SUMMARY
Vegan dieting has gained many followers, due to its known benefits for health, animals, and the environment. Here are some tips and advice about taking the plunge.
Maybe you’ve eavesdropped on a couple of housewives nearby raving about all of their latest happenings over brunch.
While sipping on some cocktails, they’re discussing the “V” word, and no, we’re not throwing it back to high school, where conversation material entailed discussing your V-card.
Somehow, the new neighborhood gossip has turned into discussing your new favorite diet.
The vegan diet has been forever a trend, but not everyone has hopped onboard just yet. If you’re on the edge and wondering if you should make the jump, there’s no better time than right now.
You don’t have to wait until the New Year to initiate a “new year, new me” pact. With now being the time that being “health-conscious” is more “in” than ever, here are the top 3 reasons that you should consider going vegan.
Cancel out the processed meats, chemicals, animal testing, etc.
You might remember the documentary, “What the Health” that released last year on Netflix and sent everyone into a frenzy. While you could be worrying about where your meats have been, you can avoid the drama entirely by jumping on a vegan diet.
It’s nice to see a delicious red steak plopped down in front of you at the dinner table. The presentation couldn’t be more appealing, but the reality is, depending on where your meat comes from, some may have originated from farms with animal testing or where chemicals are injected to make sure your food looks the way it looks. Sadly, not all that glitters is gold.
Even previous research has found that a vegan diet has been linked to lowering risks of certain kinds of cancers.
Before you make a decision, make sure to be in the know, or as your tween daughters would say, woke.
Feeling like you’re not ready to give up your carnivorous life? Try Trader Joe’s beefless ground beef that’ll have you tricking your friends into thinking it’s the real thing!
Not to be cheesy, but pave the way for future generations…
Going vegan may mean skipping the wine and cheese pairings after work over Happy Hour, so don’t mind it when Negative Nancy over there starts giving you weird looks or even the “side eye.” She just might not be in the loop with all of the latest in dieting or jealous that you’re flashing your new in-season Gucci handbag.
By choosing vegan, you’re not only choosing to take steps towards a healthier future but paving the way for your children to take the same route.
Kids take after you whether you’d like to admit it or not. They pick up on your language, your mannerisms, and yes, even the snarky remarks you may occasionally make at your husband.
Choosing vegan for yourself and your family will set the standard early that a health-conscious and high-quality diet is imperative for an overall healthier and happy lifestyle.
If getting your kids onboard with going vegan proves to be a hassle, try making fun recipes in the kitchen that they can’t say “no” to like these vegan gluten-free donuts.
You’ll start looking better than ever…
You’re a busy woman that’s constantly on-the-go, migrating from location to location, whether it be the office, the Pressed Juicery where everyone seems to know your name, the school for PTA meetings, or your home base. While the temptation may be high for a “healthy” takeout, especially when there’s a place at almost every block, you don’t have to give in.
Eating vegan can actually be more simple and easy than your former already-healthy diet. You don’t have to spend excessive amounts of time waiting for things to bake, roast, and grill. You can be out the door in about half the amount of time, and can help yourself start looking better than ever!
Previous research has shown that a vegan diet, in particular, has contributed to weight loss over time. This goes to show that you don’t have you don’t have to chow down on meal-replacement bars every hour or skip out on meals when you can maintain a regular and healthy routine with a vegan diet.
Still don’t believe us? Try this healthy vegan pad thai recipe that can be made in as little as 30 minutes.
If, by the end of all of this, you’re still not convinced — either because it’s too time-consuming or too much work hunting down vegan products at the grocery store, Fresh N Lean offers a low-carb and low-calorie plant-based meal prep option to ensure that you’ll have vegan meal options every single day of the week!
It’s not considered expenses when it’s an investment. Bon appétit!
How Small Habits Can Help You Go Vegan (The Fogg Method)
Somehow, along the way, you’ve been brainwashed into thinking that going vegan was equivalent to that of giving up life in civilization, eating plants for survival, and never having your taste buds fulfilled ever again. Dramatic much? Although the initial breakthrough can be tough, going vegan doesn’t have to be as painful as you made it out to be in your head!
Perhaps you’ve already decided that going vegan is worth a shot. You’ve tried recruiting the help of your significant other or best friend in order to get through the journey alive but to no avail.
Luckily, there are small habits that can help make this lifestyle transition a lot easier.
Today, we’re unlocking the secrets on how small habits can help you go vegan. Pretty soon, you’ll have nailed this whole thing on the head, and will have become the poster face for the vegan diet. Breezy and effortless!
Let’s dive into it.
Once upon a time, a Stanford psychologist, B.J. Fogg, studied behavioral change and how certain habits can lead to lasting change.
Insert The Fogg Method. It’s an easy 3-step system to help you create new behaviors, and essentially, change over time. That’s right. We have no room for backsliders here. In short, think of it as a mind-eff system to help you achieve your goals when it comes to the vegan diet.
This could literally be applied to anything you could possibly think of…like the little things you dread doing but would punish yourself if you ever let yourself slip: flossing, sticking to a budget, massaging your face, etc. The same goes for adopting a vegan diet.
To make your life easier, here’s a breakdown of The Fogg Method to help you achieve your diet goals.
Step 1: Don’t jump into the conversion right away. Start small.
Let’s be real here. If you’re making a drastic lifestyle change such as your diet, it’s best to not jump ship right away. We don’t want a major culture shock if you will. Try breaking things down into the tiniest behavioral unit. This isn’t meant to be a discouragement, but a kind reminder to be realistic. If you are currently the biggest carnivorous eater you know, switching to a plant-based diet isn’t going to be happening overnight. Instead, start by eating more veggies on an everyday basis. Slow steps lead to progress.
Step 2: Do what you can to make this easy.
Another note to remember is that if you over-complicate things too much, you’re going to pretty soon resent it! Essentially, you’re going to have negative associations to whatever it is that you’re trying to achieve.
Don’t try throwing together complex vegan recipes 3-meals a day. That’s just a recipe for wrinkles on your skin and gray hair. Instead, aim for simplicity when it comes to creating a new habit.
If you decide to add a green smoothie, go easy on yourself. Keep the veggies and fruits simple. To start, save yourself time, and buy bottled green smoothies from Whole Foods for drinking every day. You can pour them into your favorite pink tumbler to trick people into thinking that you’re whipping up your own fancy smoothies on an everyday basis, and earning yourself a “Mom of the Year” award over here.
Step 3: Attempt to integrate seamlessly.
One of Fogg’s recommendations was associating any new habit to an already-existing behavior. For example, you already enjoy brewing a pot of coffee while Real Housewives served as background noise each morning. Try adding one additional step into your routine that’ll go towards helping you achieve your vegan lifestyle goals. As you wait for your coffee to brew, make a green smoothie.
Create a flow when it comes to your daily habits to help you get used to your new routine.
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to brag about yourself.
In case you have a weak moment and want salami on your charcuterie board with a glass of wine, give yourself the grace to be.
As you’re creating habits for a vegan diet, remember the progress you’ve made along the way. No step is too trivial, so we’re giving you the permission to celebrate yourself here and now.
Building solid habits will not only amp up your confidence but help you to achieve your goals (beyond health and fitness!) that lead to success.
Bonus tips:
- To ease in slowly, make Meatless Mondays a thing in your household. If the kids start complaining, use Trader Joe’s Veggie Burgers with Black Beans and Roasted Corn for meatless burgers.
- Request to substitute tofu instead of chicken or beef on your dish when eating out at restaurants.
- Make meal planning easy for your vegan diet by ordering Fresh N Lean low-carb and low-calorie plant-based meals from the comfort of your own home. Check out the menu here.
Have you ever tried going on a vegan diet? What tips do you have to make the adjustment easier?
Fresh N Lean is the nation’s largest organic meal delivery service. Our tasty, chef-prepared cuisine is always fresh and never frozen, and we offer convenient meal plans like Protein+, Keto, Paleo, Standard Vegan and Mediterranean. Choose Fresh N Lean for affordable nutrition, delivered to your doorstep.
