In the continuation of our two well-appreciated blogs, we’re back with another blog on the vegetarian diet. Some of our readers asked us for tips to start an all-vegan diet. Well, we’re always here to help you out. So here we are, doing what we always do – answering your questions.
Let’s have a look at 5 ways you can ease into an all-vegan diet
Don’t rush into it
When it comes to migrating from meat to raw, many people are just so excited or motivated that they just decide “no meat ever!” As good as it sounds, it’s not. This excitement might live for a day, a week, or even a month; but then those thoughts about non-vegetarian dishes start coming in. Going vegan isn’t easy, especially if you’re a fond lover of meat. That’s why it’s never a good idea to deprive yourself of meat all of a sudden.
What we suggest is going in slowly, with a plan. At first, alternate your diet between meat and raw. Then make it two raw days and one meat day. Then keep on increasing the intensity of the raw vegan food and consequently, keep on reducing your meat consumption. And when you think you’re finally ready to go completely vegetarian, do it!
Make a proper diet plan
It’s no secret that the vegan diet offers less when it comes to certain nutrients. That’s why it’s very necessary for you to keep an eye on the nutrients that your body needs. They differ from a person to person, there is no specific way. We would recommend seeing a dietician get a proper plan and follow it religiously.
Here are some of our suggested foods:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Oatmeal, buckwheat, brown rice, quinoa, barley
- Red Potatoes
- Lentils
- Nuts/seeds
- Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, hemp seed oil
- Tofu
- Tempeh
- Soybeans
- Herbs and Spices
Cook yourself
Cooking is fun, it truly is. Once you’ve gone vegan, the next step is to reduce the consumption of processed foods. The only way to do is to cook by yourself. The thing about cooking is that it doesn’t start in your kitchen, it starts at the grocery store. Someone who has been a non-vegetarian all his/her life would find it fascinating inside a grocery store. The amount and types of spices, vegetables, fruits, etc. will certainly amaze you.
If you have any Indian friends, boy oh boy, it is no less than a blessing. Most Indians follow a vegan diet and that’s why you must absolutely sneak into their kitchen to see what’s cooking. The spices, the smell, and the aura of Indian food are totally different. There is no better place to learn vegan cooking than an Indian’s kitchen.
And if you don’t have anyone to teach you vegan dishes, you always have the almighty Google to help you out. Here’s the Guardian’s blog on top vegan blogs on the internet. Some of these blogs are truly awesome.
Once you get the hang of cooking, it will be hard to get rid of.
Try new dishes
When it comes to the variety of dishes, vegetarianism beats non-vegetarianism beats hands down. There are so many different cuisines and dishes that you could not even have imagined. For starters, try Indian and Thai dishes.
Once you’ve learned enough cooking from your Indian friend or a blog or any other platform, it’s time to go solo and try new dishes. Whether you like it spicy or salty or sweet…there are tons of options for you in every department. All you have to do is figure out your taste, see the ingredients you have, and jump! You never learn if you don’t try.
The more dishes you try, the more you’ll fall in love with the vegan diet. And, of course, make sure you cook them on regular basis. To save you from the trouble of finding easy vegan dishes, we’ve come up with some dishes that can be cooked in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Cook ‘em up!
- Spicy Curried Lentils: A curry full of vegetables that will spice up your life in less than ten minutes!
- Honey Chilly Potatoes: The north and south poles of the earth might not ever meet, but the contradictory tastes of honey and chilly definitely do! A heavenly dish for chips lovers.
- Avocado and Lime Bean Bowl: Bell peppers, lime juice, veggies, nutrition…this dish has everything!
- Pumpkin Penne: We don’t need to describe this dish because sometimes, words can’t do justice!
- Mean Green Detox Salad: If you want to eat a healthy, beautiful dish, look no further!
Surround yourself with vegan foods and vegan people
It’s hard to get your eyes off that hamburger when you’re on a vegan diet, isn’t it? We’re all humans, we’re bound to get tempted and we’re bound to make mistakes. But it’s always better to take certain precautionary measures. To not get yourself involved in a mistake, it’s better to stop it even before it’s occurred. To do so, make sure there is no non-vegan food around you. Clean up your fridge & cupboards, and fill them up with your favourite vegan food items.
When it comes to people, try to get yourself involved in online forums, blogs, and magazines. We’re sure that will help you greatly.