Vegan for Beginners

Introduction

When you’re starting out as a vegan, the world can seem like a pretty scary place. There’s so much to learn, and so many new things to try! And while some people will tell you that going vegan is easy, they’re not telling the whole story—it’s true that it’s easier than ever before to find plant-based versions of all your favourite foods, but it can still be tricky to navigate the grocery store and cook for yourself without eggs or dairy products. So how do you go about making this transition? Here are my top tips for helping you make sure everything goes smoothly:

Find a buddy.

Find a buddy. Find someone who’s also interested in going vegan, or who has already made the transition. If you’re both new to plant-based protein foods, it’ll be easier for both of you to stay motivated if you have someone else to do it with (or at least with whom you can commiserate). You can share tips and recipes, offer each other support when things get tough, and even go shopping together.

If one of your friends wants to try out veganism but doesn’t know where to start, offer them some going vegan guide recommendations on how they might go about making it happen! Let them know which restaurants have great vegan options that won’t break the bank—and help them out if they’re struggling with finding vegan options when eating out at restaurants or fast food joints.

Start slowly.

It’s easy to be scared of changing your diet, especially when it involves such a big lifestyle shift. So here’s one thing we can promise: you don’t have to go vegan all at once. It’s best to take it slowly, maybe starting with one meal a day or even just a couple of days per week. That way, your taste buds will have time to adjust and you won’t risk feeling overwhelmed or failing by trying too much too soon.

If you’re worried about missing out on the staples of non-vegan eating (meat! cheese!), there are plenty of alternatives that taste just as good — but remember that some foods may not be healthy for you if eaten in excess. For example, some plant-based meats contain lots of sodium and other preservatives that aren’t good for your health over time; so if those are part of what makes up most meals in your house now, think about how much more often those meals will need replacing with something healthier like tofu scramble instead (or find another option).

Make sure you have the right utensils at home.

  • A non-stick pan is a must. This is because you’ll be cooking in oil, which can leave residue in your pans if they’re not properly seasoned.
  • Use a spatula or turner when you’re sautéing vegetables and other items on the stovetop, as well as when flipping food in the air fryer.
  • A blender can help you make vegan smoothies or sauces quickly and easily—just remember to drain any liquid from the blender before processing hot foods!
  • If you’re making something like hummus or granola bars, having a food processor at home will save time on chopping up ingredients beforehand.
  • You can use your microwave for reheating leftovers like  protein soups or stews; just make sure that it’s clean before heating up food!

If you’re making something like hummus or granola bars, having a food processor at home will save time on chopping up ingredients beforehand. You can use your microwave for reheating leftovers like soups or stews; just make sure that it’s clean before heating up food!

Watch for hidden non-vegan ingredients.

There are a few ingredients that you need to watch out for when you’re trying to avoid animal products.

  • Hidden dairy: milk, butter, cheese, ice cream and yoghurt are all obvious ones. But there are many other foods that contain milk or milk derivatives, such as whey protein isolate and casein (a milk protein) in some baking mixes and chocolate bars. Look for these on ingredient lists or the packaging of food items before buying them at the store; if you’re unsure whether something contains hidden dairy ingredients, check with someone knowledgeable at the store where they work (they’ll be more than happy to help).
  • Honey: honey is often added as a sweetener in baked goods and other processed foods like granola bars—so make sure it’s not listed among the ingredients! This also goes for maple syrup as well—you’ll want to double-check if it’s vegan before buying containers of either one from your local grocery store shelf.

Don’t wait until you’re starving to figure out what you’ll eat.

Planning meals in advance is the best way to avoid getting stuck hungry. If you don’t know what you’ll be eating, it’s easy to give up and grab whatever fast food is closest. And if the whole party is vegan, this isn’t going to work for anyone!

You should have all the utensils needed for cooking at home with you—a good knife and cutting board are great, but even a paring knife will do if that’s all you have. Having enough pots and pans on hand makes cooking easier too (you can get by without them if necessary).

You should also stock up on recipe books before starting a vegan diet so that when hunger hits, there are plenty of options available right away! Vegan cookbooks offer inspiration when planning meals too—some common ingredients include tofu (an alternative source of protein), lentils (another source), beans and legumes. You may want some soy milk as well since it can replace cow milk in many recipes as a substitute; almond milk might also be helpful because it has fewer calories than soy milk does per serving size.”

Don’t try to do it all at once.

Veganism is a lifestyle and not a diet, so don’t try to do it all at once. If you’re really just starting out, take it one step at a time:

  • Start by cutting out dairy. This is the easiest change you can make that will have an immediate impact on your health and planet-friendliness.
  • Move on to meat when you’re ready for more challenges (and maybe even some taste buds). The point is to go as fast or slow as feels right for you—there’s no rush! If something sounds scary or overwhelming, take some time before committing yourself to change. In fact…

I would recommend that you don’t even try to make big changes right away. Instead, start by making small changes and see how they feel. It’s better to succeed at small things than fail at big ones!

The best way to go vegan is slowly and steadily, while still enjoying yourself.

The best way to go vegan is slowly and steadily, while still enjoying yourself. You don’t want to make yourself miserable by trying to do it all at once—you’ll probably fail, and then you’ll feel worse than before. Instead, make sure you have the right utensils at home (if you don’t already), get a buddy who’s willing to help you along every step of the way, start gradually with just one meal per day (or even week) that adheres strictly to your new diet requirements and don’t wait until you’re starving before figuring out what else will fill your stomach!

Ensure you get the right Nutrition’s.

Both micronutrients and macronutrients are essential for proper bodily functions. Some of the nutrients like Vitamin B12, creatine, carnosine, Vitamin D3, DHA, Heme Iron and Taurine are either found extensively in non-vegan products or available in good amounts there. In such cases you need to look for alternatives or go for supplements. Also, when it comes to macros, especially protein, though you can get the daily required amount of protein from normal vegan whole foods like soy, legumes, nuts, oats and others, the choice for lean protein sources is very limited. While it could be easy for you to bulk with whole vegan foods, things can get difficult during your cutting period due to lack of lean sources of vegan protein. Many vegan athletes go with plant based protein powder and one of the best vegan protein powder is that of Origin Nutrition’s. They can be the perfect alternative for whey protein. 

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you understand the process of going vegan and made it a little easier for you. Going vegan is about doing what’s right for the environment and your body, but it doesn’t mean sacrificing your taste buds or convenience in any way. Veganism is here to stay, because more people than ever before are realising the benefits of eating healthy foods that don’t harm animals or the environment.