How to go vegan in 5 easy steps

More and more people are choosing to ditch animal products and go vegan!

It’s not just celebrities like Beyonce, Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus either. The vegan lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular among regular folk! It’s no surprise, as a plant-based diet has a host of health benefits.

Supermarkets and restaurants are trying to capitalise on this emerging market, by opening up their product ranges and introducing new vegan friendly options. This means that making the change yourself has never been easier.

Even so going vegan for the first time can be daunting. That is why we have pulled together 5 tips that will help you embrace the vegan lifestyle!

Do your research

It’s going to take a little while to get to grips with veganism, so make sure you plan ahead before taking the plunge.

• Look into which foods are and aren’t vegan. Almost everything has a vegan or dairy free version available, so make sure you know exactly what you can eat in place of your favourite foods.

• Be wary that eating a vegan diet may be more expensive, despite not buying animal products. Make sure that you have budgeted for this.

• Get used to reading food labels. You may think that some products are vegan friendly, but they may contain animal products.

• Understand what nutrients you need to be healthy and what changes you’re going to need to make to ensure that you’re getting everything you need. Whether that be finding new protein sources or taking supplements, it’s important to make sure you’re staying healthy.

• Find out which restaurants and fast food establishments sell vegan items. Knowing all of your options will make eating out with friends and family a lot easier.

Take your time

Some people are able to make major lifestyle changes overnight, however that’s not the case for everyone. Start small and make little changes to your everyday routine.

• Begin by adding a few more vegan meals each week and work your way up. A good way is to start with breakfast, before make your way to lunch and then dinner.

• Increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Make sure you’re getting all of the nutrients you need through fruit and vegetables, rather than relying on vegan junk food. Not only will this be healthier, but you’ll feel fuller for longer.

• Prepare multiple meals in one go and either freeze or refrigerate the rest for later. Planning ahead means that you won’t be tempted to skip a vegan meal for something with animal products.

• Don’t feel bad if you ‘slip up’ and eat a non-vegan meal while you’re still getting used to the lifestyle. Major lifestyle changes take time for your body to adjust to a new way of living.

• Look up vegan recipes online and try out things that you wouldn’t have before. Search for things such as “easy vegan meals” or “high protein vegan meals”. Also, have a look at the recipes page on Ibiza Superfoods for some easy, vegan snacks and smoothie recipes. Try out as much as possible, don’t get it get boring. Let yourself experiment and have fun with your new diet!

• Find vegan bloggers online for inspiration. Read their stories about becoming vegan and possibly find some who are also new to veganism; you never know, they might be struggling too.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Everyone needs help sometimes, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about.

• There are an infinite number of resources available online. Google is your friend in this transitional period. Read articles and blogs, watch videos, find as many online resources as possible.

• Use online forums to talk to other vegans. Talk to them and learn all their tips and tricks. Get recipes and learn all the best places to buy vegan friendly essentials.

• Communicate with likeminded people on social media. You may be able to network with other local vegans through Facebook or on Twitter.

Remember why you’re doing it

Give yourself little reminders of all the reasons why you’ve decided to try living a vegan lifestyle.

• Remember that you’re helping the environment. Avoiding meat and dairy can help to massively reduce your carbon footprint.

• Remember the impact a vegan lifestyle has on animals.

• Remind yourself of all of the changes you’ve made so far. If you’ve been changing your diet; eating more vegan friendly meals; buying vegan friendly clothing, you have the right to feel good about your decisions.

Don’t give up

When you feel like giving up, or family and friends are questioning your choices, remember why you’ve made the decision to try out a vegan diet.

• Feel proud of your accomplishment. Making huge life changes can be difficult but if you remind yourself of all the small changes you’ve made so far, it may feel a little easier.

• Keep trying new things. Don’t let things get repetitive, make sure you’re continuously trying out new recipes so that you don’t get bored.

• Explain to those close to you why you’ve made your decision. Give them resources so that they can better understand your choice.

Changing your lifestyle, to follow a vegan diet, won’t be easy. It will take time and adjusting to make sure that your body gets used to this new way of life. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the change. Take your time, try new things, and have fun with it!

Don’t forget, that all Ibiza Superfoods products are vegan and available to purchase online and in Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods and on Amazon.