Thinking About Going Vegan? Here’s What You Need to Know Before Going All In
Is This Lifestyle For You?
I never thought I would become a vegan. And guess what? I’m still not one! Ha! But that’s because I took the time to learn about it first. After doing some research, I realized that being vegan doesn’t really fit my lifestyle—and that’s okay!
Clearly, going vegan is working right for some people. According to Vegan Food and Living, there are 79 million people around the world ditching meat and dairy products. On top of that, if you have any regard for the environment, according to The Guardian, going vegan is the “single, biggest way” to reduce your impact on the planet.
One thing I quickly learned in my research is that veganism is much more than a diet; it impacts every aspect of your daily life (if you become a true vegan). The lifestyle change that comes with this diet is what tends to overwhelm people at the start of their vegan journey. However, for some, it’s exactly what the doctor ordered. With that, before you dive deep into a world free of meat and dairy products, here are a few things you should definitely make yourself aware of.
Know and Understand Your “Why”
Look—becoming a vegan isn’t just about swapping burgers for bean patties and calling it a day; it’s a lifestyle change. And if you don’t have a strong reason for doing it, that late-night craving for pepperoni pizza with extra cheese might just throw you off track.
As long as you know why you want to be a vegan, whether it’s for health reasons, the environment, animal welfare, or just wanting to see if you can survive without cheese (respect if you do), that’s what’s going to help keep you strong in moments of weakness. Whatever your reason is, lock it in. Because there will be days when you’ll smell bacon and question everything. Or when your friends side-eye your tofu like it personally offended them. That’s when knowing your "why" keeps you motivated.
Becoming a Vegan Doesn’t Mean You’re Going to Be Healthy
If I’m going to be honest, this aspect is one that made me question the diet. I was clearly misinformed about it. I mean, I knew there were tons of health benefits to going vegan, but my thinking was that if you become a vegan, you’ll lose weight (almost immediately). I also thought that becoming a vegan meant that you would have to cut out a lot of different foods, and that the foods available were going to be nasty—that couldn’t be further from the truth, especially now.
These days, there are tons of vegan junk food and fast food options like pizza, burgers, even chips and candy! A few years ago, finding those types of food as a vegan option was practically impossible, but now they’re everywhere! So, just because these foods are vegan, it doesn’t mean they’re healthy. They may be better than animal products, but they’re still processed foods. If you want the real health benefits of being vegan, don’t overdo it!
You May Need to Supplement Certain Vitamins and Minerals
When you give up meat and dairy products, you’re robbing yourself of certain essential nutrients your body needs, including:
Iron
Calcium
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
There are vegan foods that have these nutrients, but you have to make sure you eat enough of them. Before making the switch, talk to a doctor or nutritionist to make sure you’re getting what your body needs.
People Aren’t Going to Understand or Support Your Decision
Unfortunately, this is just what comes with the territory of venturing into something new, especially with a diet change as big as becoming a vegan. The ones you used to go out to brunch and dinner with are now the very ones intentionally offering you a piece of their bacon or wanting you to taste how delicious their Cajun chicken pasta is. The funny thing is that before you became a vegan, they wouldn’t offer you a crumb of their food!
But this is something to expect. So on your journey to veganism, just know that it won’t be easy. And while there will be people there who will support you on your journey, there will also be those in your inner circle who want you to give in to the temptation of meat and dairy products. All I can say is “Be strong!”
Most Restaurants Have Vegan Menu Options
Many people tend to avoid veganism because not only will they be giving up their favorite foods, but they also think they won’t be able to eat at their favorite restaurants anymore, and that’s just not true. As the vegan population has grown over the years, so has the variety of menu options at restaurants.
Additionally, there are multiple vegan restaurants around the globe now too. For example, Slutty Vegan has 12 locations. And this is a restaurant I’ve actually eaten at before even though I’m not a vegan. Trust me when I say, the food tastes amazing! You would think there was meat and dairy products in their food. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend you try it, whether you’re a vegan or not!
All in all, becoming a vegan is a choice you have to make based on your why. Make sure you educate yourself thoroughly to ensure it aligns with your lifestyle—The last thing you want to do is become frustrated, “hangry,” or rob your body of the nutrients it needs. Talk with your doctor if you’re unsure about starting this diet.
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