5 Top Tips To Help You Transition To A Plant-Based Diet
These top tips will make your transition to a plant-based diet a whole lot easier!
1. Don’t have foods at home that you no longer want to eat
Sounds so easy – and it is!
Put simply… if you don’t have animal products in your pantry or fridge, then you won’t eat them whilst at home.
Try swapping out grocery items at the supermarket – it really is a simple process as there are plant-based alternatives for everything nowadays.
You may need to allow a little extra time to do your grocery shopping for a few weeks whilst transitioning, so you can find the plant-based options and read the labels to look for hidden animal ingredients. However, once you have made the swaps, your shopping experience will become quick and easy as you’ll know what to reach for at your next supermarket visit.
Try to meal plan for the week before you go shopping, that way you’ll stock up on everything you need, and this should help you stay on your plant-based mission! #ShopRight
2. Have convenience foods on hand
Most of us live busy lives so putting a tasty, nutritious meal on the table at the end of the day, or knocking together a healthy lunch or breakfast can be difficult at the best of times.
You may not be a fan of convenience foods but I highly recommend introducing some to your household whilst transitioning.
Having handy foods at the ready can keep you motivated to stay plant-based. Buy store-bought hummus, mock meats, falafel, vegetarian sausages and burgers, tofu, plant milks, Vegan dark chocolate, Vegan cheese, tinned lentils, plant-based ice cream, biscuits and desserts, heaps of vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, and loads of mushrooms!
If you haven’t tied mock meats and tofu then please do – you will be pleasantly surprised. The range of these types of products has exploded in recent years and if you try a few different brands you will find some to suit your tastes. Seasoned and cooked correctly they can be substituted into all your family-favourite meals.
Having some mock chicken to throw into a salad sandwich or wrap for lunch, or a lentil burger to accompany a huge salad and a dollop of hummus for dinner, finished off with a bowl of delicious, creamy plant-based ice cream, will make your transition a much easier process, and having the convenience items will make your meal preparation so much quicker.
As your knowledge of plant-based recipes increases, you can cut back on some of the convenience foods if you like. #ConvenienceIsKing
3. List your rationale for your decision to change your diet
You have probably deliberated about making some dietary changes for some time, and you will have a rationale and conviction for your decision to try plant-based. It can be difficult making significant changes in your life, and it is so easy to slip back into what is comfortable and familiar, so if you want to succeed then I suggest you take some time to list your reasons for transitioning to plant-based.
It may be to improve your health or to feed your family more healthily. You may be doing this to learn about new foods and recipes. Your driver might be to live more compassionately without exploitation of animals or to lessen your impact on the environment.
Whatever your reasons… make a list! Put that list somewhere you’ll see it daily (on the fridge, inside the pantry, as the screen saver on your computer, next to your bed, in the car – or all of those places!). If your goals are visible they will act as a great motivator and reminder to stay on track. #ListsRock
4. Make Google your friend
A simple search on Google can solicit so many amazing resources. You can learn about plant-based foods and will find literally millions of Vegan recipes. Just search for all your favourite meals with the word ‘Vegan’ and you’ll be rewarded with so many delicious recipes to try.
If you are curious about plant-based nutrition and health then Google can help you with that too. Check out thousands of peer-reviewed journal articles touting the health benefits of a plant-based diet.
The Internet is also teeming with information on animal agriculture and its effect on our precious environment. You can search for information and video footage on animal welfare, animal rights, common farming practices, factory farming, and animal slaughter. I guarantee that when you see and learn about what is standard animal agriculture protocol it will further reinforce your decision to eradicate all animal products from your life.
If you join some ‘plant-based’ or ‘Vegan’ facebook groups you will also find infinite information on new Vegan products at the supermarket, have the members share great tips and recipes, find out about local restaurants and cafés that will cater for your plant-based diet, and learn how to counter some of the questions and criticisms you may get bombarded with once people you know find out you are transitioning to a plant-based diet. #GoogleLove
5. Get creative in the kitchen
Learn to enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. Things won’t always work out when you try new things, but in the majority of cases you’ll end up with something delicious. Learning to cook in a different way, with new ingredients, is like anything new – it takes time to learn and feel confident – so be kind to yourself.
At the beginning of your plant-based journey leave yourself extra time when preparing meals, as initially, you might find it takes a little longer to whip up dinner – but after just a few weeks you’ll start to feel confident about the new recipes you have adopted, and will be able to knock together meals very speedily.
Surprisingly, plant-based meals are often quicker to prepare and cook than meat meals. Plus a major upside is there is no need to defrost meat, and continually be washing chopping boards for fear of bacteria or spread of food poisoning from meat preparation. #Winning
Good luck on your plant-based journey! Hope these top tips have helped you in your transition to a plant-based diet. Staying true to your goals, and keeping in mind your motivation for this change, will ultimately improve your health, the environment, and the lives of all the sentient creatures that share this planet with us!
