There has never been a better time than now to consider implementing a more plant based diet into your routine. Let’s be honest, more and more vegan brands are emerging, making the process of transitioning to a plant based diet much easier. Whatever your reasons for making the change may be, here are 5 tips to ensure you can stay on track and start to see the massive benefits of going vegan! 

1.Do Your Research

It’s one thing to follow the advice of a close friend or family member, but it’s also important to understand the basics of any new diet before starting. Educate yourself on the fundamentals of a plant based diet and determine how these changes are going to fit into your existing routine. 

A commonly asked question for those who choose to become vegan is the issue of protein, “where do you get your protein from as a vegan?” Down the road this is likely a question you will have no problem shrugging off but for the sake of your sanity, it may be wise to brush up on the key points. 

2.Give Yourself Some Grace! 

Going vegan, like any other lifestyle change, is not easy. It can take some adjusting before things begin to feel normal or routine. That’s why it’s important to give yourself some grace. Don’t be so hard on yourself for making mistakes or taking longer than you think you should to completely cut out things like dairy and meat. For a lot of us, those have been staples in our diets for as long as we can remember. 

Rome wasn’t built in a day and your vegan diet won’t be either!

3. Join Groups and Vegan Communities

Having someone who is going through the same thing can be beneficial to your mental and physical health. Thankfully, we live in an age where connections are relatively easy to come by through social media and its counterparts. Places like Facebook and Instagram are great places to source out community groups and pages that can act as your emotional support throughout your journey. 

Besides the emotional support, you will also have a safe place to ask questions, explore topics and look for ideas to supplement your journey. Community is a massive part to success during any lifestyle change so don’t be afraid to ask for help, or support, whenever you need it! 

4. Be Curious

We all know about the standard means of getting your nutrients when you are considering a plant based diet. But don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try new things! There are thousands of great blog sites and pinterest pages that offer tasty and different recipes for every occasion. Eating the same thing everyday, or more than once per week can get boring and besides, nobody wants to eat beans EVERY day! 

Educate yourself on the healthy vegan snacks that exist on the market and don’t be afraid to try new things! Brands are getting better and better at making vegan taste great! 

Try these best selling Chickpea Bites made from real and whole ingredients! (insert a buy button)

5. Remind Yourself of Your Why!

People go vegan for many different reasons. Some for the animals and others choose to go down the plant based road for health and/or performance reasons. Maybe your reason is a mixture of both. Regardless, you started for something. 

Discover more reasons why you should go vegan, here! 

And sometimes you just lose motivation and that’s normal. Whatever your reason is for deciding to go vegan, write it down and reflect on it often. On the days when you are questioning your decision, look back on your why and remember why you started. For most people, this is enough to validate the struggle of trying to accomplish their goals. Again be easy on yourself and don’t put pressure on not making mistakes. You are so close to your goal. 

The vegan lifestyle isn’t for everyone. But it is a lifestyle that offers great benefits and rewards for those that stick with it!