Ever since films like "The Game Changers" and "Cowspiracy," people's eating habits have changed. More and more people are becoming vegan, and it's no longer a trend. It's a movement of people who want to live healthier, more sustainably, and, above all, not cause animal suffering. And where it was difficult just a few years ago and meant a lot of sacrifice, more and more companies are now taking action. A vegan diet has become simple, and the many different products that replace meat and dairy products make changing your diet and the transition easy. The vegan scene makes a vegan diet particularly easy for beginners with plenty of vegan recipes and basic information that's available almost everywhere for free. So that you don't have to search your fingers to the bone, we have helpful tips for you and your easy transition to a vegan diet in the following article.
Vegan diet for beginners - How it works
So, you've decided to go vegan, taking what is arguably the most important step in your transition. Most people who want to switch to a vegan diet despair at the very beginning, thinking that a vegan diet also means deprivation. Many also lack the necessary basic knowledge to not only eliminate animal products but also replace them with healthy alternatives. And when everyday life gets stressful and new routines aren't yet established, people often fall back into old habits. Yet, a vegan diet has long since ceased to be a problem in everyday life in Germany. To help you get a feel for what you need, dispel vegan clichés, and upgrade your kitchen with delicious vegan recipes, we've compiled the simplest tips for you:
1. Good reasons for a vegan lifestyle
Changing your diet will certainly be easier if you have good reasons for wanting to go vegan. Good reasons could include the health benefits a vegan diet brings. Many human health problems can be traced back to diet. A vegan diet is therefore the right step for your health. Another reason why changing your diet is absolutely the right thing to do is the aspect of sustainability. Being vegan is good for our environment, because as a vegan, you save around 2 tons of greenhouse gases per year.
There are certainly many good reasons for switching to a vegan diet. But the main argument for adopting a vegan diet is probably animal suffering. Animals suffer not only during slaughter, but also during the exploitation of animals for eggs, wool, or milk. Therefore, anyone who wants to prevent animal suffering and advocate for animal protection should, as a logical consequence, not only switch to a vegan diet, but also live a cruelty-free and vegan lifestyle.
2. Every small step is a step in the right direction
Sometimes it's difficult to establish a new routine, or a radical change can be challenging. Often, people lack the right basic knowledge about what a healthy vegan diet should look like. Sometimes they experience setbacks, or they can't find a vegan alternative right away, so they opt for something vegetarian instead. But setbacks are human. Keep your goal in mind and don't let small setbacks discourage you. If a radical change is difficult, gradually eliminate one product at a time and replace it with a vegan alternative. Find inspiration for recipes and lifestyle models on social media and blogs, and acquire a solid knowledge of vegan nutrition. In his book "Vegan Klischee ade" (Goodbye Vegan Cliché), social media star Nico Rittenau, for example, dispels common misconceptions and offers beginners advice on how to avoid mistakes and make the transition smoothly.
3. Vegan cuisine – what can you even eat anymore?
You're probably familiar with the phenomenon: You come out as a vegan, and the barroom chatter immediately starts pouring out. People ask you what you can even eat and whether it isn't unhealthy, without any milk or meat. Arguments are pointless, because your counterpart's opinion is usually entrenched anyway, and the most important thing is that you know better. Vegan recipes for beginners don't just consist of a salad and bread, we promise. The variety of vegan cuisine knows no bounds, and almost every recipe can be veganized with just a few ingredients. Work your way through your kitchen cupboards and take in how many of the foods you use to cook are naturally vegan. Now all you have to do is combine them, and you'll have delicious vegan recipes. And thanks to fresh fruit and vegetables, most of them are even real quick fixes for a quick snack.
4. Eating together means eating less alone
Find other vegans. This may sound a bit crude, but your environment definitely contributes to the success of your transition. If you spend all day hearing arguments against it and having to justify and defend yourself and your diet, it could take a toll on your psyche. That's why it can be helpful to meet up with other like-minded people. You can also learn a lot and stay up to date. Cooking together, discovering new foods, and exchanging recipes will broaden your culinary horizons, and it's not for nothing that the saying goes that the way to a person's heart is through their stomach.
Going vegan for beginners isn't rocket science. Familiarize yourself with nutrients, foods, and vegan recipes, and you'll see how easy the transition will be. Vegan cuisine provides you with a healthy and balanced diet if you don't just focus on substitutes, and your menu will expand to include plenty of fruits and vegetables. Nevertheless, minor setbacks may occur—but don't let them discourage you. Keep your goal clearly in mind and always remember how much animal suffering you'll avoid by changing your diet and living vegan. Go vegan!
