There are many reasons to switch to a healthy vegan diet, from health benefits to lower carbon emissions. Whether you’re doing it for yourself, the planet, or the animals, we’re here to help you make a successful switch.
Luckily for you, you've picked a great time to go vegan. When I went vegan 17 years ago, there were no vegan aisles or plant foods in supermarkets and local grocery stores. There was very little in the way of vegan treats, and the vegan cheeses on offer left a lot to be desired. There were also a lot of highly processed foods on display. Nowadays, new vegan products are released every week, it's easy to find vegan food on the go, and companies are investing in their plant-based offerings.
Key Takeaways
10 Tips For Transitioning to a Vegan Diet
Whatever your motivation for switching to a vegan lifestyle, these tips will help you get off to a flying start:
1. Take It One Day At A Time
Don't overwhelm yourself by jumping ahead. Take your vegan journey one day at a time. Challenge yourself to get through today without eating any animal products or dairy foods, and then do the same tomorrow.
2. Find Your New Favorite Plant Based Foods
It’s the things you love the most that are hardest to live without. If you’re a chocolate fiend, you’ll need to find a favorite vegan chocolate bar pronto. Luckily, there are loads to try. If you are more of a savory fan, you might want to seek out the perfect vegan hot dog. Whatever it is, there will be a vegan product out there to suit your tastes; you just need to find it.
If you simply take away the meat and dairy from all your favorite meals, you might miss them on your plate. Instead, switch up the foods you eat for a while. Try out new cuisines and different dishes. Be adventurous and seek out new recipes to try. Of course, you’ll also want to veganize your favorite comfort foods for the days you need a food hug.
3. Remember Why You’re Going on a Plant Based Diet
Whether you’re doing it for eco, animal welfare, or health reasons, hold onto your vegan motivation. Every time you feel yourself struggling, remind yourself why you make this choice. You can make a big difference as an individual, so don’t be fooled into giving up. Eventually, it will be second nature, but for now, focus on your motivations to get you through the early days.
4. Spend Time With Your Supportive Friends
Most of your friends won’t really care when you go vegan, and that’s fine. Some will be super supportive and make sure to buy you vegan treats and bake for you when you visit (these people are the best). Some people will be douchebags. They’ll make fun of you for being vegan, try to argue with you about it, and generally get defensive about the very idea of having a vegan friend. These people will be tiring to be around in the early days.
While you’re finding your vegan feet, it’s ok to choose to spend more time with your supportive friends and less time with those who don’t get it. It doesn’t mean those friendships are over; it’s just a way of protecting your energy when you’re a new vegan. If you do see those people, perhaps see them away from food so it’s not a talking point at every meetup.
5. Plan Your Eating Habits Before You Shop for Vegan Foods
The grocery store can be daunting when you’re new to veganism. Instead of wandering up and down the meat and dairy aisles feeling like you can’t buy anything you used to eat, you should plan ahead to take the stress out of shopping.
Write a meal plan for the next few days and plan what you’ll need for each meal. Include a detailed list to make your shopping trip easier. Remember to stick to your budget; it’s easy to get carried away buying new vegan treats to find your favorites.
6. Pay Attention To Your Body
Changing your diet is huge, and you'll likely see some changes right away. If you're eating more fiber, you might notice your bowel habits become more regular. You might notice some healthy weight loss if you're eating a healthier diet now. New vegans often report increased energy levels, feeling less sluggish after eating, and positive skin changes after switching to a healthy plant-based diet.
7. Connect With Other Vegans
The vegan community is a perfect mix of brand-new vegans and gnarly old vegans with years of experience (me). Connect with other vegans for recommendations, advice, and support. If you want to know where to go for the best vegan options, ask your local vegan Facebook group. If you want to know how to veganize your favorite recipe or visit vegan friendly restaurants, ask vegans online. We're here to support you and make you feel welcome, so please reach out to us.
8. Focus On What You’re Eating
While those around you are obsessing over what you're not eating, you should pay attention to the healthy foods you are eating. Most people eat a much bigger mix of fruits and vegetables when switching to a vegan diet. If you're switching to veganism for health reasons, you'll want to ensure you eat plenty of plant-based proteins, healthy fats, whole grains such as brown rice, fortified foods, fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds like pumpkin seeds.
9. Don’t Worry If You Mess Up
Veganism isn’t about being perfect; it’s about doing your best. You’re going to slip up sometimes, it’s to be expected. One day, you’ll eat a previously vegan product without realizing the recipe has changed and now contains milk. One day someone will cook you a ‘vegan’ meal only for you to later realize they’ve put non-vegan stock in it without thinking. One day, you’ll eat something at a restaurant that is not vegan even though you checked with the staff before ordering.
These things happen, unfortunately. Until we live in a vegan world, mistakes will happen, but by being vegan, you’re taking us one step closer to that vegan world, so don’t give up!
10. Track Your Nutrients
While there's no need to obsess over your nutritional intake, tracking your diet for a short period can help give you an idea of the foods you should consume. Find a tracker app that monitors your intake of all the nutrients and vitamins so you can see if you are failing to consume enough.
Using a tracker app allows you to play around with your balanced diet to ensure you are eating a good variety of essential nutrients and getting enough protein. If you notice you are lower in any nutrients, you should consider a supplement. For example, many people in the Western world are low in vitamin D and vitamin b12 and take supplements accordingly.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Welcome to the vegan community; we’re so glad you’ve joined us! We hope the tips above will help you to have a smooth start to your vegan journey. Good luck on your vegan journey, and don’t be afraid to reach out to us for advice and support along the way.
To any vegans reading this, please share your tips in the comments. What made your transition to veganism easier and more enjoyable?
This is a great read for anyone considering a vegan lifestyle. The breakdown of benefits and practical tips makes the transition feel achievable. It’s inspiring to see how small steps can lead to a more compassionate and sustainable way of living.
Thank you so much for your beautiful words and kind energy 🌱✨ I'm so glad the post resonated with you! It truly is those small, mindful shifts that ripple into powerful change—not just for our bodies, but for the planet and all the beings we share it with 💚 Keep following your heart on this journey toward a more compassionate, conscious lifestyle. You've got this, and I'm cheering you on every step of the way! 🌍💫🕊️