This is a collaborative post.
We’re all looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment and one of the biggest ways that you can do that is to change your diet. Meat and dairy production is a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which is why so many people are moving over to a vegan or vegetarian diet.
It’s getting easier than ever to cut out meat and dairy and the vegan options in supermarkets and restaurants are improving every day. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be hard and a lot of people that want to make the switch find it very daunting, especially if meat and dairy make up a big part of their diet.
I’m not a vegan myself, although I have tried to make the switch. However, I actually gave up eating red meat when I was around fifteen or sixteen. I still eat poultry and fish, but beef and pork are off my particular menu. Everyone has their individual dietary tastes, but it’s never a bad idea to learn about other perspectives!
Sometimes, people try to change their diet but end up going back because they don’t get it right. If you’re serious about switching to a vegan diet, here are a few tips to help make it work for you.
Start slowly
Radically changing your diet will have a big impact on your lifestyle and on your body. When you suddenly cut out meat and dairy, a lot of the nutrition that you get from that food needs to be replaced from other sources.
It’s also tough working out what to eat every night, which is why a lot of people think that a vegan diet is very restrictive. A vegan diet is neither restrictive nor lacking in nutrition if you eat the right foods, but it is a big adjustment.
That’s why you should take it slowly. Try switching to eating meat once or twice a week for a while first. That gives you the chance to learn some new recipes and the gradual transition will be easier on your body.
Use vitamin supplements
People often say that vegans are malnourished and they can’t get enough protein without meat or dairy. That actually isn’t the case and there are plenty of non-meat sources for the majority of the vitamins and nutrients that you need.
However, there are a few that are mainly found in meat or fish, especially vitamin B12. That’s why supplementing multivitamins as a vegan is actually quite important. If you don’t take these supplements, you will have deficiencies and that isn’t good for your health.
Don’t rely on meat substitutes
The easiest way to start is by switching the meat that you normally eat for meat substitutes. That’s fine for a while but the problem is, those substitutes can be quite expensive and if you rely solely on them, your diet won’t be that varied or interesting. Another reason why a lot of people give up after a certain amount of time!
It’s much better to check out vegan blogs and find new recipes to cook. You can do a lot of great stuff with vegetables and beans, so you don’t have to rely on meat substitutes.
It’s not just fbout Food
The hardest thing about being vegan is being consistent in all areas of your life because it’s not just food that uses animal products. There is also an issue with animal testing on cosmetics so you need to make sure that you’re buying cruelty free beauty products as well.
The only thing you can really do here is to make sure to check the labels on everything so you don’t get caught out. Remember to look for the Leaping Bunny logo to be sure that your beauty products are 100% cruelty-free, and remember to consider where the item has been manufactured.
Ready to take the next steps?
Starting a vegan diet is a big commitment and it’s not going to be easy, but if you follow these tips, you should find it a lot easier. Let me know in the comments if you’re considering a more plant-based diet.
