Why You Shouldn’t Go Vegan Cold Turkey
So, you’ve decided to stop eating animal products — what’s next? At this stage you have two options open to you — going vegan cold turkey or opting for more of a gradual process. While there are pros and cons to both methodologies, it’s certainly a lot easier and less shocking on many levels if you approach the change at a deliberate pace.
Going Vegan Gradually
Changing your diet dramatically can affect your physical as well as emotional health. Think about certain foods you might have an emotional attachment to, such as the pecan pie your mom used to make for family gatherings. More significant than the act of eating the pie are the positive associations it evokes. In addition, from a physical standpoint, overhauling your diet overnight can lead to a number of unwanted side effects.
Instead of cold turkey, you may want to sit down and draw up a timeline that will allow you to reach your goal by breaking up the process of becoming vegan into smaller, easier steps.
Go Slow
Some people will give up animal-based food in stages. Consider replacing one meal a day with a vegan alternative, or making small vegan adjustments to your current go-to meals. This will give your body time to get used to the new foods, tastes, and textures you’ll be adding into your diet.
Make a Plan
Meal planning is a vital part of adopting a vegan lifestyle. Coming up with a game plan will save you frustration in the grocery store and will help you ensure that your diet includes all of the essential nutrients you’ve probably been getting from meat and dairy, like calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. Schedule time to research the best way to get these nutrients from plant-based options.
Grow Your Community
Finally, find like-minded individuals to help keep you accountable and give you tips for how they made the switch from an omnivorous diet to a vegan one. Finding out what worked for other vegans as well as the pitfalls they encountered will help ensure that your transition to veganism is as smooth as it can be. By making this exciting lifestyle change a gradual process, you have a better chance of keeping it up for the long run. Done correctly, eating vegan can lead to looking and feeling better, along with the benefit to animals and the environment that cutting out meat provides.
Vegan Life Nutrition helps folks who have chosen to go vegan get all the nutrients their bodies need. We offer high quality, completely vegan supplements that contain the nutrients essential for a happy, healthy life.
Supplements to Consider
If going vegan is your goal, there are a few key nutrients that you’ll want to ensure are present in your daily diet. The supplements below contain nutrients commonly missed by those transitioning to veganism and can help you keep your body healthy and strong.
