dairy cream like soy milk, coconut milk (very thick and creamy), or even coconut butter.
Look around your grocery store for specially formulated non-dairy creamer options in the health food section. (Sometimes regular coconut milk or almond milk separates into your coffee – these creamers I will not do it separately in your cafe).
7. Letting go of milk
This may sound difficult, but you have a LOT of options here, so it really isn’t that bad (in fact, I found cheese much more difficult!).
Vegan alternatives to milk include rice milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and nut milks such as almond or cashew milk.
You can also use these milks for baking or cooking, eat them with your cereal, or you can just drink them out of a glass.
8. Find the best vegan recipes and restaurants
Good news: you are now completely vegan. But you still have to live your life without being chained to your kitchen.
And you need to maintain a social life, which means eating out!
Now is the time to start finding more recipes you love (so you can make them up and have them on hand throughout the week). I usually pick a day like Sunday and prepare all my food for the week, freezing the meals to be used towards the end of the week.
Also, start researching what you can have at restaurants. Depending on your area, you may be able to find a vegan restaurant or cafe.
Not sure what you can eat at a certain restaurant? Most places have their menus online so you can look up what’s on the menu. You can also call ahead and ask what they might have that you can eat. Many restaurants are more than accommodating if you let them know (after all, they want your business).
Those are 8 steps on how to start a vegan diet without losing your mind. Some people like to go gradually.
However, if you prefer to engage with both feet, another option is to use a vegan food delivery service for a month or two. This will ensure that you’ll eat delicious food (so the transition won’t be as difficult) and can slowly learn the lifestyle at your own pace.
Going vegan can be challenging, but there are ways to make it much easier. I hope these tips have helped. In no time you will feel healthier and stronger! Good luck and here’s to your health!
