10 TIPS! How To Go Vegan {what helped me go vegan!}

10 Tips for Going Vegan: A Beginner’s Guide

Hi everyone, Whether you are a new vegan, transitioning, or just looking for some advice, I wanted to share my top tips on how to navigate this lifestyle change.

Here is my guide to making your plant-based journey successful, healthy, and enjoyable.

1. Choose Your Approach: Overnight or Gradual

There isn’t one “right” way to do this. It depends on your budget, lifestyle, and motivation.

The Overnight Vegan: You wake up and decide to change everything immediately (this is what I did).
The Gradual Vegan: You take it step-by-step.
- Method A: Start with one vegan meal a week (e.g., Meatless Mondays). Then increase to two days, then three, until it becomes your new normal.
- Method B: Elimination. Cut out dairy first, then meat, then fish, slowly removing animal products from your diet.

Both paths lead to the same destination: helping your body, the animals, and the environment.

2. Find Your “Go-To” Meals

You need three main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) that you can turn to when you are tired, busy, or desperate. These should be meals you love that are quick to make.

My favorites: In the beginning, mine were pasta with vegan pesto or hummus with pita bread. I could easily spruce these up with extra veggies, but the foundation was always there.

3. Learn Your Protein

If you are scared about protein, do your research. The average person needs about 50g of protein (varying by height/weight), which is very attainable on a vegan diet.

Sources: Lentils (18g per cup), vegan protein powders (pea protein), beans, and tofu.
If you aren’t worried about protein, just focus on a well-balanced diet of whole foods, and you will likely hit your targets naturally.

4. Track Your Calories (At First)

When I first went vegan, I found myself hungry at night. Plant-based whole foods are naturally lower in calories than meat and dairy, so you need to eat a larger volume of food.

The Fix: Use an app like MyFitnessPal temporarily to check that you are getting enough calories, carbohydrates, and fats.

5. Drink More Water

As you transition, your body will start detoxing from the food you used to eat. Drinking plenty of water aids this process and helps keep your skin, hair, and insides healthy.

6. Embrace the Fiber

If you are increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, you are increasing your fiber.

The Reality: You might be on the toilet a bit more than usual. Don’t fear it! It is your body adjusting.
My Experience: I used to suffer from IBS and constipation. Cutting out dairy and increasing fiber changed my life. My digestion went from terrible to “pure glory.”

7. Don’t Forget B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency is serious and can happen to meat-eaters and vegans alike. Because of modern farming and sanitation, it is harder to get B12 naturally.

My Routine: I use a B12 spray every day (infused with grapefruit!).
Note: Always check with your doctor regarding supplements.

8. Be Kind to Yourself

You are breaking a condition. Society, schools, and media have told us our whole lives that we need meat and dairy. You are unlearning a lifetime of habits.

If you struggle or don’t know what to eat, take a step back and remember your “Why” (ethics, health, environment).
Show yourself compassion. You are doing something amazing.

9. Nourish Your Body

Reframe how you look at food. It isn’t just fuel; it’s nourishment for your organs, brain, and muscles.

Omegas: Chia, hemp, and flax seeds for flexible cells and muscle recovery.
Vitamin C: Red peppers and oranges for connective tissue.
Iron: Greens like broccoli, spinach, and spirulina to help oxygen flow.

10. Find Inspiration and “Veganize” It

If you get bored with recipes, look to other cultures or find inspiration online.

Community: Watch YouTubers, follow Instagrammers, or go to vegan events to swap tips.
Cuisines: Look at West African, Indian, Mexican, or Caribbean cuisines. They use amazing spices.
“Veganize” It: Use those traditional spices on vegetables. The same way you season chicken is the way you can season plants.