In my last article, I looked at different things to consider when deciding to go vegan. For many, such decision would be unitary – meaning it’s most likely a solo mission. However, just because you do this alone, that doesn’t mean that it should be daunting. In this article, I want to expand on a few tips and considerations when going vegan, and how to best prepare and stay on-track.

Educating Yourself

The first step towards anything is always the most important. In this case, it’s making an informed decision. Preparation is key in every endeavour you pursue. It makes things less uncertain, and stepping into the unknown more “familiar”. When it comes to going vegan, I’d say that education is your main form of preparation. This involves watching documentaries and youtube videos, and reading books and articles about veganism. There is going to be a lot of information: the ins and outs of the animal industry, ethics, the environment, health, recipes and just everything in between. This is a multifaceted lifestyle choice and as such, there’s lots of interconnection between different aspects.

Nonetheless, I think there are 3 main pillars to veganism:

• Ethics
• Health
• Environment

Ethics

I’ve mentioned in my previous articles that there is a difference between being vegan and plant based. The main difference is that, a vegan person is plant based, but a plant based person isn’t necessarily vegan. This difference might seem minute, but in reality, it goes beyond what we eat. Veganism delves deeper – into the clothes that we wear, the beauty and hygiene products that we use, and more. Vegans try to live a cruelty free life, and a key example of this would be avoiding purchasing items that have been tested on animals.

Beauty, hygiene and skincare products are typically tested on animals to make sure that they’re safe for humans. Nevertheless, animal testing has been around for centuries, which has allowed humans to learn more about ourselves. However, brands nowadays are taking an initiative to label their products as “cruelty free” to align with consumers that mean well. Thus, more consumers are conscious of the fact that they’re paying for a product that is “devoid” of animal suffering. In the end, this consumer choice, is what helps brands develop new ways of testing their products, without having to impose cruel experiments onto animals.

Health

On the other hand, someone that eats a plant based diet, might not have the same moral inclinations as a vegan. Because of this, their driving factor is more “self-centred” in that, their health is more important than morality. This doesn’t stop strictly at ethics, but also trickles onto the environment as well. When I decided to go vegan, I did so out of selfish reasons. I use selfish purely in the sense that it was motivated by my own interests. I had watched documentaries such as Cowspiracy, Earthlings and Food inc to name a few (The Game Changers wasn’t out yet), and was determined to ditch the meat. Although I was distraught by what I had learned regarding the animal industry, it was more the health side of things that enticed me to take the step.

I’ve researched a lot about living healthily as a vegan and it takes some time wrapping your head around it. If this interests you, you can check my article on that, and my How Not To Die book review (I recommend). Being vegan has allowed me (personally) to take my health into my own hands. I’m more aware of what I put into my body now than ever before. In addition, I’m more conscious of how I feel when eating certain foods. Reading the ingredients / nutrients list of a food item is something that I do quite often, and it pays dividends. It keeps me accountable for what I put into my body, and the food choices I make. In the end though, it’s all about balance, and finding what works best for you takes time.

Environment

Like pillar one, caring for the environment is something that goes beyond ourselves. However, I think that going vegan for environmental reasons can seem more tangible for some. The reason for this is because we can empirically see how animal agriculture impacts the environment. We are able to measure greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by animals, which accounts for 14.5% of all anthropogenic GHG emissions. In addition, methane accounts for a big chunk of these gases, which is 84 times more potent than CO2 on a 20-year timescale. That’s a lot of heat-trapping gases emitted into the atmosphere that exacerbate phenomenons like global warming.

As such, it’s not a surprise that there has been a push to lower animal food intake. It takes a lot of resources to produce meat (especially beef), which impact the environment in various ways. Sure, it’s eco-friendly to reduce our reliance on high emission modes of transport. Or even turning off the lights when we leave our houses. However, food is a daily part of our lives, and knowing where our food comes and its effect on the environment, can help us make more informed choices. The less miles and resources that it takes to bring food from farm to plate, the better it is for the planet.

Considerations

Take it Slow

My first tip for anyone that wants to go vegan is to take it slow. Often times, people will dive head first into a new diet / lifestyle, only to crash at the bottom. It’s good to take action, but I’m a believer in calculated action. This means that you’re constantly educating yourself on what it is that you’re doing. 6 years of being vegan have taught me that knowledge is key. I’m not ashamed to admit that an estimated 84% of vegans and vegetarians go back to eating meat. This could be for a plethora of different reasons, ranging from health, cravings, social pressures etc… However, the number is quite large.

We can be empathetic for the animals and the planet as much as we like, but our health comes first. I’ve done enough research and had blood work done to see how I can better understand my body. There are still things that I can improve upon. But, I can confidently say that I’m healthy, and it shows. I have more than enough energy to take me through the day. I make sure to eat healthy and drink lots of water (for those that know me, you’ll always see me with a bottle in hand). And moreover, I give my body ample of rest. Regardless, none of this would be possible if I didn’t educate myself first.

Don’t ditch everything at once if you feel unprepared, take measured steps. Continue researching, and consult with your physician. Replace foods that you’re currently eating with vegan equivalents. If you’re unable to, take a supplement. In the end, make sure that your health comes first. Because, a health body, is a healthy mind.

Trust the Process

One thing I love about life is that, it’s not the destination that matters most, but rather the journey that takes us there. For instance, when I first started skiing, I was terrified of the slopes. I couldn’t control my balance, nor my skis, and I fell more times than I could count. Slowly but surely, I got the hang of it. At one point I realised that fear was holding me back, so I “stopped” being afraid. Really, just letting go of that feeling that kept me from truly embracing the sensation of skiing down a slope. More time passed, and my technique improved as a result. Now, I’m a more confident skier, but I’m fond of the time when I wasn’t.

I’d say that this is the same with veganism. At first, things will be hard. You will be constantly learning, and in reality you will make mistakes. Sometimes you might eat something thinking it’s vegan when it’s not, other times you might crave bacon or cheese. Regardless, it’s always going to be hard at first. So don’t feel demotivated or stressed. If this is something you want to do, then have fun with it. Learn new recipes, go to vegan cafés and restaurants, join a vegan community (plenty on Facebook), and watch and read all the books and documentaries out there. The best thing about the journey is that you learn more about yourself as you go. So, keep going and keep doing what you sought out to do.

Final Remark

Nobody go vegan overnight. It took me months of being vegan to admit to myself and others that I am just that. However, when I realised that this is my calling, I embraced it as hard as I could. Looking back, I would wish that I could’ve done this earlier. But, as much as I’d like that, it’s not possible. What I’ve come to truly understand is that each person has their own journey in life. Often times, we will look at others and compare ourselves to them. Each story is unique, and each story has a lesson. But, at the end of the day, if you want to do something, do it. There’s no “I wish I did this sooner”, because if that was the case, you would’ve done it. The main thing is that you’re doing it now, so whatever that may be, if it brings you happiness, then keep doing it. There’s never a moment too late to be vegan, so if you get to it, you’ll get there.

Anis