This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details..
In 12 Easy Steps
This post will teach you how to go vegan in only 12 easy steps!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure statement here.
I remember the day I decided to go vegan in 2016. I was on vacation with my family in Wisconsin Dells, and I had just finished reading The Face on Your Plate by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and The Happy Vegan by Russell Simmons. After reading those two books, I immediately said to myself, “I am going vegan as soon as I get back home”. And…I did.
Almost five and a half years later, I am still vegan, and I am completely happy with my choice. I wouldn’t say I was naïve back then, but there were definitely some challenges I weren’t quite expecting. Like, “Can you be Black AND vegan?” “Can I still eat fast food?” “What about cheese?” Luckily, those questions weren’t too hard to answer. But, if you want to know how to go vegan (and stay vegan), here are my top 12 tips/steps! If I can do it, you can, too!
1)Find your “why”.
Why do you want to be vegan? This better be a very good reason because if it isn’t, be prepared to find yourself deleting social media posts using #VEGAN because you just finished eating a cheeseburger. I’m not trying to be mean, but if you only go vegan to lose weight or to be trendy, it’s likely that you’re not going to stick with it. Luckily, there are many reasons to be vegan: for your health, for the animals (ethical vegan), for the environment (green vegan), or for spiritual reasons. For me, it was all of the above! The one way I can recommend for you to find your why is to DO YOUR RESEARCH. Like I said earlier, I decided to go vegan after reading books. However, there are TONS of YouTube videos (like these) and Netflix documentaries, too. The main point is to find a compelling reason that sets your soul on fire and makes you think, “I could never eat meat or dairy again after learning _____”. Once you have your “why”, it’ll be harder to turn back.
2) Make a plan.
As exciting as it is to start something new, you have to make a plan. For example, what kinds of things are you buying at the grocery store? Are you switching to a vegan diet only or doing an entire lifestyle overhaul? Will you start by eliminating meat first and then dairy, or all at once? These are the types of things you need to plan out before going vegan. Two things I can recommend are: go at your own pace and plan meals ahead of time. Planning meals ahead of time is a must, so you don’t end up spending money you don’t need at the store or finding yourself at a restaurant where you can only watch your friends eat. And no matter what anyone says, you have to go at your own pace. I decided to go full-out vegan all at once, but someone else may transition for 4 years. It’s a personal journey, remember that.
3) Clear out your kitchen.
Does this one even need to be explained? Isn’t that part of the law of attraction to get rid of things that aren’t serving you in order to make room for change? Anyway, get the non-vegan food out of your kitchen! If you have cheese, and fish sticks, and ice cream in your house, guess what you’re going to eat when your stressed, upset, lazy, or in a hurry? Exactly. Plus, there are vegan alternatives to whatever you’re craving, so why even go through the setback?
4) Get organized.
Organization is KEY! Make a grocery list. Trust me, you do not want to go into the store without a plan! Anything can find it’s way into your cart, so please plan. (Your wallet will thank me.) Part of making your list is planning your meals ahead of time. I plan out my breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks a week in advance so that I can go to the store once and make it a quick trip. Also, it’s easier to stick to a new lifestyle if you only buy the foods you need for the week.
5) Find foods you like.
Not gonna lie, this is one of the most fun parts of being a new vegan: trying aaaaalllll of the vegan foods out there! One of my favorite ways to find foods to eat is by watching YouTube videos! Some of my favorite vegan YouTubers are: Liv B, Brian Turner, Edgy Veg, and The Chic Natural. These vegan channels provide so many ideas! I also use Pinterest to look for recipes. I also suggest researching the vegan version of your favorite foods. Trust me, there is a vegan option for EVERYTHING! Fried chicken, mac and cheese, pizza, birthday cake, ice cream– YES! It’ll take some trial and error, but you’ll eventually find the ones you like. Some of my favorite vegan brands are Gardein, Boca, So Delicious, Silk, Boca, Daiya, Lightlife, and Tofurky. Also, tofu, tempeh, seitan, TVP, and TSP are DELICIOUS meat alternatives. If you cook them correctly, you will not be disappointed!
6) Embrace new foods.
This next step piggybacks off of the last one: EMBRACE NEW FOODS. Also, embrace old foods in new ways (I’m talking about fried cauliflower). Part of finding food you like is trying new things. I always hear people say they don’t like tofu, but have you marinated it? Sauteed it? Breaded it? Fried it? You might like it! For example, I hated tofu and mushrooms before I went vegan, and now I eat them all the time! When you retrain your taste buds, you may find that you now enjoy foods you didn’t!
7) Find vegan restaurants in your area.
Veganism is GROWING! Chances are, there are some vegan restaurants near you that you haven’t been to, or there are some vegan options at your favorite restaurants that you’ve never tried. In these cases, Google is your friend! Type in “vegan restaurants near me”, and you may find a new favorite!
8) Focus on nutritional value.
It’s so easy during the beginning phase to try all the vegan junk foods out there: Oreos, almond milk ice cream, Daiya pizzas, etc., but part of being successful with a vegan diet is getting all of your necessary nutrients. A lot of us are conditioned (brainwashed) to think that we can only get all of our nutrients from animal products, and that’s just not true! But, if you’re not eating a variety of different healthy, plant-based foods, you may become deficient in some nutrients! The best way to prevent this is to focus on the nutritional value of your food. Once you find your groove, focus on plant-based, non-processed, colorful foods, and you’ll be alright.
9) Take a multivitamin.
On that same note, take a multivitamin. With any diet, even the Standard American Diet, you should take a multivitamin. Make sure to find one that does not contain dairy, eggs, or gelatin (animal tissues). This is the one I use. And for my women in particular, you may need to take extra Calcium, Vitamin D, or iron do to our reproductive system, skin, and bones some good. I use Amazon to find a lot of my vitamins.
10) Drink more water.
With the incorporation of more plants comes the incorporation of more fiber. And we all know what fiber does…So, make sure to combat this by drinking more water, so you don’t have a hard time “going”. I use this GIGANTIC Hydrojug because I don’t have to refill it, and it comes in cute colors and patterns. Totally worth the hype!
11) Find support.
Being vegan can be hard. Being vegan is even harder when you’re the only vegan you know. Luckily, I had the FULL support of my friends and family when I decided to go vegan, but not everyone is that lucky. And you DON’T need the negativity. This is where social media comes in! Find vegan groups and events in your area. Chances are, Google can lead you to Vegan Festivals, groups, potlucks, and brunches in your area. Our community is GROWING, and you belong with like-minded people. So get out there, and find the support you deserve!
12) Don’t get discouraged.
This last step is more of a personal one–don’t get discouraged. I know. It’s hard, especially when you drive past a burger joint and you can smell the grill and the onion rings, and the ice cream ‘flavor of the day’ is your favorite…oops, personal experience. But, even five and a half years in, it’s still hard. However, it’s all a mental thing. Staying encouraged, surrounding yourself with support, and remembering why you started are the keys to keeping it together when you go to a restaurant with your friends and the only options are a salad with no cheese, dressing, or croutons OR fries. And if you’re still struggling with it, you have ME! Follow me on Instagram, and I’ll talk you out of throwing it all away and eating chicken nuggets in your car on your lunch break. (C’mon, we’ve all thought about it) And always remember, you’re doing the right thing. Trust the process.
2 Comments on How to Go Vegan