It’s completely ok to be slow and steady. Will power is not an endless supply. For example, you can start by just add bigger veggie portions in each meal, with vegan meals one day of the week, one meal everyday, or being vegan up to 6PM. Make guideline that fit your life and needs.
Search for vegan substitute brands or ingredients for your favorite dishes. Write them down before you go shopping to save time and temptation.
Make sure you are getting all your nutrition, especially when you’re starting out, through apps like Cronometer or Daily Dozen. Perhaps get a complete routine blood work done (cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.) before you start so that you can compare a few months later how your body has hopefully improved.
To be safe, take a B12 supplement. [Here’s why.]
Make it as easy as possible. Keep your kitchen full of vegan options – we eat things most easily accessible to us. Maybe place some non-vegan items farther away from reach.
If you’re going 100% vegan and are not sure if a product is vegan, look at the ingredients panel. The word “vegan” on packaging is a clear sign. “Plant based” and “cruelty free” does not always mean there are no derivatives like whey, honey, carmine, gelatin, etc.
Remember, not all vegan food is healthy. There is plenty of vegan junk food. Coca Cola and Oreos can probably be vegan and still unhealthy. The goal is to be on a whole foods vegan diet.
To keep it simple and somewhat flexible, the goal is to eat foods that are not processed, or as minimally processed as possible. Foods should be as wholesome as possible, as close to how you might find it in nature. And organic if you can find or afford it. Obviously this cannot be true for everything we eat – for ex. wheat needs to be milled – but this can be a general thought as you plan your grocery list.
For example, oranges are better than orange juice. Oats are better than oat milk. Corn is better than corn syrup. Coconuts are better than coconut oil. Sugarcane juice is better than cane sugar. Soybeans are better than cheese or a burger patty made from soy.
It is about doing your best and not perfection.
Keep learning. Knowledge can be motivating. Click the Resources under each topic.
