“I would love to go plant based, but I can’t give up cheese.”
“There’s no way I could go plant based. I love cooking and flavor too much.”
“My family would never make the change.”
“I just have no idea where to start.”
Sound familiar? These are just a few of the reasons I have heard when the subject of converting to plant based (aka vegan) has come up. If you’ve thought or uttered any of these, know that you are not alone (present author included).
It’s not easy
I get it, it is not easy. It is a big change.
Chances are, you grew up in a house where meat and dairy were as common as taking your shoes off before getting into bed. It was just something that came on your plate.
But for some or other reason, you have begun to think that there might be another way. Perhaps it is the health benefits that are speaking to you? Maybe it’s wanting to reduce your role in the suffering that being an omnivore causes? Or maybe you are advocating for Mother Earth and living more sustainably?
Whatever your reason, this will be the best decision you have made in a long time. The long term benefits far outweigh the temporary struggle and uncertainty.
So, now what?
I am not going to go into busting all the myths about plant based eating in this blog. That is its own article entirely (watch this space). What I want to give you here are some simple steps you can take right now to get you moving down the road toward a plant based lifestyle.
Now, I know your time is precious, so let’s get to it.
1. Have fun experimenting
As you transition to a plant based diet, you are going to have to find alternatives to your staples, like milk.
I am a huge tea drinker. My cup of earl grey tea is about as close to a religious ceremony as a secular brew could get.
For most people, cheese is the big plant based challenge. For me, it was my tea. In fact, when I first made the decision to change, my earl grey was going to be my only exception. I just couldn’t trust that anything other than 2% cow milk would bring the same level of satisfaction.
But guess what? I adapted.
It took some trial and error. I started with the oh-so popular and trendy almond milk, ventured down the side road of cashew milk, took a strange detour through flax milk, and landed on a very specific brand of unsweetened, unflavored, soy milk.
If someone had to say “to find your favorite flavor of ice cream, you are just going to have to sample every one”, you’d probably be like, “yes, sign me up!” Approach milk with the same enthusiasm and you will soon find yourself pleasantly surprised by how little you miss the udder.
And I know, it’s more than just milk. Want in on a little secret? Vegan yoghurt, ice cream, mayonnaise, and cream cheese are JUST AS DELICIOUS as the cow kind. Trust me.
The one exception I have to admit to is regular cheese. I have yet to find a substitute that produces the same level of satisfaction as a good old gouda. But when you consider the casomorphin found in cheese, which acts as a mild opiate and attaches to the same receptors as heroin, it is hard for anything to match up.
So, step 1 is to start experimenting with the vegan alternatives to your favorites. You might discover some disappointing cousins along the way, but when you find your winner, you’ll be glad you took the trip.
2. Pinterest is now going to become your best friend
We all have our fan favorite recipes. In fact, when it comes down to it, most of us only circulate the same 8 or so recipes repeatedly. That’s it. Eating as an omnivore might seem like the more diverse and option-full choice, but very few people actually utilize the wide array of options.
What surprisingly starts to happen when you cross over to the plant side is that your limits expand immensely. Suddenly you start exploring ingredients and recipes you never would have before. You realize that there are in fact many more vegetables than onions, mushrooms, and broccoli.
As you begin making the shift, here’s what you do. Take any of your favorite dinners, type it into Pinterest and put the word “vegan” in front. Look at that! 100s of options that will warm your heart instead of blocking it.
Very soon you will have your go-to vegan food bloggers and your previous list of 8 recipes will be replaced by a new set of healthier, cruelty-free, environmentally friendlier options.
3. Get comfortable with some of the “weird” ingredients
As you start to read these Pinterest recipes, you are likely to come across things like nutritional yeast, crumbled tempeh, cashew cheese. Take a breath.
It can be a little daunting, I know. I mean, where on earth do you even find nutritional yeast in the grocery store?
Anytime you try anything new it can cause anxiety, hesitation, and doubt. Recognize that as part of the process. Making a big change like this involves the obvious, changing what you put in your body, but it also involves a change in your mindset. As you explore something strange and foreign like extra firm tofu, remember that what you are doing is laying down the foundation for a lifelong commitment to healthy, compassionate living. And, it can be fun, and yummy.
A good place to start is to commit to exploring just 1 new ingredient a week. Find it in the grocery store (probably the hardest part), test it out in a few different recipes, call a friend for help, and reach the end of the week feeling like you successfully conquered it.
4. Build your plate from the “grain”, not the “protein”
Since becoming vegan, using the word “protein” to describe the animal meat on the plate sounds ridiculous. Think about it, protein is a nutrient, like vitamins, and it is present in virtually everything you eat. You wouldn’t ask, “what’s the mineral for tonight’s meal going to be?”
Many decades ago, the protein obsession began. Somewhere along the line, protein became synonymous with meat, and just like that we began building our meals around the “protein” – aka the source of meat.
This is a huge mindset change.
First, we do not have a problem with protein deficiency. It does not exist outside of enormous calorie restriction and illness. So, you can release any concerns you might have about not getting enough protein on a plant based diet.
Second, start to drop the idea that meals have to revolve around the “protein”. Instead, start to build your plates around the whole grain – rice, pasta, lentils, quinoa etc. Let that be where you start to design your plate and build from there.
5. Commit to something manageable
The last step is to make a commitment that you are comfortable sticking with.
For many people, like myself, diving head first and going all in is the only way success is going to happen. If I allow myself exceptions, the number of exceptions will most certainly increase. I have to do it 100%. I also do well when I can eliminate decision anxiety. By flat out deciding, “ok, now I am vegan”, the next time there is a delicious looking charcuterie board in front of me, it’s no longer a debate in my head. The decision has already been made. “I don’t eat that. I am vegan.”
But this doesn’t work for everyone. Many people need to ease into big changes. If that is your style, celebrate your self-awareness and honesty, and then decide on what your “easing” will look like.
Some options:
- 1 fully plant based meal a day
- 1 full day a week
- plant based during the week only for now
- plant based at home, but some flexibility when you’re out
Whatever you choose, whether it be 1 meal or all-in, choose something you are comfortable sticking to now and give yourself room to evolve. What is a big change today will not be as big a change a month from now. I think you will be very surprised at how good you will feel and how easy it actually is.
Summary
So here are the 5:
- Have fun experimenting
- Let Pinterest become your new best friend, or sous chef
- Get comfortable with the “weird” ingredients – just 1 at a time
- Build your plate from the grain up
- Commit to something you are comfortable with
To wrap up…
To end off, I want to say thank you – thank you for even considering this change. The world needs more people to take this bold step and ease the world, and our arteries, of the burden we are putting on it.
If you are considering making the change to a more plant based way of eating, you should consider my 1 hour long, Becoming Vegan online course. Get all your questions answered and empower you with knowledge, tips, tricks, and tools to make the transition much less daunting. Email me now to find out more!
wholisticjoywellness@gmail.com
Yours in joy,
Tara
