7 Ways to Go Vegan

Have you been thinking about "going vegan" for health? There are several ways to go vegan, and the approach that works for someone else may not work for you. But going vegan as a dietary choice works best if you follow a few guidelines. Here are 7 ways to more successfully commit to a vegan dietary change.

1. Equip yourself with knowledge. Knowledge is power, and you are going to need to learn some basics about what to eat and what to avoid. Hidden in food labels are all sorts of animal source terms that you may or may not even think are animal-related. You are going to need to learn what foods to purchase, where to get certain foods, how to cook vegan meals, nutrient deficiencies you must guard against, and health claims surrounding the vegan diet. You can't have too many reference books on your shelf.

2. Clean out the cupboard and refrigerator. If you are truly determine to go vegan, you'll want to clean out the cupboards and refrigerator of foods that might sabotage your efforts. Give the foods to someone; don't just trash them. You have spent good money for the food, and someone else can benefit by it. Clean out what you can't or shouldn't eat, and make room for what you can.

3. Restock the cupboard and refrigerator. Once you've cleared out the cupboard and refrigerator of foods not on your intended food plan, it's time to restock. Using knowledge gained from your reading about vegan foods and health, plan to visit the nutrition section of your local grocery store. You might also need to visit a local health food store to shop for certain items not carried in the grocery store. Costs will probably be less expensive if you can buy certain foods in bin-bulk. Stock up on the essentials and remember spices. Spices are key to making any new diet plan palatable.

4. Stop one animal source at a time. You can drop animal sources "cold turkey" (no pun intended), or you can remove one animal source at a time from your diet. For instance, maybe you will continue to eat fish, but you will drop beef, chicken, lamb, and pork; or maybe you will start by going vegetarian--keeping dairy and eggs only in your diet. Small steps that lead to big steps might be the ticket that works for you.

5. Schedule certain meals as vegan. Maybe you would be more successful at your attempt to go vegan if you start with a meal a day being vegan or a day a week being vegan. Some individuals find that it's difficult to eat out on a vegan meal plan; so they eat vegan--except when eating out. Do whatever works for you, and don't be discouraged if you can't achieve all your goals in the beginning.

6. Experiment with new vegan foods. Part of the fun of going vegan is discovering all the new foods you never heard of before or never thought about eating. It might be worth your while to attend a vegan cooking class or watch some vegan videos that demonstrate some specific cooking methods. You might also head to the fresh produce section of your grocery store and purchase unfamiliar produce--just for the taste experience.

7. Join a vegan support group. Going vegan alone is a lonely road. You will want a support group or least an online support group. Many individuals have gone vegetarian, but fewer have gone vegan. Having a support group will be an important source of information and accountability, as you continue down this new dietary road called veganism.

It should be much easier for you to go vegan now that you know several ways to approach the dietary change. Start small or go big. Just remember--however small you start, congratulate yourself on working toward your ultimate health goal.