10 ways to make veganism easier

It might sound tricky to stick to, but here are 10 ways to make veganism easier. As switching to a vegan diet can be tough no matter how devoted you are to the cause. After all, cutting out a whole host of food will mean altering your lifestyle. You may find yourself limited when dining out or attending dinner parties – but there’s an abundance of non animal-derived foods out there for you to discover and enjoy. The switch can be just as difficult for those who have been trying for a while as those who are just starting out, so we’ve listed 10 ways to make veganism easier. From building a new book collection to interchanging ingredients – here’s how to keep your meals fun and your mind inspired.

One a month

Many people assume that when they start a vegan diet, they must give up everything all at once. While the move may be admirable, you may be setting yourself up for a fall. Instead of going all in, try giving up one thing a month (one type of meat, one type of dairy) to ease yourself into the transition. Everyone is different and may need more time – and that’s totally fine!

Keep it colourful

You’ve probably heard of this one already, but over time you’ll realise that a plate with all the colours of the rainbow on is a lot more satisfying and rewarding than a plate of brown and beige. Plus, swapping vegetables in while cutting out meat will make the transition a whole lot smoother.

Milk it

Many of those who dip in and out of veganism have found themselves sticking to non-dairy milk – it’s one of the easiest swaps you can make. It may be a lot less creamy at first, but you soon get used to the lightness of nut, soya, oat or rice milks. Plus, you can still get the chocolate variety. Yum!

Get your nerd on

A common mistake made when taking up a vegan diet is going in blind, which is essentially the case if you don’t do your research. Cutting out meat, dairy and more means that you need to understand where else you can obtain the right nutrients. Arm yourself with this information and you’ll soon find shopping (and label-reading) a breeze.

One a day

You may already do this, but having a fresh juice a day will become all the more crucial on a vegan diet. It serves as your daily dose of vital vitamins and minerals, helping you start your day fresh and invigorated (while also helping with bowel movements!). Keep it interesting by changing the fruit and veg colours daily (e.g. greens, berries etc.).

Time is key

One of the first things you’ll notice is that you won’t be able to order or buy convenience food (not the unhealthy kind anyway). But this is good for your body in the long run! To keep temptation away, make sure you allocate time to make fresh, home-cooked meals – even if it’s 20 minutes for a quick salad.

Snack attack

The right snacks will also be a big help when it comes to staving off the cravings. Before the health and food industry boomed, it was carrots and hummus. Now, you have the luxury of choosing from protein balls, coconut chips, on-the-go peanut butter sachets (don’t laugh, it’s a handbag essential guys), and loads more!

New collection

You can find a gazillion vegan recipes online (and this will come in handy when you’re looking for something specific), but it helps to have one or two trusty cookbooks in your possession too. It can make all the difference to your level of motivation when you’ve got a book with beautiful pictures of what you could be making for dinner. Just make sure you have a flick-through them and see if the recipes work for you before you buy.

Stay inspired

If you haven’t already watched a documentary on going vegan or the effects of animal farming, we highly recommend it. Depending on the documentary, the content can be shocking – but it can be extremely educational and inspiring. It will especially come in handy when others ask you why and how you’re going vegan.

One a week

Last but not least, you can also stay inspired by trying one new vegan dish or product a week. Whether it’s an exotic vegetable you’ve never tried before, or a dish you’ve discovered on We Heart Living (we have plenty), trying something new once a week will not only help to build your wealth of knowledge in new ingredients, but it will also expand your culinary skills. Who’s winning now?