4 Steps That Make Eating Plant-Based Easy

There are three main reasons to go vegan: environmental factors, personal health, and the ethical treatment of animals. And everyone can relate to one, if not all three. But switching to a plant-based diet is just too hard…right?

Wrong! It can actually be quite simple. Follow these steps to make your transition to plant-based eating easy and enjoyable.

Step 1: Start out slowly.

If you can make the switch to a plant-based diet overnight, great. But no one is pressuring you to quit cold tofurkey…see what I did there? Trying anything new can be overwhelming. Especially when it’s changing something you already do three times a day. You can take the stress out of going plant-based by releasing the pressure to be perfect immediately. Figuring out how a plant-based lifestyle works can come with a learning curve, and it’s totally okay to give yourself time to figure it out. You are more likely to stick to your goals if you allow yourself the grace to learn. 

Step 2: Replace. Not remove.

Unlike many people believe, adopting a plant-based diet is not about removing food from your plate. It’s all about replacing your favorite dishes with plant-based alternatives. You don’t need to throw out your grilled cheese sandwich and only eat the tomato soup—boring! Instead, find a vegan grilled cheese recipe and dig in! And then keep going—switch your dairy coffee creamer with a plant-based alternative, reach for the lentil soup instead of the chicken soup at the grocery store, and change your morning eggs and toast for scrambled tofu and toast (I know, I thought tofu was scary too but now it’s a weekly staple in my kitchen). Sticking to a plant-based diet is not restrictive—it’s exploring a new and exciting way of eating.

Step 3: Try one plant-based meal a day.

When testing a plant-based diet, a good beginning goal is to aim to make one meal out of your day plant-based. Maybe this looks like opting for the plant-based option at your favorite lunch spot or starting your morning with avocado toast and tempeh bacon. Make things easier on yourself in these beginning stages by setting a goal of eating one plant-based meal each day.

Step 4: Stock your fridge.

At the beginning of your plant-based journey, it takes time to figure out exactly what you want on your grocery list. This often means extra trips to the grocery store. One way to help you through this period is to stock your fridge and pantry with grab-and-go meals. Have some fun testing out frozen vegan meal options, canned soups, and pre-made grocery store meals. When you figure out your favorites, add multiple of them to your fridge. Easy meals like these will save you time by lessening the food decisions you must make daily.

Now take a deep breath and go enjoy that coconut milk ice cream (the non-dairy chocolate one from Trader Joe’s is my favorite).