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Veg Life - Thinking about going meatless? You’re not alone — the number of vegans in the U.S. has more than doubled over the last three years. The hardest part is getting started, so read on for your primer on this healthy lifestyle. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Artiga Photo/Corbis)

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What Do Vegans Eat? - Vegans opt for a plant-based diet, which centers on fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds and nuts. So they skip meat, fish, poultry, dairy and eggs. Some vegans avoid all animal products and bi-products, including honey, leather, silk, fur, wool and cosmetics and soaps that contain animal products. (Photo: Getty Images)

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What’s So Great About a Vegan Diet? - Eating a diet that is heavy in fruits and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a decreased chance of developing diabetes, lung and colon cancer and even osteoporosis. In fact, vegans live, on average, six to ten years longer than non-vegans. Studies also show that vegans tend to lose weight over time. Some vegans eschew animal products because they feel it is unethical and inhumane to raise animals for food. And decreasing the demand for meat is a win for the environment, as the cows we raise for meat and milk pass massive amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere. (Photo: LWA/Larry Williams/Getty Images)

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Is It Super Hard to Be a Vegan? - You determine your level of involvement and how strict you want to be. The key to successfully eliminating animal products from your diet is to plan your meals. Figuring out what you’re going to eat before you’re hungry will make life a lot easier. (Photo: Mark Edward Atkinson/Tracey Lee/Blend Images/Corbis)

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How Do You Get Started? - Start with a vegan eating guide, such as The Ultimate Vegan Guide. Then start looking for recipe books and go shopping; one of the things that is hardest about eating vegan is figuring out substitutions that allow you to eat the dishes you love, so this is key. Most organic grocers will have all the items you need to stock your pantry and refrigerator.

Photo By Photo: Blend Images/JGI/Tom Grill/Getty Images

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How to Get Enough Protein in Your Vegan Diet - A balanced vegan diet easily meets the protein requirement for an adult woman. You can get your 46 grams a day by eating a diet that incudes beans, veggies and whole grains. (Photo: redmal/GettyImages)

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Where's the Calcium? - Most adults need 1000 mg of calcium a day. Leafy greens and fortified drinks such as orange juice and nut milks are an excellent source of this bone-friendly nutrient. And eating animal protein has actually been linked to calcium loss, so going meat-free can help you retain more of it. (Photo: dpa /Landov)

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Should You Take a Vitamin Supplement? - Docs say that vegans tend to have better vitamin intake than meat eaters, but there are two particular nutrients that you should take extra care to get enough of: Vitamins D and B12, which can be difficult to get from plant sources. If you don’t think you’re getting them from your food (fortified juices and the sun are a good source of Vitamin D; Red Star Nutritional Yeast will give you B12), then a vitamin can help. (Photo: PA Photos /Landov)

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Can I Eat at Restaurants? - Find vegan-friendly restaurants via sites like HappyCow.net and VeganRestaurantFinder.com. And most restaurants feature at least a few dishes that either are or can be made vegan. Don’t be afraid to ask how things are prepared and ask to omit things like cheese.  (Photo: JGI/Getty Images)

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Is a Vegan Diet Safe During Pregnancy? - The American Dietetic Association says that eating a balanced plant-based diet is perfectly healthy for pregnant and nursing women and their children. A variety of healthy vegan foods should include all the vitamins, minerals, protein and other nutrients that you need. (Photo: JGI/Getty Images)