How to Switch to a Vegan Diet

A vegan diet is one that rejects the use of products taken from another being without their consent; this means products such as dairy, eggs, meat (chickens, fish, cattle, pigs, sheep, etc.) and honey. Eating a vegan diet is a concrete way to show our objection to the use of unconsenting animals.

Changing your diet may seem to be a daunting task, so please go easy on yourself and give yourself time to make the switch. It is important to go vegan to end our participation in the system of violence against animals and, at the same time, it is important to go at a pace that works for you so you can stay a healthy, happy vegan. Here is one suggested transition plan:

Step 1: Start by having 3 entirely vegan meals each week. A great way to start is by replacing some of your current foods with vegan substitutes: use soy milk instead of cow milk for breakfast, vegan meatballs with your pasta, choose a vegan burger instead of a hamburger.

Step 2: Check in with yourself at the end of each week. When you feel comfortable eating 3 vegan meals a week, move up to 6 vegan meals a week. If you eat out, try asking the restaurant which items are or may be made vegan. If you cook, there are a wealth of vegan recipes on the Internet as well as some great cookbooks.

Step 3: Gradually increase the number of vegan meals you eat each week until every meal is vegan!

Vegetarianism

Many people wonder why we promote veganism instead of vegetarianism. The sad truth is that all animal products, including dairy, eggs and honey, come from unconsenting animals who are exploited and killed so we can take the products of their bodies. A vegan diet rejects all animal exploitation.

The humane myth

An increasing number of “humane” dairy, eggs and meat products are being sold. Fortunately, many people have seen through the marketing and understand that all animal products are the result of exploitation. Free range, grass fed, cage free, organic and other “humane” dairy, eggs and meat all come from animals who humans have bred, raised and killed so they could serve our needs and there is nothing “humane” about these products.

Please check out the Vegan Buddies Project; we’ll match you up with somebody in your area who can help you with the transition.

Recipes, meal suggestions, and more are available on our Vegan on a Budget page.

Finally, we have some important information about vegan nutrition as well as a number of off-site resources on veganism.