| Congratulations on considering a switch to a vegan | | | | and other soy products such as temper and textured |
| diet. If you have gotten this far in your conversion, | | | | vegetable protein (TVP), you are ahead of the game. |
| you already understand the benefits of the vegan | | | | If not, don't fear; you will find that these products |
| vegetarian diet, so I will leave that discussion for | | | | (they are readily available in health food and large |
| another article. While many are able to simply flip a | | | | grocery stores) can be made to closely resemble and |
| switch and assume a new life, following are some | | | | taste like their meat counterparts, reducing the |
| simple guidelines to assist the rest of us. | | | | change you will have to experience. |
| 1. Write a list of the benefits that you expect to | | | | 4. Search the Internet for vegan/vegetarian recipes. |
| accomplish with your new diet. Many convert to | | | | Though restaurants are becoming increasingly |
| vegan/vegetarian diets for health or weight loss | | | | accommodating of vegan/vegetarian diets, one of |
| reasons. Others do so to reduce their impact on the | | | | the benefits for me in the early years was the |
| environment or to detach themselves from the | | | | necessity of preparing many of my own meals made |
| unethical slaughtering of animals that is implicit in the | | | | me a better cook and I saved money compared to |
| meat industry. Yet others, like myself, convert due | | | | eating out. There are also many vegan cookbooks |
| to philosophical reasons or because they simply feel | | | | that are readily available. |
| more "right with the world" as a vegan/vegetarian. | | | | 5. If improved health was one of your motivations |
| Whatever your reason, get in touch with the new | | | | for your conversion to a vegan/vegetarian diet, |
| you. | | | | recognize that you still must be mindful of the quality |
| 2. Recognize that some compromises will have to be | | | | of the ingredients in your food. Try to utilize whole |
| made. The food you eat will likely be different from | | | | grains and pastas; use cooking oils high in omega 3 |
| the food that many of your family, friends and close | | | | fatty acids, such as hemp, olive or flax oils; avoid |
| colleagues will eat. Prepare yourself to explain that | | | | sugars and glucose (yes, including honey) and other |
| your conversion is important to you and that you will | | | | simple carbohydrates like processed grains as much |
| not judge them, nor do you expect to be judged by | | | | as possible; ensure you get enough protein from |
| them. | | | | beans, legumes, nuts and related products (consider a |
| 3. Many find that getting comfortable on a lacto-ovo | | | | plant-based protein supplement if your diet is |
| (including dairy and egg food items) vegetarian diet | | | | calorie-restricted). |
| for a few months helps before the full conversion to | | | | 6. Cast a shining light of health and happiness. You are |
| a vegan diet is helpful. Be prepared to lose a few | | | | making the world a better place. Your food choices |
| pounds of bodyweight while you experiment with | | | | protect the spirit of life. |
| new foods. If you have already gotten used to tofu | | | | |