So you’re thinking about becoming a vegan.
Great! I think you should go for it. You’ll learn a lot about food, and how it impacts your body.
When I became a vegan, wasn’t prepared for all the little things that would suddenly become major life dilemmas.
I didn’t know anything about where to go to find food when I was out, how to substitute ground turkey for a veggie protein, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for how hungry I was all the time.
But I became really good at 3 things. These 3 things were my saving grace in a world that puts cheese on everything.
I wish I’d had a cheat sheet like this when I became vegan. I had a steep learning curve that you will hopefully be able to avoid like a pro.
3 STEPS TO VEGAN
Whether it’s 10 days, 10 years or a lifetime – this list will make you a success.
1. YOU’RE COMMITTED TO READING LABELS
Ingredient lists to be specific. Nutrition facts labels matter way less than what the manufacturer actually puts in that food.
Now isn’t the time to obsess over serving sizes, calories or fat content.
It’s time to get really familiar with what ingredients are made from animal products so you can quickly scan for them on food packages. PETA has an amazing list that covers everything out there. It’s ridiculously long, but incredibly helpful.
Sooner than you think, you’ll start seeing the same things pop up again and again in your favorite foods. You’ll find your go-to brands, and the world won’t seem so overwhelming.
2. YOU’RE WILLING TO EAT MOSTLY THINGS THAT GREW FROM THE GROUND
What’s the easiest way to get out of reading ingredient lists? Eat things you know come directly from plants. Salads with beans or tofu for protein. Fruit and nuts for snacks.
If you’ve really never wanted to eat vegetables, but kind of forced yourself to do it because you heard kale was healthy, you might want to step back and reevaluate your plan of attack.
Getting your feet wet as a vegetarian might be a better way to start. Try this guide to painless vegetarianism. Or even here for a few good tips on adding veggies without going crazy.
The worst thing you can do as a vegan is focus all your eating on pasta, rice and potatoes. Nutritionally, you’d lose (and you’d probably gain weight).
Diversity is key here, and the way to vegan success is embracing that full on.
3. YOU’RE READY TO PLAN AHEAD
I can’t tell you how many times I was out in the world, minding my own business, and the full force of hunger would hit.
And if you’re a vegan, your options in the real world can sometimes be really limited. If all you can find at the nearest store is cat food and beef jerky, I feel you. That’s where planning ahead comes in. Keep a couple of these bars on you at all times.
Thankfully there are tons of new bars out there that cover those moments of desperation. Things like KIND Bars, Clif Bar and LÄRABAR are pretty easy to find – if you’re in the right place.
Or try this: Mix up a quick trail-mix of granola, nuts, some dairy-free chocolate chips, and some craisins. I would tote that around with me all day, every day. It was probably the only thing between me and McDonald’s fries at least twice a week.
If you’ve got these 3 things locked in, you’re winning already.
Becoming a vegan isn’t easy and it probably won’t happen overnight. But these are the things that can make or break you when you’re just starting out.
Practice these 3 things for a month and see how it went. You might be surprised how well you do.
These are things that apply just as much to someone who’s not ready to give up their steak dinners, as someone ready to join Beyonce’s 22 day vegan challenge.
Now go forth, and eat healthy.
You got this!