The New Year is traditionally a time when we attempt to change ourselves for the better. A fairly common resolution is to be healthier, perhaps by exercising more or changing our diets. And with the number of vegans worldwide constantly growing, this is an increasingly popular resolution. However, it’s not uncommon to hear people say they “tried going vegan”, but for some reason or another did not follow through with it. Others argue they would miss certain types of foods, like cheese or burgers. Here are five top tips if switching to a plant-based diet is one of your resolutions for this year. Good luck!
1. Watch documentaries.
We have more chances of succeeding at something when our minds are completely devoted to the cause, be it losing weight or learning how to play an instrument. It is a recurring comment around the web that if you watch Earthlings, Cowspiracy and Forks Over Knives back to back, you will immediately go “full vegan”. I do think that watching them in your own time does the trick as well, and allows you to process the information better. Each of these documentaries focus on ethical, environmental and health concerns respectively: they’re real eye openers, even for those not interested in a plant-based diet.
2. Research and meal planning.
In order for this diet to work, you need to know what you might be at a risk of lacking. This is not to say that omnivore diets are in and by themselves sufficiently nutritious, but vegans for instance, are recommended to take a Vitamin B12 supplement (this is because omnivores usually get this from animals that have been supplemented with this vitamin themselves). Websites like the Vegan Society or Veganuary are great resources, and even after being vegan for a while I have found myself going back to them for inspiration or doubts. Personally, going vegan has helped me understand a lot more about nutrition than the vague ideas I had as an omnivore. Once you’ve got these nutritional basics down, drawing up a simple meal plan you can follow is one of the best things you can do: you won’t need to worry about what you’re eating, or if you’re getting enough of a certain nutrient (hint: it is very hard to be protein deficient anyway) and it’ll be easier to stay on track.
3. Get support.
One of the reasons veganism isn’t exactly easy to upkeep is the fact that it implies going “against” the status quo in a certain way. This is where support groups come in handy; even if they are online like Reddit, Facebook groups or the aforementioned Veganuary. Following plant-based YouTubers or Instagrammers is very helpful as well. In general, seeing other people succeed and thrive as vegans is a great motivator, especially when starting out. The Vegan Society’s “Vegan Pledge” helped me out. If you have any vegan friends (or friends who are thinking about going vegan!), this is a great place to seek support too.
4. Accept it will take time.
Be kind to yourself. We live in a non-vegan world, and therefore, non-vegan products are the norm. Veganism is also a journey, not only the end result. It’s normal to slip up, or accidentally buy something non-vegan because you missed an ingredient or an E-number. Perfection doesn’t exist, so if you feel like giving up merely because of frustration, know you’re not the only one to make those mistakes.
5. Experiment!
While vegetarian I sort of promised myself that if I was able to recreate a decent vegan Spanish omelette, I would take the plunge and go fully vegan. Even if the textures are not what you’re used to, experimenting with new ingredients and even flavors and the satisfaction of creating a cruelty-free version of your favourite dish isn’t something to be taken lightly! By taking on this challenge, you’ll kill that craving and feel accomplished. That’s a win in my book.