Thinking about going vegan or vegetarian? As the world is growing, evolving, and becoming more advanced, many people are looking to change their diet to vegan or vegetarian. I’ve been vegan for about a year and half now, but I can clearly remember a time when I would have NEVER imagined I could make such a change! Here are 5 amazing tips on how to start, and be successful with, your vegan or vegetarian journey today!
1. Figure out your “why.” This has got to be the most crucial part of any goal-setting process. You have got to know why you’re wanting to make this change, and your reason has got to be stronger than your desire to stay the same. Whether you are wanting to become healthier, save animals’ lives, or get rid of a disease, it is important to identify your “why.” This will be what keeps you going when you feel like giving up.
2. Set realistic goals. Big changes like this don’t happen overnight. Yes, it could be an overnight decision, but don’t unnecessarily stress yourself out with unrealistic goal-setting. If you know that being completely vegetarian or vegan is your end goal, give yourself a realistic amount of time to achieve that goal. If you aim too high too quickly and miss the mark, you’ll be left feeling disappointed and defeated which could lead to you giving up entirely.
3. Make gradual changes. If you’re the type of person that can stop doing things “cold-turkey,” this step might not be necessary for you. But research has proven that most human beings are not successful with the “cold-turkey” method. I found that cutting out specific food groups one by one and gradually changing my eating habits was more attainable than attempting to cut everything out at once. You can start by cutting out pork, then beef, then chicken, fish, etc. Whatever works for you. Just make sure you don’t move on to the next food group until you feel you’ve mastered control over the previous one.
4. Incorporate foods you LOVE! It can be intimidating to imagine giving up the foods you love most. However, you’ll find many of your favorite dishes can still be made vegan or vegetarian! There are lots of meat and dairy alternatives available in most stores now. And if you’re not looking to use processed alternatives, there are more natural ways of making “meat,” “cheese,” etc. Find recipes and ideas on YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media platforms or websites and experiment with making the dishes you already love in new ways!
5. Be patient and show yourself grace! Like I’ve already said, a change this big can take some time. If it’s taking you a bit longer than expected to reach the goal(s) you set for yourself, that’s okay. This is not a race or competition. You’re doing the best you can and that’s all that matters. If you happen to slip up and eat something outside of your “allowed” diet, that’s okay too! It happens. I’ve found that giving into your cravings is sometimes better than resisting them. Just make sure you’re intentional about the amount you’re consuming and don’t overdo it.
Overall, I hope this post helped you to feel more confident towards making a lifestyle change, such as going vegan or vegetarian. It can be scary to think about such a big change, but I hope these tips and recommendations make the thought a little less scary. I have the utmost faith in you! Good luck 🙂
This is Amazing !!! I’m so proud This take the up most discipline and courage !!
Thank you so much!! It is well worth it!