6 Things To Expect When You're Going Vegan

Veganism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products and all other animal-derived ingredients and vegan travel becomes popular right now. While going vegan may sound intimidating at first, it’s not as scary or difficult as most people think. The vegan diet has many health benefits, but before you make the switch to a plant-based diet, be sure to educate yourself about the lifestyle so you can avoid common pitfalls.

Vegetarians and vegans represent a growing number of people who are choosing a plant-based diet for a variety of reasons. Whether it's for the environment, animal rights or health, those who choose to make the switch do so gradually. Going vegetarian or vegan overnight can be challenging, but with a little planning and preparation, it can be easier than you think.

So here are some things to expect when switching to the said lifestyle:

1. You’ll Have To Plan Ahead

You’ve probably heard people say that eating vegan or vegetarian is expensive. You might even be thinking it yourself! But it doesn’t have to be. One of the best things you can do for your wallet is plan ahead so you don’t fall into the trap of buying too much food and letting it go to waste.

Knowing what you need before you enter the grocery store will help keep you focused on what’s important: finding tasty and nutritious foods at a good price.

A great way to plan ahead is with a meal prep calendar, which will help you map out what you need for the week and how much of each item will be used in each meal. A little bit of planning will go a long way in keeping your meatless meals affordable.

2. You'll Have More Energy

You may experience more energy when you make the switch to a plant-based diet. While this can be attributed to a number of factors, like losing weight and eliminating sugar, getting healthy fats and protein from plant-based sources makes a difference in how much energy you have throughout the day.

3. You'll Eat More Vegetables

One of the most difficult dietary changes to make is transitioning from an omnivorous diet filled with meat, dairy and junk food to one that is primarily plants. One way to ease into it is by changing your eating habits gradually.

Eating more fruits and vegetables doesn't mean that you need to cut out meat altogether — but it does mean making room for more produce on your plate. This will help you transition over time as well as give your body the nutrients it needs for proper digestion and energy production.

4. You will become a food label reader

You may not realize just how much meat is added to many foods until you take it out of your diet. You will soon learn that there are many additives, like whey powder and gelatin, that contain animal products. This is especially important to remember when shopping for bread, crackers, canned soups, salad dressings and other processed foods.

5. You will learn new cooking skills

If you're used to eating meat at every meal (and perhaps not too much else), you will need to expand your culinary repertoire. Learn about vegetarian protein sources and how to cook tofu, tempeh and seitan.

Several information online that will help you learn to cook your own dish. The best part of cooking on your own is that you have freedom to customize, experiment and add flavors according to your liking.

6. You may need supplements

While most people get enough protein on a vegetarian diet and easy vegan recipe, vegans can struggle with this nutrient more than others. If you don't eat dairy or eggs, consider adding protein powders or powders made from rice, hemp, pea, or soybeans into your diet.

Other nutrients that aren't as easy to get in plants include vitamin B12 (found in many foods fortified with vitamin B12), iron (found in spinach and other dark green vegetables), calcium (found in soy milk and other sources), zinc (found in pumpkin seeds and other nuts and seeds), and omega-3 fatty acids (found in walnuts and flaxseeds). Talk with your doctor or a dietitian about what you should be taking.