Transitioning to a Plant Based Diet


I'm sure you've heard all kinds of things about veganism and a plant based diet both good and bad. I believe that there is a stigma to it that it is expensive and extremely hard to do.That is not true. Especially not the part about it being expensive, in fact I spend much less money on food now than when I ate animal products.

Below I have jotted down some tips that I have learned in the past year and a half of transitioning to a plant based diet. I hope it makes your journey easier and if you aren't already planning on transitioning that it will at least make you think about it.

Read, Watch, Learn
Watch documentaries, read books and do your research on the benefits, impact and reasoning of a plant based diet. Educate yourself on how to nourish your body on a plant based diet. You should check out my blog post on why you should consider going vegan but here are some of my book and documentary recommendations:

Books:
The Happy Vegan by Russell Simmons
The China Study by T. Collin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell

Documentaries:
Forks Over Knives
What The Health

Don't Go Cold Turkey
This blog post is called Transitioning to a Plant Based Diet for a reason. Cutting out all animal products over night is not sustainable and you will most probably feel like eating a plant based is too hard for you and give up. This a big lifestyle change and as any other should be done with caution and over time. 
Start by cutting out one animal products at a time over however long you see fit. It has taken me over a year to finally give up chicken wings. Take it one day at a time.

 Find Plant Based Recipes for Your Favorite Dishes
This is what has made my journey so much simpler. Still having traditional favorites such as briyani, curry and stir fry made me feel like I wasn't missing out on anything. I will be posting some of my favorite recipes soon so watch this space.

Eating Out
Eating out has proven to be the most difficult part about eating plant based but I have figured out ways to make it more manageable. 
  • Look up the restaurant's menu online and see if they have any options for you.
  • Use the Happy Cow website to find vegan restaurants in your area.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for substitutes that will make your meal vegan and not just vegetarian.
  • Indian and Chinese restaurants usually have great plant based options.
Substitutes
I believe that anything can be made into a plant based meal with the right substitutes. Here are some of my favorites:
  • 1 Egg = 1 Tablespoon of Chia Seeds + 3 Tablespoons Water
  • Cheese = Nutritional Yeast
  • Butter = Canola Butter
  • Milk = Almond/ Rice/ Coconut/ Oat Milk
  • Cream = Orley Whip
Pack Lunch
This is by far the thing that has made my transition the easiest. My campus sells nothing but pies and pizza so packing my own lunch makes my life so much easier. My plant based options keep me energized and allow for better concentration throughout the day. I make sure to always pack fruit, a filling meal and a bottle of water. 

Sweets
Many of our favorite sweets aren't plant based. They're made with ingredients such as gelatin which is made from animal carcasses as well as dyes and flavoring that comes from insects. Read your labels but to stick to the safe side, eat fruits, dates and nuts.

Cook at Home
Cooking at home saves you money and it gives you peace of mind because you know exactly what you're eating. I've found that cooking food that I know causes no harm to myself and the planet is very therapeutic.

One Day At a Time
Don't be too hard on yourself. Its okay to slip up once in a while. I'm sure even the best of vegans do sometimes. Remember why you're doing this and don't push yourself too hard. Own pace, own race.

I hope you have found these tips useful. Keep checking in for more things relating to a natural and plant based lifestyle.






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