5 Essential Steps Towards Going Vegan
Going Vegan is a big lifestyle change, it means completely cutting animal products from your life, including meat, fish, dairy and even honey. It's no easy task and most people won't manage overnight, but whether you're vegan, veggie, flexitarian or just plant based, you will be helping the planet, the animals and your health! It'll also allow you to try new foods and brands which you may not have heard of.
But before you stock up on meat-free meals and dive in headfirst, it's important to do your research in order to take care of your health and wellbeing whilst undergoing a big lifestyle change!
Here are 5 easy steps towards going Vegan
1. Prepare yourself
Going vegan isn't a decision to be taken lightly, it isn't just a diet but an entire lifestyle choice that takes a lot of commitment. Make sure you are clear on why you want to take the plunge, and do plenty of research beforehand!
2. Plan your meals
It's not enough to just stock up on a bunch of meat-free alternatives and hope for the best, you may end up wasting your money on a bunch of food you don't like! Start by preparing a few staple meals that you can rely on, and that will serve you nutritionally as well. The internet is full of resources, with hundreds of vegan meals to choose from you will be sure to find a way to rework your old favourites into a new, plant based alternative! Check out videos from Bosh, The Avant Garde Vegan and So Vegan for easy, delicious vegan recipes!
3. Take it Step By Step
The best way to transition to a vegan diet and ensure you stick to it is to take things one step at a time! It can be tempting to quit animal products completely when you learn about the benefits of going vegan, but you are more likely to fall off the wagon if you don't pace yourself! Start by cutting out one type of animal product at a time, starting with your least favourite! Not that fussed on eggs? Leave them off your breakfast this week! Found a new delicious mince alternative? Use that in your spaghetti or chilli this week! Our tastebuds develop and change gradually over time, so you'll find it much easier to adjust to your new plant-filled meals if you don't rush.
4. It's not just about food
Going vegan isn't just about food, although that's a big part of it, there are animal derived ingredients in beauty products, cleaning products, or even in the fashion items we wear! It's obvious to avoid leather and fur, but it can be a little trickier when it comes to beauty. Animal ingredients aren't always immediately obvious, and just because something is free of animal ingredients doesn't mean the brand is cruelty free, as it may have been tested on animals! There are plenty of resources out there that will help you switch up your beauty routine, such as Cruelty Free Kitty, a directory of which brands are cruelty free and which aren't.
Read our blog post for our Top 7 Vegan Beauty Essentials here.
5. Consult a Doctor
Being vegan can be an amazing choice for your health, but with any big dietary change you should always consult your Doctor or a dietician to get the right advice on how to keep your diet balanced. It's also wise to get a blood test to ensure you have sufficient levels of vitamins and iron, or you may need to consider taking a supplement.
Lily England is a 100% Vegan and Cruelty Free Brand, and always will be. You can be sure that you are getting 100% animal friendly products from us, and any brands we may endorse.
Shop our full range of cruelty-free beauty tools and accessories here.