How to go vegan

Thinking about going vegan? Here are my tips on how to make the switch.

Educate yourself.

The ol' saying "knowledge is power" couldn't be more true! Educate yourself on proper vegan nutrition first and foremost. It's very common to commit to veganism with the most positive animal-loving-world-saving intentions, only to wind up lightheaded and dizzy from various micronutrient deficiencies. The most common deficiencies include vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D. The book, Eat to Live by Dr. Fuhrman is a great reference for proper nutrition on top of the many reasons why plant-based diets are the way to go. The Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier, professional Ironman triathlete, is a great one too. Not into reading? Check out the documentary Forks over Knives.

If your reasoning behind going vegan is of the ethical variety, a good documentary to watch is Vegucated. This documentary does have some graphic footage of animal abuse and slaughter, so it is not for everyone. I have heard amazing things about Earthlings, but my sensitive heart can't handle such an eye-opening documentary yet. This one is particularly graphic.

Start small.

Now that you've read the books and seen the footage you're ready to begin your journey! Speaking from experience, I highly recommend that you take your time and start small. It is very easy for us to get freaked out by what we read and watch and to want to make a drastic change. Unfortunately, that's not always sustainable. Unless you know you're someone who can kick a bad habit cold turkey (pardon the poor choice of cliche sayings), give yourself at least 3 to 6 months to gradually transition.

Begin by eating vegan at home. If that's too much, even just Meatless Mondays are a great start! After a few weeks of adjusting to this change, eat strictly vegetarian while you're out. Limit yourself to dairy and eggs at most. Then when you're ready, cut back again to only dairy or only eggs while out. Before you know it you'll be eating vegan at home and at restaurants!

Make it public.

Tell your friends and family that you are going vegan. Prepare yourself for the worst reactions but stay true to your intentions. As soon as someone finds out you're vegan, they will most likely have an opinion about it. 

Truthfully, that has been the hardest thing to deal with. If there's one thing I've noticed from observing people's reactions to me telling them that I am vegan, it's that it can go one of two ways. Either:

a) the person is genuinely curious about how it is that you maintain such a "strict" diet, because they could just never give up cheese. Or,

b) people get very opinionated about the roll of animals on this planet, and how we are the greater species therefore we are at the top of the food chain (blah, blah, blah). 

The trick is to not fall into a screaming argument if your friend/family member falls into the (b) category. It can be tough, but respect his/her opinion, and let him/her know that you are vegan because it is your right to decide how to fuel your body. For the most part that shuts them up :) Attacking others by pulling the activist-card is like fighting fire with fire. Stay calm and level headed.

Don't beat yourself up.

Going vegan is not always easy. No one is perfect, and there will be moments where your will power is tested. If you give in, don't beat yourself up over it! Instead, figure out why you gave in and prepare better for next time. Understand that your dietary decision is making an impact on not only your body, but other animals and the planet! Celebrate your success and educate others! :)