- Start by educating yourself about veganism
- Gradually eliminate animal products from your diet
- Replace meat, dairy, and eggs with plant-based alternatives
- Learn to read labels and avoid animal-derived ingredients
- Find vegan-friendly restaurants and grocery stores
- Experiment with new recipes and cooking techniques
- Consider the ethical and environmental impact of your food choices
- Expand your knowledge of veganism beyond just-food
- Replace leather, wool, and other animal-based materials with vegan alternatives
- Find a supportive community of vegans to connect with and learn from
Introduction
Becoming vegan is a big decision. It’s not just about giving up meat, dairy, and eggs; it’s also about learning how to cook new foods and finding new products that can replace the ones you’re giving up. It can be an exciting journey as you explore a whole new way of eating and cooking! In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about going vegan—from exploring your motivations for wanting to make the switch to shopping at stores with vegan-friendly options on their shelves (or websites).
Start by educating yourself about veganism
Becoming vegan is a big decision. It’s important to understand what being vegan means, how to become vegan and why it is beneficial for you and the environment.
If you are considering this lifestyle change, here are some of the main things to consider:
- What Is Veganism?
- How To Become Vegan?
- Why Should I Go Vegan?
- How do I stay true to my beliefs while still enjoying a variety of food options and social gatherings with friends and family who are not interested in making the same changes as me?
Gradually eliminate animal products from your diet
This is the most important step in becoming vegan, and it can be a little daunting at first. You might feel uncomfortable about the idea of giving up some of your favourite foods or even think it’s impossible to do so. But don’t worry: there are plenty of delicious vegan options available! And remember, this isn’t supposed to be torture–it’s supposed to be an easy transition that helps ensure that you stay healthy for years to come. If you try going cold turkey with no preparation at all, chances are good that after only a few days without any animal products whatsoever (especially if they were big parts of what made up your diet before), you’ll end up feeling sick or weak due to lack of nutrients like iron and protein in your system; then where will we be?
Replace meat, dairy, and eggs with plant-based alternatives
Replacing meat, dairy, and eggs is the first step to becoming vegan. As you’re exploring the world of vegan food, there are some items that will be easier than others to find. For example:
- Vegan cheeses exist in wide varieties and can be found at most grocery stores.
- Soy milk is available almost everywhere–as well as almond milk and other plant-based milk. You can even get coffee creamer made from soybeans!
- Vegan yoghurts are also readily available at most grocery stores nowadays–along with soy ice cream and other dairy-free treats like vegan mayo or salad dressings (which tend to have less fat than their non-vegan counterparts).
Learn to read labels and avoid animal-derived ingredients
Learning to read labels and avoid animal-derived ingredients is an important step in becoming vegan. Some manufacturers use the word “vegan” on their products, but not all of them do so consistently. So it’s important to know what words to look for when you’re shopping for food and other items that contain animal-derived ingredients.
Other terms you may see on labels include “vegetarian” (meaning no eggs or dairy) and “dairy-free,” which means no milk from cows or goats but does not necessarily mean there are no other animal products present in the product (for example, honey). If you want to be sure that your product is completely free of any animal products at all, look for labels that say “100% vegan.”
Find vegan-friendly restaurants and grocery stores
Now that you’re vegan, it’s important to find restaurants and grocery stores that offer the kind of food you want to eat. There are several ways to do this:
- Look for restaurants with vegan options on their menus. Many restaurants offer “vegan” or “vegetarian” dishes, but they may not be entirely animal-free. Ask your server if there are any dairy products in a dish before ordering it (or ask them not to put any butter on your toast).
- Look for grocery stores with a wide variety of vegan foods available in the refrigerated section (like Tofurky sausages) as well as other sections of the store where non-dairy milk substitutes are sold (such as soy milk).
- Find buffets with lots of vegetable options available–this is particularly helpful if you’re travelling! Buffets usually have plenty of fresh fruit available, too so make sure these items aren’t cooked with butter or eggs prior to being placed into serving bowls; otherwise, they won’t be safe for vegans either!
Experiment with new recipes and cooking techniques
- Try new recipes.
- Try new cooking techniques.
- Try new ingredients, like vegan cheese or meat substitutes (like seitan).
- Try vegan products, like ice cream made from coconut milk instead of dairy or plant-based milk that can be used in place of cow’s milk in coffee drinks and smoothies.
- Find restaurants that offer vegan options on their menus and go there with friends who are also trying to become vegans!
Consider the ethical and environmental impact of your food choices
- Consider the ethical and environmental impact of your food choices.
- Learn how to make veganism more ethical and environmentally friendly.
Expand your knowledge of veganism beyond just-food
You might be surprised to learn that veganism is more than just a diet. It’s also about reducing your impact on the environment and advocating for animal rights.
To become a vegan, you have to educate yourself about what it means to be one and how you can go about making changes in your life so that they align with your beliefs. You’ll need to get into the mindset of thinking about everything as having an impact on animals–from food choices (what do I eat?) all the way down to clothing purchases (do my shoes contain leather?). This may seem like an overwhelming task at first, but once you begin making these adjustments, it will become second nature after some time has passed.
Replace leather, wool, and other animal-based materials with vegan alternatives
Replacing leather, wool, and other animal-based materials with vegan alternatives will help you avoid supporting the meat industry.
- Vegan leather is made from synthetic materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane. It’s often called “pleather” because it looks similar to genuine leather but isn’t actually made from animals.
- Vegan wool can be produced using either synthetic fibres or silkworm cocoons. Wool from an insect has a different texture than that which comes from a mammal; however, it still offers many of the same benefits as its non-vegan counterpart–such as being warm in winter months and cool during summertime heat waves!
- Silk is another option for those seeking comfortable fabrics without harming any animals in the process. Unlike traditional silkworms’ cocoons which are spun into threads by themselves after they emerge from their eggs, these new versions have been altered so they produce only one filament at a time before dying off completely (and therefore never becoming adults).
Find a supportive community of vegans to connect with and learn from
There are a lot of ways to find a supportive community of vegans to connect with and learn from. Here are just a few:
- Find a vegan community in your area. Visit the VEGAN SOCIAL NETWORK or ask friends, family members, or coworkers if they know anyone who has gone vegan recently. You can also join an online forum or chat room where people discuss their experiences as vegans (like this one!).
- Join a local vegan meetup group! There are hundreds all over the world, so no matter where you live, there’s probably something nearby that meets regularly–just Google “[your city] + vegan meetup” for nearby options! These get-togethers are usually free events held at cafes or restaurants where everyone gets together for conversation over food (and sometimes drinks). They’re great for making new friends who share similar values about how animals should be treated by humans…and eating delicious plant-based meals together helps too 🙂
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you get started on your vegan journey. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the information, don’t worry! You don’t have to go cold turkey or give up everything in one day. Take things slow and learn as much as possible about veganism before making any drastic changes. And remember: there are plenty of resources out there that can help answer any questions along the way (like our own blog!).