Veganism Explained

Veganism is a topic of growing awareness, and more and more people are opting for vegan lifestyles every day. If you’re interested in a compassionate lifestyle and living in alignment with your values, but you aren’t yet sure how to do it, read on!

What is veganism?

The term veganism often gets thrown around or used interchangeably with other terms, such as plant-based. However, in reality, veganism is a moral stance which posits that non-human animals have a right to their autonomy and to live free of unnecessary, human-inflicted harm. Vegans strive, to the extent that is feasible, to avoid harming or supporting others for harming animals. For most people in the Western world, this means abstaining from foods containing products derived from animals, clothing made from animal skins or furs, cosmetics tested on animals, entertainment at the expense of animals, and the like.

While veganism may sound restrictive, it actually gives us the opportunity to open ourselves up to new foods, activities, and even ideas. As a vegan, you’re likely discover so many new recipes that you never would have thought to try before. Many people also become more aware of social justice and environmental issues after going vegan. Veganism opened up a whole new world for me, and I hope it will do the same for you!

How to go vegan in 7 easy steps

If you’re enticed by the idea of going vegan, but you’re not sure where to start, here’s a simple guide to get you started on your journey to a more compassionate and fulfilling lifestyle.

1. Figure out your “why”

If you’ve ever tried to develop a new habit, you know that identifying and remembering your motivator is an essential part of maintaining that habit, at least in the beginning. This is also true of adopting a vegan lifestyle. As with any other goal we want to accomplish or habit we want to maintain, identifying and remembering your motivator is essential for maintaining a vegan lifestyle in the beginning.

You might be going vegan for any of a myriad of great reasons: you don’t want to support exploitative industries, you want to live in alignment with your values, you believe non-human animals have a right to their autonomy and to not be needlessly harmed, etc.

(Did you know that more than 70 billion land animals are killed for food every year? And this doesn’t include the trillions of fish! Most of these animals are raised in horrific conditions with little to no access to sunlight or space to move. If you aren’t convinced yet, check out this article for many more compelling reasons to go vegan.)

But anyone who is already vegan or has tried to go vegan knows that with slaughterhouses and factory farms so far detached from most of us, it can be hard to remember the victims when we’re tempted to consume animal products. I transitioned into veganism rather than cutting out animal products cold turkey (no pun intended), and I found that the times when I caved and consumed animal products were times when I wasn’t remembering my “why.”

If you find that you slip up and consume animal products or that you’re tempted sometimes, it can be helpful to put reminders of your “why” in places where you’ll see them often. This could be anything from photos of farm animals (or ex-farm animals in a sanctuary) on your wall or your phone’s lock screen, to a bracelet or a recurring reminder on your phone.

It gets easier

Plenty of people try to go vegan and quit because they say it’s too hard. It’s completely normal for the change to feel difficult in the beginning—after all, you’re adopting a new lifestyle and replacing some of the foods you’ve been eating for your entire life. It’s going to feel weird at first, and it might not be a walk in the park. But it gets so much easier. As you learn more about veganism and become more immersed in the vegan community, your “why” becomes a part of your identity, and your temptation to consume animal products is wiped away by your values.

Holding yourself accountable

The buddy system can be great for helping you stick to your vegan commitment. If you have a friend who also wants to go vegan, talking about your accomplishments and struggles together can help you both celebrate small wins and work through tough moments. Even if nobody else is going vegan with you, you can still ask a friend or family member to help keep you in check when it comes to abiding by your commitment. For example, if you have a roommate or family member who is supportive of you and your goals, you could ask them to remind you of your “why” if they ever see you slip up and eat animal products.

2. Make simple swaps

For some of us, going vegan can be difficult at first because we’re not used to eating or cooking with vegan foods. Lucky for us, in today’s world, going vegan is easier than ever! Here are some of the easiest swaps you can make:

• Swap beef products for plant-based alternatives like Impossible and Beyond. These companies both make exceptional plant-based burgers as well as sausages and ground “beef.” (Pro tip: Wait for these to go on sale if you’re on a budget. I only buy them when Kroger runs sales on them—which happens pretty often—and I end up spending less money than I would on animal products.) Tofu and tempeh make for good substitutes in many recipes as well, and they’re much more affordable than even meat products. Tofu is often used as a chicken substitute, whereas tempeh is more commonly used as a replacement for beef. These products are incredibly versatile, and as you learn more about their taste and how to cook them, you’ll be able to use them in more creative ways as well!
• You can likely find plant-based hot dogs, deli slices, and other traditionally non-vegan products at your local grocery store.
• Find a plant-based cheese that you love. Some of us aren’t picky when it comes to plant-based cheeses. If this is you, check out the plant-based cheese selection at your local grocery store. If you’re looking for more variety, try Whole Foods; they have lots of different types and they’re some of the most affordable vegan cheeses I’ve seen. I also like Daiya. If you’re not a fan of the cheaper “cheeze” brands, try other brands like VioLife, Chao, and Follow Your Heart. (Follow Your Heart makes a great parmesan!)
• Experiment with plant-based milks. Lots of people have told me they put soy milk in smoothies, oatmeal, etc. and oat milk in their coffee. This is great because soy is a very high-quality plant protein and can add some nutritional value to your meals, while oat complements the taste of coffee well.
• Replace foods like mayonnaise and salad dressings with plant-based alternatives. These can be found at most chain grocery stores. You can also make these items at home with a few simple, affordable ingredients! I like to buy Hellman’s vegan mayo and make my own ranch.
• For more easy swaps, check out this article by Best Served Vegan. It’s a short and simple list with a few creative swaps that will make your transition so much smoother!

3. Try one new recipe per week

There seems to be an idea in non-vegan culture that all vegans eat is raw fruits and vegetables, but that’s simply not true. Vegans eat similar foods to non-vegans, but without the animal suffering.

Trying new recipes often will help you feel more like you’re discovering new foods to eat and opening up your options rather than just cutting things out. Over time, you’ll learn what ingredients are common in vegan recipes, how to cook foods like tofu and tempeh (if you don’t already know), and how to substitute non-vegan ingredients with vegan ones.

I’m a terrible cook and typically opt for simple and easy recipes. Some of my favorite vegan meals are oatmeal, avocado toast, tofu stir fry with homemade teriyaki sauce, Instant Pot chili with Impossible beef, and TLT (Tempeh, Lettuce, and Tomato) sandwiches. Check out this article for some easy recipe ideas!

4. Read up about nutrients

As with any diet change, it’s important to ensure you’re getting enough of the right nutrients when you make the switch. Especially if you’re someone who currently eats a lot of animal products, cutting them out and replacing them with small side dishes is not the way to do this. Google is your best friend when figuring out how much you need of each nutrient per day and what foods to get them from. Some nutrients to pay attention to include zinc, folate, iron (found in tofu), and Omega-3s (which you can get from an algae oil supplement).

If you find that you’re having trouble getting enough of anything, consider supplements or a multivitamin. (Of course, talk to a doctor about any nutritional concerns, especially if you have any health issues. There are vegan doctors you can meet with online if that’s what you prefer. Although I’ve never gone this route myself, I imagine it might be helpful.)

5. Build a vegan community

A vegan community gives you an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who understand your feelings. Here are some ways you can start building a vegan community:

Make vegan friends. This one was HUGE for me. I went vegan at 18 years old, and for the first two years, I didn’t have any vegan friends. I felt a little lonely because nobody around me understood or identified with this important part of who I was. Once I finally made vegan friends, I felt so much happier and more fulfilled. Surrounding yourself with people who have similar values can help you feel understood. Fellow vegans can also help you through the transition to veganism by recommending foods and brands, taking you to restaurants, etc.

There are plenty of ways to make vegan friends. Especially if you’re in or near a city, Meetup is great for meeting like-minded people. There are also lots of great Facebook groups for vegans. If you have a local Anonymous for the Voiceless group, this is an excellent way to meet vegans in your area while participating in activism as well.

Find an online community. I highly recommend joining online spaces for vegans, especially if you don’t know a lot of vegans personally. There are plenty of online forums for vegans, such as the r/vegan Subreddit and Earthling Ed’s Patreon Discord server.

Follow vegans on social media. Being a vegan in a non-vegan world can feel isolating at times. Following vegan public figures and animal rights organizations can help give us a sense of community and belonging. I follow Earthling Ed, Direct Action Everywhere, and The Humane League on Instagram for my daily dose of vegan content. Watching Earthling Ed’s YouTube channel and listening to his Disclosure Podcast helped me better understand my feelings related to veganism. I also like to follow animal sanctuaries for serotonin boosts!

Join a club. If you’re in school, joining a vegan club is a great way to make vegan friends who you have things in common with. You can even participate in club-wide animal rights activism if desired. If your school doesn’t have a vegan club, consider starting your own! This is also a great resume builder. Field organizers at organizations like PETA and The Humane League love to help with things like this, so definitely reach out to them if you’re not sure where to start!

6. Learn more

Learning more about veganism reinforces your “why” and can help you better understand your feelings about animal rights. There are plenty of resources and ways to learn about veganism. Here are a few that I recommend:

• Watch documentaries. Earthlings and Dominion are renowned in the vegan community and are known to convert people to veganism fairly often.
• Read books. I recommend This is Vegan Propaganda by Ed Winters. Ed has a lot to say, and he says it well in this book.
• Check out YouTube channels and videos. Earthling Ed has a great YouTube channel where he debates non-vegans in a friendly, composed, and well-worded manner that still impresses me despite having seen dozens of his videos. He also gave a Ted Talk a while ago in which he disputes anti-vegan arguments, which is probably the most valuable veganism-related piece of media I have consumed.

• Find websites and blogs you like for recipes, information about veganism, news in the vegan community, and the like. (Hit the subscribe button below for more from this blog. 😉)

7. Don’t sweat mistakes

In an ideal world, we could easily avoid all animal products 100% of the time. Unfortunately, this isn’t an ideal world, and you’re probably going to accidentally consume non-vegan foods sometimes. That’s okay—don’t beat yourself up over it. Read ingredient lists and do your best, but don’t freak out if you just found out that you ate something with animal-derived vitamin D3 in it. Focus on avoiding the items you know have animal products in them, and learn more as you go along. The most important thing is to make sure you’re not purchasing products that contain meat, dairy, and eggs; the rest is secondary. 

Going vegan should feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders—for me, it feels liberating knowing that nobody was harmed for my meals, clothes, or entertainment. If it feels more stressful than freeing, this might be a sign that you’re being too hard on yourself. (This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to abstain from all animal products—I just mean that accidents happen, and that’s normal and okay!)

Summary

Going vegan can feel a little overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t need to be. We can take a few simple steps to make the process smoother and easier:

1. Remember your “why.” This is the most important step!
2. Make simple swaps. 
3. Try one new recipe per week. 
4. Read up about nutrients. Eat what you need to be healthy, and don’t be afraid to turn to supplements or multivitamins.
5. Build a vegan community. Having fellow vegans around, whether physically or virtually, can help cultivate a sense of belonging.
6. Learn more. Knowledge of animal rights will help you strengthen your “why.”
7. Don’t stress about mistakes. Veganism should feel liberating.

Overall, remembering why you decided to go vegan in the first place is the most important step in maintaining your lifestyle of reduced harm to others. If you’re interested in learning more about veganism, such as how one vegan makes a difference, human exploitation in animal agriculture, vegan diets for pets, and much more, check out my previous posts or hit the subscribe button below. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram using the logos at the bottom of the page!

Another useful resource is PETA’s Vegan Starter Kit, which includes recipes, how to make sure you’re getting the right nutrients, and other tips to help you along the way.

If you have any questions, concerns, or anything you’d like to add, let me know in the comments!

Featured photo by Gabriela Penela from We Animals Media.