How to Become a Vegan

So you’ve decided you want to become a vegan, now what? As with any lifestyle change, there will be challenges and the process will take persistence and dedication. Here are a few tips on how to become a vegan.

Know the rules

It's pretty simple. Vegans only eat foods derived from plants. No animal products should be consumed which means flesh and skin itself as well as products produced by animals like eggs, milk, and honey. Once you know the rules, you can create your plan to change.

Start gradually

There is no rule that you need to be vegan right-this-very-minute. Some people have a hard time letting go of certain foods emotionally while others have some digestive difficulties with the diet change. Don’t feel that you need to rush in. Slow and steady wins the race.

Try making simple swaps here and there, perhaps once a meal or even once a day. Little by little it will become easier—not to mention that you will be able to note the positive effects as you go.

Focus on nutrition

Being vegan doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as being healthy. In order for a vegan diet to work properly for you, it’s important to make sure that you get all of the nutrients your body needs.

Eat whole foods, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and go easy on the packaged vegan foods. While it may be exciting to load up on vegan snacks that you had never noticed before it’s not necessarily doing your body any favors.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Radically changing your diet and lifestyle is sometimes hard. Whether it’s because you’re not quite sure how to prepare a certain food or you don’t really know how to field the questions from your friends and family, the transition can take you to some new and confusing territory.

This is normal and totally okay—everyone who has made the change has been there. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others in the community for support, or to peruse blogs so you can read about other people’s stories. You can learn a lot about how to become a vegan from the experience of others.

Remember your why

Whenever you’re feeling tempted or moody with cravings, always remind yourself why you’re doing this. Write down your motivations and keep them somewhere visible to you every day.

Reward yourself

Making the steps to makeover your lifestyle is serious work. You have to be committed and open to learning lots of new information on how to become a vegan in order to change your lifestyle for the better. Don’t be afraid to reward yourself! Set milestones like one week, one month, and one year and celebrate once you pass them. Grab a delicious vegan coconut ice cream or even indulge in a nice full body massage—you deserve it!

Stick with it

Just keep going. Sometimes it will get hard, admittedly, but those hard moments will pass. Remember why you’re doing this and just keep going. If you slip up, forgive yourself and get back on track. Trust the process and know that after a month or so it will be a whole lot easier.

Share it with others

One of the best ways to reduce the skepticism that your friends and family may have about your new lifestyle is by sharing how to become a vegan with them. Prepare a delicious meal or bring them a special treat (if you haven’t discovered raw vegan desserts yet, then that’s a good place to start!). Then they can learn how delicious this lifestyle can be.

Change, in general, can be hard but don’t let that intimidate you. If going vegan is what you feel is right for you, follow these steps and you'll be there in no time.