For anyone looking to improve his or her health and general wellbeing, while also lessening his impact on the environment, a vegan diet is a great first step. In the past, vegan diets were often lambasted for being too low in protein, too hard to follow or even too expensive. But with our current knowledge and a slew of resources to help new vegans, making the switch to an animal-free diet has become easier than ever. Experts like health authority Dominique Fradin-Read offer insights into the best foods for health, which include lots of items that make up a vegan diet.
Despite all the good news about vegan diets, changing one’s eating habits is never easy. Here are some expert tips to make the change easier.
Start Small on Your Vegan Diet
Going vegan doesn’t have to be an overnight proposition. Any moves you make in the direction of veganism will only help your health. So, start where you can and make small changes that you feel good about. Maybe you can cut back on dairy by switching out one item a day. For example, if you eat cereal in the morning, try plant-based milk instead of dairy. Add fruit and vegetable snacks in your routine. Whatever you do, if you slip up, don’t give up! Change takes time.
Make the Switch
Try not to think of vegan products, such as meat and dairy substitutes, as absolute matches for the items you are replacing. Doing so is likely to lead to disappointment. Let’s face it. Dairy-free cheese is never going to taste exactly like the cheese you are accustomed to eating. However, that does not mean that it can’t be just as delicious.
Try making your favorites by simply switching out, or leaving out altogether, the non-plant-based ingredients. If you’re used to spaghetti bolognese, try making it with a meat substitute or simply add more vegetables and basil to the sauce.
Keep Trying to Keep Your Vegan Diet
There is an abundance of new meat and dairy substitutes out there. If you don’t like one kind, it’s worth it to keep trying. Before giving up on a product category, you may want to try several brands or even look up a recipe for making your own. You’re likely to find some new favorites along the way.
Also, there is nothing that says that you have to eat any faux meats or dairy if you don’t care for it. There are numerous plant-based foods that are high in protein and filling.
