Transitioning to a vegan diet can have a range of different mental and health benefits, while it also helps the planet and helps save animals. However, the transition can be difficult for some. Below, you will find 3 tips on how to easily transition to a wholesome, good-for-you vegan diet.
Cookbooks Are Your New Best Friend
One of the hardest things about transitioning to a vegan diet is learning to cook meals in a whole new way. That’s why cookbooks will be your best friend. While a vegan diet may seem limiting at first, there is actually a wealth of different options and recipes out there for you to try. Before you begin transitioning, find some good cookbooks that can give ideas on the different kinds of vegan meals you can make for yourself. Urban Taste Bud has a list of a few recommended vegan cookbooks you might consider trying out. These cookbooks will also give ideas about how to use vegan ingredients in fresh and innovative ways.
It might be a good idea to choose vegan cookbooks which has foods that you already eat int hem. For example, pies, curries, macaroni cheese etc. These usually taste much better than their pre-made counterparts from the store and it helps to prevent you becoming a ‘junk food vegan’. This is a trap that I have fallen into a few times but as I know that I can make the food better myself, I always get back on the healthy vegan wagon – eventually…
Use Vitamins if Necessary
The one thing you should be aware of is that you may need to substitute your diet with vitamins after you transition to a vegan diet, often new vegans will make the mistake of not supplementing with vitamins. One of the vitamins that most vegan take is B12, as this vitamin is commonly and mostly found in animal products. A lack of B12 can cause anemia and nervous system damage. Most other vitamins can come from whole foods, including all those fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes you’re eating anyway. According to ASEA, whole-food sources are a better source of nutrition because they consist of key vitamins that synthetic sources do not, and they naturally work better with your body.
The Vegan Society have a multivitamin called Veg1 that contains all the essential vitamins that vegans can fall short of which include, D3, B2, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Selenium and Iodine. It a good insurance policy to make sure that the basics are covered. These can be bought on Amazon but it sometimes pays to shop around: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VGR5920/
Take Your Time
Depending on your personality, transitioning into a vegan lifestyle can be difficult. For one, you are changing most, if not all, of your eating habits, and your lifestyle will experience a great shift. Often new vegans will make the mistake of transitioning too quickly. Transitioning will take time, effort, and a fair bit of education. Don’t feel bad. It takes time to completely eliminate certain things from your diet, like dairy products. Instead, be happy with the small changes and choices you make each day that gets you closer to being 100% vegan. Over time, with dedication, you will get there.
If you are feeling side effects like skin problems, don’t worry this is your body getting used to a new diet. It should pass. However, if you are feeling unwell for a longer period of time, have a chat with your doctor. It may be nothing to do with veganism but you may have an intolerance/allergy to something you didn’t realise you had before or you could just be unlucky and are unwell. Basically, it could be something or nothing and sometimes you just need to be checked out by a health professional. Doctors are paid megabucks for a reason and if nothing else they’ll be able to put your mind at rest.
By investing in vegan cookbooks, making sure you get the right vitamins for your body, and by taking your time, you can make an easy transition to the vegan lifestyle and diet.