Three tips to going vegan
An exert of my cookbook Eden Vegan - shop the book here.
I wasn’t always vegan. I grew up eating your classic meat and three veg, and can understand how making the transition to a vegan lifestyle can seem daunting at first. But it is important to remember that it is a process and can be done at your own pace.
It can be helpful to educate yourself about the various plant-based options available, as well as the environmental and ethical reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle. Realising your own why is important. Consider the main reasons you want to start incorporating more plant-based food into your lifestyle, and work on developing your knowledge in the area.
The choice to be vegan is often motivated by ethical, health or environmental concerns – or a mix of the three. If you’ve found yourself connecting with one or more of these reasons, you’re more than ready to get started. My top three tips for switching to a vegan diet are as follows.
1. Get prepared
I often think, to be vegan is to be prepared. Preparing as much as possible, from your snacks to your meals, is a foolproof way to stay on track. If you stock your pantry with delicious vegan food and know what’s vegan-friendly in your local area, you will be set up for success.
Finding vegan swaps for your favourite foods can be a great way to make the transition to a vegan lifestyle more enjoyable. If you use a lot of milk, try out all the plant milks to find what best suits your taste buds. I love using oat milk for hot drinks, as you can create a good frothy foam, and it also works well in baking and for breakfast. If you’re a cheese lover, start slowly trying all the vegan cheese brands to see what you like best.
Heading to the supermarket for your first vegan-friendly shop may feel daunting. I encourage you to prepare ahead of time: write your list and research a few ingredients you will need to swap out. When checking ingredient lists and labels on food items, keep an eye out for words that are shown in bold. These are allergens, and it can be an easy way to spot non-vegan ingredients such as milk powder, fish and so on. Non-vegan ingredients that are more obvious include meat, dairy, eggs and honey, but it’s also important to watch out for any animal-derived ingredients, such as gelatine. If you’re unsure, often a quick Google search of the product’s name + ‘vegan?’ can confirm if the product is or isn’t vegan-friendly.
A quick way to find the best vegan-friendly snacks and products is to join an online vegan community in your area. In my experience, vegans love to share their new discoveries, their favourite products and their restaurants of choice. It’s a great way to receive updates on what’s new on the shelf and what’s the most delicious! After a short while, you’ll have all your vegan swaps sorted and will be whizzing through the supermarket to pick up your favourite foods.
2. Have fun
Transitioning to a vegan diet may be overwhelming at first, which is why you should focus on having fun with it. Making a positive change for animals, yourself and the planet is a great thing, and it should be enjoyed!
Start by marking a few dishes you want to taste test and adding them to your routine. You could even select one new vegetable or plant protein a week that you’ve never cooked with before, and experiment with a new recipe.
There truly is a never-ending list of foods to try nowadays – sometimes it feels like there’s a new plant-based product released each week. Be open to trying new foods. Jackfruit, banana blossom, tempeh and tofu may be daunting to use at first, but follow a few of these easy recipes and you’ll soon be confident cooking with these plant-based alternatives. You could even challenge your friends, flatmates or family to a cookoff – your very own version of MasterChef at home.
The great thing about all vegan food is you can never really go too wrong – if something is undercooked, the worst that happens is it’s just a little crunchy. And don’t forget to reward yourself with a vegan dessert you’ve never had before. A personal favourite my the rocky road. Packed full of vegan marshmallows, nuts and cookies, it’s a great way to taste-test new plant-based additions.
3. Start now!
There’s no time like the present. It doesn’t matter if you’ve still got non-vegan food in your pantry to use up... there’s no harm in getting started! When I first transitioned to a vegan diet, I didn’t throw away the food I had on hand. I used it up and then replaced it with the vegan option. It’s not always realistic to go vegan overnight and some people find it works best to cut out one food group at a time, for example first switching meat out for plant proteins, then swapping eggs for tofu, and lastly going for dairy-free substitutes. It can be easier to make a series of small changes that lead to the end goal. Every little swap on your plate makes a difference.
So, get your shopping list ready, head out to buy some vegan goodness, and get cooking!
