How to Gradually Go Vegan
Choosing to go vegan is often accompanied by a desire to be perfect. It cannot be denied that the vegan community has … a special reputation. And listen, I’ve never been a person who was inherently against eating animals. But even for those of us concerned about the impact of the meat industry on climate change and workers’ rights , I understand how easy it is to give up the power of individual choice versus big meat . (Do we all imagine someone throwing a starfish into the sea?) In the end, though, I find it a little better to go vegan than to do nothing at all.
If you’re curious about dipping into veganism, don’t let the widespread all-or-nothing mentality get in the way of making small changes. Whenever you want to perpetuate a habit, a gradual change is often more sustainable than a cold turkey lifestyle change. So, here are some tips on how to gradually go vegan.
Think about adding, not removing
This tip is taken from our vegetarian (or meat-less) guide:
The easiest way to eat less meat is to eat more than anything else . A good first step is to sit down and make a list of the non-meat foods you already enjoy. Don’t be afraid to take this assignment very literally: even a list of 10 vegetables you like is valuable and will make meal planning easier … If you are used to a high-meat diet, you will need to eat many more things to make up for that. I’m not talking about nutrient macros – I’m talking about volume.
Instead of building veganism around what you exclude, focus on all the foods you add.
Motivate yourself with treats
Another way to combat the idea that veganism leads to “omissions” is to try new vegan recipes or restaurants. (It does n’t hurt to read how to order vegan options when they’re not on the menu .)
Expand your horizons in your own kitchen by browsing YouTube or cookbooks from around the world. I recommend reading the description of fried rice under Make sure you still eat like shit .
Disclaimer: I am not advocating tying reward / punishment thinking to any food. At the same time: Oreo is vegan. I’m just saying.
Vegan until 18:00
If you’re starting to run, you can plan for strategic walking breaks – why not take time out to grab some non-vegan food? While this is in no way an endorsement of the ” VB6 diet ” popularized by Mark Bittman, the idea is still valid: Eat vegan food all day, then indulge in any non-vegan meal you skip after the clock strikes 6:00 pm. Obviously, you can choose whichever time works for you, as long as you have a clear goal (and deadline) for when you can eat vegan and non-vegan.
This approach also includes the chance to feel a sense of accomplishment every day, which can work wonders for your motivation . Just be careful not to fall into the crazy ” cheat day ” mentality.
Meatless Mondays
This speaks for itself. Baby steps are more steps!
Don’t go alone
We’ve talked about the benefits of finding an accountability assistant, whether you want to save money , exercise more, or stay productive while working from home . Beyond the accountability factor, going vegan with a friend (or friends!) Helps shape these changes within the community and shared experience. After all, isn’t that what food is all about?
Be careful with yourself
The same tips you could use to introduce your kids to a vegan diet will work for you too. When I say feed your inner child, I mean feed the picky, hardest version of yourself. It means being patient when change doesn’t happen overnight. It also means using stealth tactics to add vegan substitutes to your food ( tofu puffs , anyone?). Take one serving.
After all, every little choice can be an opportunity to take a step in the right direction – whatever that means to you.