Going VEGAN! any tips?

I'm not vegan but I try to eat plant based meals as much as possible. Quinoa, brown rice, lentils, beans, tofu and alllllll the fruits and veggies. The only major thing you'll miss out on from a vegan diet is vitamin B12. Be sure to take a supplement because B12 deficiency is no good. There are so many apps, online recipes, cook books and other resources to help you make the switch. I also recommend watching "What the Health" on Netflix. Do your own fact checking afterwards of course. Good luck with the switch! You're going to feel amazing!!!

-Buy some vegan cook books (I like to go to used book stores for mine).
-Start swapping non-dairy alternatives for your usual dairy (like coconut yogurts, cashew or almond milk, earth balance buttery spread, etc.
-If you love cheese (like me), try making it vegan. There are recipes for vegan cheeses all over the internet and they're fairly easy to make. It's also way more healthy!
-Cook vegan versions of what you love. The cookbooks will come in handy here.

1. Don't be discouraged! Your choices will seem very limited and intimidating at first but your world will gradually open up as you become accustomed to it and your mind/cravings shift.
2. Alternatives: there are some really great-tasting alternatives out there (check out Whole Foods if you haven't already) which can aid you in your dietary transition. However, many of these soy- and gluten-laden foods aren't that great for you, either. Especially since they're usually high in sodium so they shouldn't make up the majority of your diet long-term. If you focus on "clean" foods (foods that aren't overly-processed or packed with preservatives) then you'll find this easier.
3. Don't over-think it; keep it simple. Otherwise, you'll get discouraged and revert back to what comes easy to you.
4. Open your mind and your palate. Don't expect substitutes for the foods you're accustomed to eating. Instead, frame your new diet in the perspective that your mouth is going on an adventure, exploring and discovering new parts of the world it has never considered before. A little eccentric... But it'll open your mind and tastes to appreciating the perfection of simplicity. Remember, the more complex the foods are (spices, chemicals, fried junk), the more it's going to stress out your body.
5. EAT! Vegan foods won't weigh your body down like conventional foods do. Therefore, your body will process them faster, leaving you hungry sooner. But that's okay. When eating vegan, the composition of your foods typically have fewer calories in them so you can eat more, and more often. Tracking what you eat on MFP, at least for a week or so, will give you a good understanding of whether you're getting in all your macro/micro nutrients. You don't want to under-eat or become malnourished as this will lead to poor health and uncontrollable cravings. Make sure you're getting plenty of healthy fats to stabilize your insulin/blood-sugar levels and hormones.
6. Sweat! Keeping active suppresses appetite and distracts us from eating junk. Often, when we think that we're hungry, we're really not--we're just board or eating as a conditioned or emotional response. This doesn't really have anything to do with being vegan but it will help you in all aspects of life and the transition to a vegan diet. Fasted-cardio in the morning (only about 20 minutes), to the point that I'm dripping sweat, detoxifies me and creates a fresh, energized tone for the rest of the day.
7. Don't listen to others' nagging. You will be hounded by people telling you that you cannot get enough protein/aminos/etc. This comes from a... lack of understanding. There are plenty of extremely healthy vegans and bodybuilders who have absolutely no problems. The people who tell you these worrisome things are either well-intended yet uninformed, or feel judged/condemned by your healthy choice and are unconsciously attempting to validate themselves and their unhealthy choices by dragging you down to their level. Know that you're doing the right thing and maintain your resolve.

Additionally, look into intermittent fasting and bulletproof coffee (with coconut oil for vegans). It has been a life-changer for me.

I commend you for your decision and warmly wish you the best of luck

Allen

MissKarstar wrote: »

I'm not vegan but I try to eat plant based meals as much as possible. Quinoa, brown rice, lentils, beans, tofu and alllllll the fruits and veggies. The only major thing you'll miss out on from a vegan diet is vitamin B12. Be sure to take a supplement because B12 deficiency is no good. There are so many apps, online recipes, cook books and other resources to help you make the switch. I also recommend watching "What the Health" on Netflix. Do your own fact checking afterwards of course. Good luck with the switch! You're going to feel amazing!!!

pretty Easily fill the B vitamin void with enriched almond milk (silk), and nutritional yeast (used to make vegan cheeses.

Why would you convince them to go vegan?

That should be there choice not yours.