Changing from a traditional diet to a plant-based diet can seem like a major task, but it doesn’t have to be. If you know that you want to transition to a vegan diet, then you just need to take the steps to prepare yourself for the switch. Easing your way into a new lifestyle is the best way to go. So, here are some simple tips to transition to a plant-based diet.
Not everyone takes this advice, especially when animal welfare is the main reason for the diet switch. However, if you are going from a meat-based diet to a plant-based diet, then you are drastically changing what you are feeding your body. Your body will need some time to adjust in order for there not to be any adverse side effects (like excessive gas!) that may hinder you from reaching your goal.
So, cut out one or two things at a time. Maybe start with not eating red meat, then having only fish, then going to a vegetarian diet. Then, you can cut out dairy at the end once you have adjusted to the meatless diet. This will help your body feel better during the process, and it will give you some time to do your research so you know what to eat, and where to get all the nutrients your body needs.
Up Vegetable & Fruit Intake
This is a simple thing that you can do even in the beginning stages of your transition when you are still eating meat. Add more fruits and veggies to each meal and you will find that this is an easy way to fill up on the good stuff, and you will end up eating less meat naturally. Plant-based diets rely heavily on fruits and vegetables. So, slipping more of any of these into your diet before cutting anything out will make the switch smoother.
Nuts & Grains
Plant-based diets not only rely on fruits and veggies, even though that is what most people think we eat, but also lots of nuts and grains to supply our bodies with the proper nutrients. Lots of nuts have a good amount of protein and healthy fats that are needed for your body to function. So, make sure you are adding some protein-rich almonds, or fat-rich cashews to your plate to ensure that you are getting enough.
Drink Lots Of Water
Transitioning from a relatively low fiber diet to a high fiber plant-based diet can cause your body to produce excess gas. This is a typical problem of people that are going vegan straight from a traditional diet. Your body is not used to this fiber intake yet, so help your body out by drinking lots of water to help ease that bloating. I like to have a glass with each meal, just to make sure I am drinking enough every time I eat. This will help out a lot, plus it gets you in the habit of drinking plenty of water.
Although protein is typically what people are wary of when hearing that you are switching to a vegan diet, that is usually not the biggest issue. Many plants have protein, so if you are eating enough during the day, you are getting your daily amount. However, one thing that you must know about is the fact that B12 is a vitamin that is naturally found only in animal products. That means that you will need to get it from an outside source. This can be from fortified cereals that have B12 put into the flakes, or it can mean cooking with nutritional yeast. These are both great ways to get your B12, but if you want to be sure you are getting enough, you can always take a supplement to ensure that you don’t run the risk of becoming deficient.