A Vegan State of Mind: How to Get Started
It's not as hard as you think, we'll show you how.
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Getting Started - Beyoncé delivered an important message to her many fans today: She’s trying veganism again. “I am not naturally the thinnest woman,” the singer said in a segment on Good Morning America. “And I have struggled since a young age with diets. And finding something that actually works for me and actually keep – keeps the weight off has been difficult…” Until now that is. Inspired by Queen Bey, we want to share some tips on how to begin incorporating more vegan meals into your diet. It’s not as hard as you think. If Bey can, we can. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Giuseppe Zanotti)
Photo By Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Giuseppe Zanotti
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Understanding What Veganism Is - Before you eat more vegan, you need to know what it is exactly. It's like being a vegetarian, except eating vegan removes all animal byproducts from your diet. That includes everything from meat, all dairy products, eggs and even honey. (Photo: Cavan Images/GettyImages)
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Going Green for Your Health - Eating vegan may seem like a fad, but the science says that it’s a healthy way to eat and studies have shown that vegans and vegetarians tend to weigh less than meat eaters and live longer. Also, a vegan diet lowers your cholesterol, blood pressure and risk for heart disease. It also can reduce your risk for cancer and diabetes. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Have a Game Plan - There is a common misconception that eating vegan means you can’t eat anything. So wrong! But it’s important to make a list of vegetables, grains and legumes that you know you like and might like. Also what types of foods do you like? Mexican, Italian, soul food? Keep this in mind when planning meals. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Do Your Research - The best way to do vegan right is to study up. Go online and research vegan recipes as much as you can. The Internet is buzzing with websites, Pinterest pages and blogs all dedicated to vegan living and eating. Also, invest in some really good vegan cookbooks to help, too. (Photo: David Malan/Getty Images)
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Be Adventurous - In order to make vegan eating work for you, you have to step outside your food comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to try foods that you’ve never had before. Be open to foods like quinoa, chickpeas, kale and tofu. You never know, you might just like them. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Fake Meat Isn’t Always Delicious - Eating vegan doesn’t mean you can take your favorite meals like fried chicken, steak and pot roast and find tofu or faux meat that will taste just like it. There are new meatless versions of popular dishes, but don’t count on them to always taste amazing. (Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)
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Don’t Forget Your Protein - No lie: Lean meats are great for protein, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get protein in a vegan diet. Opt for nuts, beans and leafy greens such as kale to ensure that you are getting enough protein. Also, make sure you take your vitamins too!(Photo: Kathy Collins/Getty Images)
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Get Your Snack On - Real talk: Eating vegan can leave you hungry in between meals. Make sure you have snacks around such a nuts, grain bars and veggies to attack those cravings during the day. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Just Because It’s Vegan Doesn’t Mean It’s Healthy - Not all vegans are doing it right — and please don’t be one of them. Scarfing down Pirate’s Booty, soy meat and soy cheese every day is not a good look. They are filled with additives and sodium. Focus on eating foods as close to nature as you can get and save the fake meat for once-a-month. (Photo: Courtesy of Gardein)
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Soy is Good and Bad - The science around soy is complicated. Yes, studies have found that eating too much processed soy (soy milk and soy meat) can increase your risk for cancer. But soy in tofu and edamame, which are unprocessed, is good for you. (Photo: Creativeye99/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Creativeye99