When you are determined to jump into the bandwagon of veganism, you can make this transition easy for you. Go easy on yourself and choose a pace that is ideal for you. You can take things slower by removing animal products in your diet gradually.
As a beginner, do not overcomplicate the foods you eat. There are simple vegan meals that you can accent with vegan sour cream, adding flavour to your dishes. It would also be beneficial for you if you know more about veganism, so you know how to replace animal-based products with vegan alternatives.
Conduct your own research
Determine what type of vegan foods you should focus on. Do some research because the vegan food pyramid is vast, and it keeps growing. Having some understanding of the vegan food concept will give you an idea of how to balance your meals to maintain a healthy body.
You can start learning the plant-based path and spread your knowledge to other areas of veganism like specialized vegan meals. Continue educating yourself about this plant-based diet because learning never stops.
Proceed at your own pace
Some people go through the vegan transition much faster than others. They decide to go vegan one day and never look back again. Assess yourself if you can eliminate all animal products from your diet completely, or if you will fare well with a gradual transition. For example, you begin getting rid of poultry in the first week; after that, you remove fish, then red meat, and so on.
You may begin a 15-day or 30-day challenge to go vegan and try to achieve this. It may seem overwhelming, but you will start now and never look back if you are serious about succeeding in this journey. But remember to choose a speed that is best for you.
Know more about vegan substitutes
As you start your plant-based diet, you may think that you will never relish the taste of eggs, cheese, or other favourite foods. It is natural to crave these foods, particularly if you have grown up eating these tastes. It may also involve some confusion regarding how to prepare your vegan meals without using eggs, dairy, and others.
One good thing about veganism is that there are many food alternatives to use as ingredients, which are great replacements to get the flavours you want in your dishes. Know that many long-time vegans can make food, for example, vegan cheese and taste like the cheese you originally know.
Opt for simple vegan meals but diverse
When you go vegan, do not complicate things for you. Some people enter the world of vegan and directly turn into luxurious and costly vegan food and other alternatives. They also make complex and time-consuming recipes and then beat themselves up once they fail at it.
When you start on a vegan diet, it is a smart idea to keep your foods simple. Focus on consuming lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, legumes, seeds, and whole foods. You can always add vegan sour cream to add texture and flavour to soups, vegetable platters, dips, dressings, and other dishes.
Veganism is a whole new journey so go easy on yourself. Expect that you may encounter hurdles along the way. Also, find like-minded individuals to make this journey easier and a lot more fun.