When I was first introduced to the vegan lifestyle I was initially overwhelmed. The food looked AMAZING, and I was inspired, but what's the first step? I was a freshman in college and soon moving back home for the summer. Not a single person I knew was vegan and I knew for a fact my small town was not yet vegan friendly. In the moment it seemed hard - but hind sight is 20/20 and I'm here to tell you my 5 (reasonable) steps to living a vegan lifestyle!
1. Figure out your "why"- this is the MOST important step because it is your guiding light along the way to living a cruelty free lifestyle. When you first go vegan friends and family can be concerned and confused – you are going to get the question "WHY?" a lot. Know that you don't owe anyone an explanation as to why you're living a cruelty free lifestyle, but it can help to enlighten and inspire those around you!
2. Find a community - Especially if you don't have vegan friends or family members. For me, I found refuge in YouTube, there are tons of great channels out there to connect you with other vegans throughout the whole world.
3. Go at your own pace - I'd love to tell you to go cold turkey but to be honest, that's not going to work for everyone. Set goals, start by eliminating animal products one by one, try new recipes, and get inspired and excited. My journey began by going vegetarian, I set a goal that by January 1st, 2017 I would be completely vegan. Starting with meat, then eggs, then lastly cheese- I found it much easier to release things from my diet at a slow and steady
pace. Listen to your body and do your research, any strides you make
towards this lifestyle is a great step!
4. Change your mindset - I know at first you might be focused on what you can't have but this can put you into a negative mindset about living a vegan lifestyle. Think about all of the things you are going to be adding to your life! In my personal experience, I've tried so many new dishes I would have never thought to eat when I was an omnivore. Not only food, but I have expanded my perspective on the world - I have more compassion for others and myself than I have ever had in my entire life!
5. Do your research - This is one of the most important aspects of making a lifestyle change. Make sure you're eating enough (most importantly, eating the right stuff). There are certain vitamins you may want to start taking to ensure you're healthy (i.e. B12). Don't just blindly start, there are many ways to eat a vegan diet and obviously in my opinion, eating a balanced diet is best. I don't cut out anything completely, I eat a little oil, some veggies, some fruits, and carbs! It's what makes me operate at my highest level and that's what is most important.
There's tons of blogs about how to vegan and why you should, this is my perspective and what I think is the most realistic and rational steps in order to start living a vegan lifestyle. I'm not a health guru, trained chef, dietician, or life coach but I am here to support and send light to people making this lifestyle change. Welcome!!
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