Becoming A Vegan…
Is it for you? What is a Vegan diet?
A vegan diet is one that consists of only plant-derived foods. Vegans don’t use or consume any animals or animal products including flesh (land or sea animals), milk, eggs, or honey.
Eating vegan is affordable. The most nutritious and inexpensive vegan foods which can be found in any supermarket, are fresh produce, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. These should make up the bulk of the diet for optimum health. There are more and more options of vegan processed foods in the markets now such as soy hot dogs, vegan “cheeses,” and desserts, which make transitioning to a vegan diet easy and fun!
Here are 12 tips to get you started:
Go at your own pace.
Don’t get caught up in the rules. Educate yourself.
Start Quietly and slowly.
Find someone else who is also Vegan and gain their knowledge and support. Find a Vegan support group.
Make sure you get enough protein.
Focus on vegetables and fruits. Try to stay away from “starch-filled foods”.
Going Vegan doesn’t mean deprivation.
Re-think how and where you shop for your food.
You can still eat out. (Even fast food places are starting to offer Vegan options on their menus).
Try more ethnic foods. Be adventurous with other cultural foods.
Experiment, experiment, experiment! Try to incorporate similar favorite flavors into new dishes.
Be resourceful! There is a ton of information out there! Be wise. Be knowledgeable.
What is the difference between Vegetarian and Vegan?
A vegetarian excludes meat, poultry, and seafood from their diet. Some vegetarians also exclude dairy, some don't, and some may consume eggs. Likewise, vegans avoid meat, poultry, and seafood, but they also take it a step further by eliminating all animal products from their diet. This includes any type of animal milk and eggs. Vegans avoid foods produced using animals or animal products in any way, including honey. Many vegans also avoid household products, clothing, or other items made from animal products or tested on animals.
Both vegetarians and vegans have to be sure the complete spectrum of their nutritional needs are met. This means eating a balanced selection of foods to get their daily nutritional requirements of zinc, iron, calcium, and protein. Having a very diverse diet and taking advantage of all the food choices available is a great step in the right direction to getting all the nutrients your body needs.
The vegan diet is becoming more and more mainstream, with people cutting out animal products for environmental, ethical and health reasons. So, is veganism more of a personal or moral decision? Or is it how we should all be eating for long-term health?
Is this the right path for your health happiness journey? Only you can decide for you!