How To Get Started With A Vegan Lifestyle

What are your thoughts on veganism? Since our last post on the subject, the popularity of this dietary choice has continued to skyrocket. In fact, there’s an excellent chance that you know one and are tempted into the lifestyle yourself.

But how do you get started? We’re going to run through some of the basics of getting a foothold in the vegan way of life, and reveal some of the problem areas you might encounter. Let’s get started right away.

The Rules

There are a lot of rules about diet when you are a vegan.  But it’s a lifestyle thing, too, so you have to be careful about what you wear, what you use, and what industries you support, too.

Vegans do not eat or use animal products of any kind. That means no more steak, no more leather shoes, and never setting foot inside a McDonald’s again.

Now, the fact you are considering veganism at all is probably a sign that none of those would be hardships. But, if any of those is going to upset you, it might be worth thinking again.

The Expense

You might think that eating vegetables instead of cheeses and meat would be cheaper. And you would be right. But, you have to eat a lot more, and once you start down the vegan route, you may well end up with expensive tastes.

Whole foods, superfoods and farmer’s markets could well become your staples, so your budget will have to be able to cope with that move.

The Planning

You will need to spend a lot longer planning and preparing your meals once you go vegan. There are plenty of great books out there with fantastic recipes inside them, but you will notice one thing quickly. There is not much vegan fast food, save raw vegetables and fruit, and the occasional dish from a festival or farmer’s market stall. But, as you get more experienced, you should find yourself getting quicker, and using shortcuts such as the freezer, too!

The Fitness

A lot of people worry about going vegan as they feel it will affect their workouts and fitness programs. This is true in a way – no more meat, fish and eggs can have a severe impact on the amount of protein you consume. But, there are ways to get around this nutrition problem. You can get vegan protein powder, for example. Or, you could increase the amount of soybeans, lentils, and nuts that you eat.

The Medical Issues

Another issue that people associate with veganism is the impact it has on your health. Again, this is true up to a point – when you begin a vegan diet you will be eliminating a lot of food groups. That can have an impact when you don’t really know how to replace those nutrients. So, it’s a sensible move to visit your doctor before you start your new diet, and to keep in touch for regular checkups.

Going vegan can bring health benefits – but it’s also a risk if you are unsure of what you are doing. Make sure you cover all your nutritional bases, and you should be okay.

Picture courtesy of Flickr.