Find motivation for your transition to plant-based eating by watching some key documentaries
Whatever your primary reason for wanting to transition to more plant-based eating — there are some good documentaries that will help you get motivated. Arm yourself with information so that you feel secure in your reasons. I can’t tell you how many people have told me they started eating more plant-based meals after watching The Game Changers. So, if you haven’t already seen it — this one will have you wanting to eat plant-based and… wanting to go out and perform some incredible athletic feat!
There are others, of course. Cowspiracy and Seaspiracy will help you understand some of the environmental complexities created with the production of the sheer volume of animal products we, as humans, consume. Finally, What the Health is a popular one that shows the strong connection between prevention and reversal of many chronic diseases and our diets.
Educate yourself and know your reasons for trying out a plant-based diet.
Use social media to find recipes to help your transition to plant-based eating
Instagram will have you drooling and inspired with all the pictures and videos of amazing vegan food. Too many people think that eating plant-based consists of salads for every meal — or bland steamed veggies. It is just not true. There are amazing options available and it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice once you get used to prepping and know what you’re doing.
Start by searching #veganrecipes and #plantbasedeating on Instagram and Pinterest. You’ll have access to more than you need! To avoid overwhelm, once you figure out some individuals that resonate with you – you may want to just follow them, not the entire gamut of people.
Set yourself up for success when transitioning to plant-based eating by prepping to have quick meals on hand
The key to sticking with a new plan (of any sort) is to set yourself up for success. So, plan ahead to take some of the “work” out of meal planning. For example, lots of soups freeze really well. Cook a bulk batch some weekend day and then freeze it in little portions for when you need a quick lunch.
Another meal prep-hack is to pre-cut veggies when you get them home. It is way more convenient when you can just grab the already chopped-up veggies to throw together some stir fry or a buddha bowl at the end of the day.
Cooked rice, sweet potatoes, beans, and quinoa are all great bases to keep on hand to use as you prepare meals.
Finally, take advantage of all the options available now! Snack foods (such as 3BAR Energy Bars!) make it so much easier than it used to be to eat plant-based. Keep the non-compliant choices out of your reach and enjoy the delicious and nutritious vegan options.
Keep track of the things you like and use them as staples while you transition to plant-based eating
Anyone who cooks for a family (or maybe even just for yourself) knows the exhaustion of coming up with a new meal every single night! So, pay careful attention at the beginning of things that are a hit, and then don’t hesitate to serve it routinely! This can apply to complete meals or to just certain components.
For example, if you like sauces on things — try making a vegan tzatziki sauce and then keep it on hand to drizzle on a variety of meals. Or, if you make a delicious pasta and veggie dish that’s a hit with the family — put that on a weekly rotation and take away some of the stress of coming up with new meals every week.
Remember that transitioning to plant-based eating is a process
Some people do great with all or nothing…but for many of us, it takes time to transition. I’ve heard of many families starting out with just “Meatless Mondays”. Other people may decide to remove meat from breakfast and lunch but still eat some meat at dinner. The truth is — for environmental reasons decreasing our meat consumption is a step in the right direction.
If you decide to go 100% vegan but then have a weak moment and eat some meat or cheese…don’t beat yourself up and throw in the towel! We all have slip-ups when we’re forming new habits. It doesn’t cancel out all the good you did before — or all the good you can do going forward. Evaluate why you may have slipped up (Was it at a social event? Did you get over hungry?) and then formulate a plan for how you’ll do better the next time.
Keywords: transitioning to plant-based, tips for vegan eating, benefits of plant-based eating, vegan snacks
