so you've seen a video online had a
conversation with a friend
or come across a post on social media
and you've decided
that enough is enough you've had the
light bulb moment
and you want to go vegan for the animals
the planet
and yourself but how going vegan can
create
so many questions so here's a list of
simple practical things
that will make going vegan effortless
number one
educate yourself further there are so
many great documentaries
and resources out there to learn about
every aspect of veganism and a
plant-based diet
check out documentaries such as dominion
earthlings
land of hope and glory the game changes
cowspiracy
and forks over knives it's so important
to solidify
all the reasons to go vegan and build up
the conviction within yourself
so make sure to center the animals in
your decision making
and connect the animal products with the
animals who have suffered and died for
them after all
going vegan is an ethical decision in
order to reduce the suffering that we
cause to others
in creating a world where animals are
not exploited and used
but are instead respected as individuals
whose right to life
far exceeds the reasons that we use to
exploit them by doing this it also
becomes so much easier if you find
yourself in a situation where someone
offers you an animal product
or you get a craving right at the
beginning have a look into what foods
provide what nutrients
so that you know good plant-based
sources for nutrients such as protein
iron calcium omega-3 and zinc
number two look up recipes and learn how
to veganize
your favorite dishes eating vegan isn't
all about kale and flax seeds
although it is a good idea to get a
serving of both each day
eating vegan is about discovering new
foods and flavors
cooking with ingredients you've never
tried and expanding the foods that you
cook with
ultimately veganism isn't about what you
lose it's about what you gain
so take some time to find some recipes
online and build up a selection of core
recipes that you really like
it's great to have some really simple
dishes that you can just quickly put
together
on days when you might be rushed as well
as been an opportunity for discovering
new foods
veganism doesn't have to mean that you
change everything as you can veganize
just about any dish that you liked
before you were vegan
we don't need to reinvent the wheel we
can just make some slight alterations to
our old favorite meals
and all of a sudden we have a vegan
version that tastes the same
and satisfies us in exactly the same way
as well
for example before i went vegan i loved
spaghetti bolognese
so as a vegan i just replaced the beef
mints through soy mint or even lentils
which is not only cheaper than beef
mints but healthier too
and so look for ways to make your old
favorites your new favorites
there are vegan alternatives for just
about every animal product
including ice cream milk cheese burgers
sausages
and so much more and don't worry if you
try a vegan substitute
that you don't like there is such a huge
variety that there will be plenty that
you do like
these products can be great for
transitioning but you can also create
delicious and satisfying meals without
them
as well number three track your food
intake a couple of times a week at the
beginning
to make sure that you're eating enough
calories and getting all the nutrients
that you need sites like cronometer are
a great way to do this
and it means you can make sure that
you're hitting all of your calorie and
nutrient goals
the daily doesn't app by dr michael
greger is also a great way of making
sure that you are eating plenty of
nutrient-dense whole plant foods i will
ensure that you're eating a wide variety
of foods
as well it's also important to make sure
that you are getting enough b12
so it's worth taking a supplement and
eating b12 fortified plant foods
sometimes people worry that
supplementing b12 means that a
plant-based diet isn't healthy
however most b12 in a meat-eater's diet
comes from animals who are supplemented
with b12 instead
with it being estimated that 90 percent
of the world's b12 supplements
are sold to animal farmers meaning we
are in essence filtering a supplement
through an animal rather than just
having it ourself
also around 40 of the u.s population is
reported to have low b12 levels anyway
meaning that it's not a solely vegan
issue to begin with and whether you are
vegan or not
it is recommended to take a vitamin d
supplement also if you've been taking a
fish oil supplement
you can easily swap that for an algae
oil one instead
which is a great way of ensuring that
you are getting enough omega-3
long-chain fatty acids number four don't
worry if you have cravings for animal
products
at the beginning remember we have been
eating these products our entire lives
and so it's normal to crave products
that we are used to eating
if you ever feel a craving remind
yourself of why you decided to become
vegan
if you are craving an old flavor of ice
cream remind yourself of what happens to
dairy cows watch some footage online
and then grab some vegan ice cream
instead or freeze some bananas
and blend them to make an ice cream
which is cheaper healthier
and also super tasty and on this point
if you slip
up at the beginning the most important
thing is just to carry on afterwards
don't allow a mistake or a slip up to
knock your confidence
or set you back just move on and focus
on each day
at a time number five people around you
will ask you
lots of questions about being vegan so
make sure to learn how to respond to
people's questions
when they come up in conversation what
excuses did you used to use
how did you feel about vegans before you
decided to become one
and what convinced you to make the
change yourself in the end it's
important to remember
that being vegan gets easier over time
and with practice
there are more vegan options becoming
available all the time
and with each day it is becoming more
and more accessible and normal
to be vegan remember that you've got
this and by going vegan you are taking
an
important stand against the exploitation
and use of animals
as well as the destruction of our planet
by making the change
you are choosing to stand on the right
side of history so believe in yourself
and empower yourself to understand that
as an individual
you have the power to create a huge
amount of positive change
and finally just go for it
you have nothing to lose and everything
to gain
veganism isn't about sacrifice in fact
it is the opposite
it is about no longer sacrificing the
lives of animals
or indeed sacrificing our planet it's
about creating
a brighter better safer and more
compassionate future
so what are you waiting for
you