Converting

So you've been thinking about going Vegan?

It's not as scary or dramatic as you might think. The main thing you will need is a purpose. Your purpose will motivate you to wake up every day and do what you need to do. 

The difficulty of converting really depends on you. Some people can wake up one day and decide they will never eat cheese again. That method takes a lot of will power. Others, like myself, have to take baby steps. So here are some tips that personally helped me convert from life long vegetarian to fully vegan. 

        The first tip I have for you; find your reason to convert. This is important. When you become vegan, and hopefully embrace it, you will get a ton of questions. Many people just want to know "what made you want to go vegan" and boy you better have a good answer. Most people go vegan for you know, the animals, the environment, the future generations of all living creatures that will inherit the earth. But the reason can be all on you. I once had a professor in college who was solely "plant based" because his wife put him on that diet. If that's your niche, then so be it.

        Second; there's no rush. You can take as much time as you need to convert. Baby steps may be the way to go for you. I recommend to try out vegan spots, if you don't know what to order, ask for the most popular thing on the menu. You'll be surprised how spot on some of the vegan versions of dishes will be to the original non-cruelty-free ones. Many grocery stores also have a vegetarian/vegan section, look around, buy some substitutes. I will soon provide a list of most recommended protein/meat substitutes. There are substitutes that fit most other diets, whether you are on keto, gluten free, paleo, you name it. Just practice incorporating more vegan products day-to-day. 

        Tip 3 I have for you; follow vegan inspiration pages on social media. People have the pre-conceived notion that vegans are crazy, or snobs, or love to talk down to non-vegans. That is mostly not true. You'll see that most vegans are inviting to the community, and happy to motivate you. I promise you, we're all foodies. We love to cook, and eat, and explore. 

        Fourth tip; stick to your morals. People love to antagonize vegans. You know you are doing what you're doing for a good cause. An example of an argument against veganism; "produce farms exploit their workers and under pay them, why would you support that?". We know that many horrible things go on in every industry and environment, we are doing our best to be less of a part of that. This argument is the worst because in that case everyone, vegans, non-vegans, vegetarians, all support cruel and in-just work conditions in produce farms. You also have to learn to pick your battles. Arguing with random people all day on the internet is not good for your mental health either. Take care of your body, soul, and mind. 

        My fifth tip; how to eat out. Eating out has never been easier. Many restaurants offer at least one vegan dish. Now I am not going to lie, that dish may or may not be a house salad, hold the cheese, hold the dressing. Don't be shy to ask for a vegan menu. If you live in Las Vegas, there are so many strictly vegan eateries, and most of them local. Read my post on Vegan Places to Check Out for my favorite foods from local Vegas restaurants. As for price points, eating out for vegans isn't any more expensive than anyone else... but it also isn't anymore inexpensive.   

        And my bonus tip for you; you don't have to break the bank. Shopping vegan/organic can be actually really inexpensive. The 99 Cents Only store sales organic, fresh produce at unbelievable prices. Tip on this tip, they restock produce on Thursdays. You can also find coupons, and sales on vegan protein at grocery stores like Sprouts and Trader Joe's. But the best method to saving money when going vegan, is to learn how to make your own food. I don't regularly eat processed meat substitutes. I like to make my own meals from all plants, and I use soy, beans, and other protein heavy foods. 

I hope this was helpful to you and encouraging to make some steps to converting to a vegan life style. If I can do it, I know you can do it.  I do wish I had some one giving me tips when starting my journey, so I am here to help. Follow my instagram page @ahungovervegan to reach out to me for any questions or more advice!