For those of you who may not know, I just started my fourth year as a plant-based “vegan”. Before this era of my life I regularly consumed animal products – cheese, yogurt, turkey, chicken, eggs, the occasional beef. I remember asking my Mom if I could have “meat” as one of my birthday dinners as a tween (not even kidding, I didn’t even specify what kind of meat).
So, what changed?
Basically, the inspo for going plant based "vegan" happened while I was in Hawaii visiting my (then) fiance for Christmas. We had watched the Netflix documentary, "What the Health", and we were completely shook by it (him more so than me).
Although I now have my own opinions/reservations when it comes to health documentaries, it still struck a cord with me and was something I had considered before.
It all happened super fast. We started ordering foods without animal products and making the effort to eat "vegan"
This lifestyle takes work and effort and requires us to challenge our previously formed food habits and eating patterns. It’s not easy at first which means your reasonings for making this transition must mean a lot to you and not because its “trendy”.
At that time I had terrible stomach pains, was feeling ill regularly, and my bloating was out of control. I did not know what was going on. I also knew that eating more plants and reducing how many processed food items I had in my diet would only improve the quality and nutrient density of my diet.
When I started, it was purely for health reasons but at this point I do feel obligations to make better choices for the planet and our animals.
So now for the good stuff.
How on earth did I do it? Here are my top tips for transitioning to a more plant-based diet!
1. Focus on “adding” and not “eliminating”
It’s a common preconceived notion that because eventually we’ll be removing animal products, that we should start there and cut everything out in the beginning. The issue with this is that we aren’t yet familiar with what our eating style looks like without those foods in it. We tend to feel lost or like a fish out of water. So, my biggest piece of advice is to start by adding in more plant, more plant-based meals, and learning new recipes so that when you decide to leave out the animal products you’re better prepared.
I personally was able to cut cold turkey with the occasional mess up because I was a newbie but this approach isn’t for everyone and different things work for different people!
2. Plants over Processed
Although I firmly believe that all foods can play a role in your diet it’s important that our eating patterns are adequate to meet our energy, vitamin, mineral, and fiber needs. Often times when we find that there’s a new “vegan version” of our favorite food the more we start incorporating them and the easier it becomes for them to become the majority of our diets without us really realizing it.
My main concern with the label “vegan” is that it doesn’t tell me anything about the quality of someone’s diet. The more whole fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, beans, and seeds you consume (regardless if fresh, frozen, or canned), the more nutrient dense your diet is going to be overall. While sprinkling in other foods that may fulfill our cravings better than others :)
3. It’s Okay to Mess up
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro sometimes mistakes happen…and they don’t always feel the greatest (physically and mentally) when it happens, but I want you to know that it is okay. Especially if you’re just starting out. There are so many things to learn and to look out for that we’re bound to miss something when our guard is down (hello wasabi sauce I accidentally ate with egg yolk…whoops!). Know that you didn’t intend to make the mistake (hence the name) and that all you can do is keep trying and moving forward!
Social issues of being plant based “vegan”
One obstacle I see a lot of people face when being vegan is finding it difficult to go out with friends and have a good time. Like anything else, it just takes some planning and thought. I've actually found it surprising how easy it's been to find options basically anywhere I go. And I understand not wanting to be "that friend" that dictates the plans. It's easy to google restaurant menus and if there really isn't anything at all for you, then planning to eat ahead and go to the restaurant with friends is an option too. (I worked in a restaurant and people only order drinks and don't eat all the time, I promise it's not weird.)
When it comes to family events....I'm lucky where my family has kind of accepted the challenge of creating some vegan dishes in part of their family dinners which is outside of their comfort zone and I appreciate their efforts so much!!! But I am always sure to make a dish to bring to add variety and let other people try it out :-) If your family doesn't embrace it or help cater to you, then definitely preparing your own meal to bring will help!
That’s all for now!
xx, Katie