If you decide you want to become vegan, it won't be easy. You may have heard all kinds of good things about vegan food, but nobody says anything about the side effects. We have therefore listed them here.
When you switch to a more plant-based diet, you automatically consume fewer calories because vegetables have a lower calorie density than foods derived from animals. This means that you actually need to eat a larger amount to get all the calories you need. We should also not ignore the need to also get enough energy. Track what you eat for a few days to see if you're getting about 2000 calories from plant foods.
Eating too little not only puts you at risk of health problems, but it is also very likely that you will start eating animals and their byproducts again. Many people claim that they feel very sluggish when switching to a vegan diet, but this can only mean that they are either undereating or opting for a lot of vegan junk food.
Make sure to choose fresh vegan foods rather than processed foods. You should eat a higher volume of these foods to avoid unwanted weight loss while getting plenty of energy and proper nutrition. Avoid processed sugar, oil and anything with countless items on the ingredient list.
Being vegan means cutting out things like meat, fish, dairy, cheese, eggs, and butter. So it seems like there isn't much left for you to eat! This is when you should start experimenting with new foods. Try to buy a new vegetable every time. You also need to learn how to prepare everything. If you can't cook very well, you better get used to it.
Buy a simple vegan cookbook or look up some techniques online. Dare to choose some fruits and vegetables that you have never tried before.
Changing food you ate for years isn't easy. Our taste buds also agree to this and want to eat that we are used to. So if you change your diet and go vegan, you can bet that you will have some cravings for non-vegan food at some point. It becomes increasingly difficult if you do not eat enough and are always looking for (calorie-rich) food. One step to avoid this would be not to change your diet at night, but rather take small steps to give up your favorite foods.
Provide your favorite food, but in a vegan version. This makes it easier to disconnect from animal products. Once you switch to a mostly plant-based diet, your taste buds will adapt and you'll find the healthy foods irresistible!
When you decide to switch to vegan food, it does not automatically mean that the food will be healthy. Fries, soda… they are all vegan. These foods are of course not healthy! While such tasty ready meals can help you stay on track, they should be just the exception to the rule. When you slowly increase the amount of fresh foods in your diet, these little treats will be a stepping stone.
And not getting the best nutrition has many faces:your skin gets worse, your hair and nails get brittle, you get sick more quickly, you have less energy, less sleep, muscle cramps and much more. Veganism is not foolproof and if you choose to eat unhealthy food you can still get a lot of diseases. So make sure you don't miss out.
Eat fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes. Fresh plant foods give you all the nutrients you need if you eat or drink enough of them.
Have you ever experienced an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach after eating a salad or some beans? It's not the food's fault. Our bodies will adapt to the type of food we eat and our gut bacteria will be optimized for whatever it faces – whether that's healthy produce or processed junk.
So when you start replacing animal products with healthy plant foods such as grains, vegetables and legumes, you suddenly get a very different composition of food. Changing too quickly can lead to constipation, diarrhea and bloating.
Find out what's causing the trouble by keeping a food diary and look for common troublemakers like beans, Brussels sprouts, and onions. Find out what works well for you, drink enough and exercise to promote good digestion.
Let's face it:most people eat meat. So if you suddenly start eating vegan, there will be setbacks. Not just the curious e"But what can you eat?" Or “How do you live without cheese?”, not even the excuses like “I could never be that strong and do that” and “Good for you, I respect your choice but everyone is different”, are the worst.
Sometimes you will be openly mocked or ridiculed, people may try to put some animal products in your food or even hold a steak in your face. You will also be asked again and again if you are still “on this diet” and why you are doing this. Don't let this stop you from living a lifestyle that does the least amount of damage! It is better to do something than to do nothing.
Prepare yourself and be ready to answer both legitimate and stupid questions around veganism. Stick to your values even when dining out and don't make it difficult for others if they want to eat meat. Remember you don't have to save the whole world.
It may seem a bit tedious, but with any cause and change should be a solid foundation. Otherwise, your foray into the vegan world could be short-lived. There are many things you need to learn to succeed:eating the right foods, choosing cruelty-free cleaning and beauty products, and most importantly – answering all kinds of questions from non-vegans.
For example, do you know which ingredients to look up in packaged products that are not vegan? Make sure you learn everything by reading and learning a lot.
Look up the facts and don't listen to half-baked advice from others who have heard or read something somewhere. There is a lot of confusing information and people like to hear good news about their bad habits. Tell and show them how it can and should be done the right way.
