Top Tips For Going Vegan

In 2022, more people than ever have adopted a vegan diet. This is partly due to the fact that we are more aware of the environmental effects and the health effects of the animal-farming industry, as well as the animal cruelty aspect.

In the UK, over 7.2 million people have a meat-free diet, and 3% of the population follow a strict vegan diet. This may seem like a low figure, but that equates to over 2 million people.

If you’re considering going vegan, or simply lowering your consumption and usage of animal products, then we’ve got you covered. Read on for our top tips for going vegan, from researching to using excellent vegan alternatives.

Ease Yourself In

Be sure to ease yourself into a vegan diet, and take time to adjust if you need it. Although some people may be able to go vegan overnight, others need time to adjust to a meat-free diet and lifestyle.

This is why so many people choose to become flexitarian first or allow themselves to eat meat two or three times a week at first. Some people will also opt for a pescatarian diet, then a vegetarian diet, and eventually a vegan diet or a plant-based diet.

Veganism is a lifestyle change, and one size doesn’t always fit all. It can take time to adjust and work out a vegan plan that works for you. Why not try cooking a few vegan recipes and see how you feel? It might be easier than you think, as there are countless easy vegan recipes that are both healthy and delicious.

You could also try removing dairy from your diet first, and then removing meat from your diet - or simply having vegan breakfasts and lunches and allowing yourself to eat non-vegan foods at dinner time. What works for you may not work for anybody else - it’s a personalised experience. As long as you keep your end goal in mind, you’re sure to get there in the end.

Research, Research, and More Research

It’s not always an easy process to become a vegan and may require a lot of research. As well as researching which foods are best for vegans, you may also want to research the reasons for veganism.

For example, many people decide to become vegan due to the animal cruelty aspect. Factory farms aren’t pleasant places. In fact, most animals are crammed into containers and cages that they can only just fit into, and are given the bare minimum they need to survive.

They are born on these farms and will die on the farm, and many animals in factory farms will never feel the sun on their back. As Paul McCartney said - “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everybody would be a vegan”.

In 2022, we are becoming more environmentally conscious - and we are becoming more aware of how the animal farming industry can negatively impact our planet. The meat and dairy industry accounts for 14.% of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions according to the UN - which is around the same as the exhaust emissions for every aircraft, ship, train and car on the planet.

Knowing why you’re vegan is key to sticking to it and changing your diet and lifestyle effectively. However, veganism is a learning curve, and the longer you follow a vegan diet, the more you’ll know. The concept of veganism has been around forever but was given its name back in the 1940s.

Be sure to take time to learn about the vegan lifestyle and the different options available to you, whether it be full-on veganism, a vegetarian diet or a pescatarian diet. You may also want to consider a flexitarian diet - which many people choose as a stepping stone to a full-time vegan diet.

You may be surprised to hear that your favourite foods and drinks contain animal products. Researching is the only way of finding this out - without researching, you’ll likely be consuming animal products without realising it.

For example, you may be surprised to learn that not all wine is suitable for vegans. In this instance, you should find quality vegan alternatives. Read on to learn more about finding vegan alternatives.

Find The Best Alternatives

As more and more people are opting for a vegan diet, retailers and the food industry are following suit and providing more vegan options. Most good restaurants will have multiple vegan options, and most reputable supermarkets will have whole aisles or sections dedicated to vegan products.

You may have heard of Quorn and Linda McCartney, but there are many more vegan options out there that can replace your most-used pantry products that aren’t usually vegan - including dairy products. For example, it’s easy to find a vegan alternative to milk - whether you choose oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, or even rice milk. Many of these are also healthier.

You can also find vegan cheese - or make your own if you have the time. Vegan cheese is usually made using components from vegetables - for example, fats, proteins, and plant milks. You can make vegan cheese using soybeans, coconut oil, yeast, rice, potatoes, seeds, or nuts - and of course, spices.

There are also plenty of vegan alternatives to meat products - who says you can’t enjoy a tasty burger if you’re a vegan? Or a delicious Sunday dinner? The vegan section of your local supermarket should present you with a variety of delicious vegan options, from sausages to ‘chicken’ nuggets and even ham.

Vegan Wine

If you enjoy your wine, you may want to consider opting for vegan alternatives. This is because not all wine is suitable for vegans. It all comes down to the fining process - after wine ferments, there tends to be sediment left over.

Vintners will put the wine through the fining process which clears the wine of any sediment such as proteins and yeast and improves the overall texture of the wine.

However, the fining process involves using fining agents to filter the wine. Some fining agents include animal products, such as casein, fish bladder, gelatin, etc - which means the resulting wine is unsuitable for those on a vegan diet or a plant-based diet.

If you’re looking for quality vegan wine alternatives, check out our very own Think Wine - we have delicious vegan Prosecco and rosé that is also low in sugar and low in calories. Check out this post about vegan wine and non-vegan wine.

Maintain a Balanced Diet

A vegan diet doesn’t always mean a healthy diet - you can be a vegan and eat nothing but chips and vegan chocolate. It’s important that you maintain a healthy balanced diet of whole foods, fruits, and vegetables.

Sometimes, vegan recipes can take longer to complete than regular recipes, especially if you’re making your own vegan alternatives. Use healthy ingredients and you’re sure to stay in your recommended calorie allowance for the day.

Ensure that you’re drinking enough water as your body adjusts to a vegan lifestyle - and ensure you’re always drinking between 6 and 8 cups of water a day. There’s a misconception that a vegan diet is unhealthy - you can still get the right vitamins by maintaining a healthy balanced diet. Take care to ensure you’re getting enough calcium, iron, and vitamin B12 in your diet.