With more people learning about the unprecedented amount of contaminants and chemicals in our food, as well as the environmental injustices related to cattle farming, veganism has become all the rage. Some commit to the lifestyle out of love for our furry and conscious friends, while others opt-in for health or dietary restrictions. Whatever the reason is for you, you may want to weigh the pros and cons; hence, why you’re here—am I right?! There’s a slew of things I wish I would’ve known before taking the plunge, and thus, making oat milk and avo toast diet staples. Here’s what to consider if you’re looking to go vegan (as told by a second-year vegan):

1. Veganism is not for everyone.

Vegans get a bad rap for shaming or trying to enforce others into their “altruistic” diet. There are a number of articles out there that aspiring vegans will run into that completely skew the facts about animal-derived foods. It can make researching confusing and the decision to commit inauthentic or ill-informed. If you find yourself running across scolding, clickbaity opinion pieces, keep in mind that veganism is not for everybody (and you might be that body). Certain health conditions, appetites, bodies, lifestyles, income levels, geographic locations, and unequal access to affordable produce may not always allow for veganism…. AND THAT IS OKAY. It’s not to say one can’t test the waters by going plant-based once or twice a week, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of if you aren’t able or willing to forcibly limit your dietary needs.

2. It’s okay to go slow… VERY slow.

It’s far too often when asked how they became vegan, veggie veterans will follow up with somber tales about the plethora of emotionally moving documentaries that inspired them to quit meat and dairy cold turkey. Don’t get me wrong, these films are absolutely needed to expose the mistreatment and exploitation of animals within the animal agriculture industry in order for change, justice, and institutional reform to occur. 

If I’m being completely honest and transparent here, however, my vegan journey really started in 2017 with the removal of meats and dairy. Followed by a long reign of pescetarianism and routine egg-latented breakfasts to finally arrive at tofu scrambles in 2019. The sheer willpower it takes to cut out animal proteins and byproducts is undoubtedly admirable, but again, not applicable for everyone. 

Cutting out foods slowly over time can help you adjust to modified recipes and rip off the veil to see how limited your options really are, especially when joining family and friends at that bougie hot spot that’s too exclusive of vegans and vegetarians for their own good. Take it all at your own pace. There’s no rush or pressure to be the best, most perfect herbivore right out of the gate.

3. Research beyond all measure.

Yes, this is piggybacking off of the first consideration. It’s mentioned again because it’s worthy to note and explore. Research and preparation plays a huge role in how long one commits to the legume life or how desperately one tries to revert back to homemade mashed potato, casserole, pasta, and high-protein dinner recipes. The more you feel prepared for the journey or understand how it’ll affect you, the more natural the transition and rewarding the experience will be. It’s very important for the reasons mentioned earlier to check with a dietitian, nutritionist, your primary care doctor, and yourself to make sure the diet won’t be a hindrance or intolerable for you. Because it’s also a lifestyle, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with vegan brands and products. This means shopping for vegan and cruelty-free makeup, skincare, clothes, hygiene, household, cleaning, and medicinal products. It is and can be a fruitful commitment to your health and toxic-free living, but it all comes down to how willing and ready you are to do the work and keep yourself informed.

4. Alternatives are not automatically healthy.

Some people have this idea that going vegan means eating a bunny diet or bland snacks. *Knock knock* Hello, yes: vegan junk food is a thing. With simple swaps, veggie lovers can eat just as good as kings, queens, and the royally adjacent. Tofurky, tapioca-based marshmallows, non-dairy ice cream, frozen seitan curry dinners, veggie burgers, almond flour-based brownies, and blondie cookies--they’re all out there, ready and available for herbivorous consumption. Just as with anything, balance and moderation are required. Vegan alternatives can be equally as riddled with ambiguous fillers as any other non-plant-based food or snack. They’re not immune to the same greenwashing that occurs with product marketing either. If not careful, an aspiring or long-time practicing vegan can find themselves eating mystery “plant-based” meats and consuming far more soy than they might like to. Allergies are to be taken into consideration as well, as they could heavily restrict healthier options.

5. Cross-contamination happens.

Another thing to note is that cross-contamination exists. Going vegan is not 100% bulletproof. For example, it’s been reported in recent years that not all sugars are vegan. Sometimes eating out may pose the risk of ingesting animal byproducts or maybe going to a luncheon could result in you accidentally consuming bacon. Mishaps happen, and it’s nothing to feel guilty or shameful about. As time carries on, you’ll become more aware of what questions to ask or requests to make when rolling through the drive-thru. You’ll even get better at knowing when it’s necessary to pack your own food or bring a vetted kombucha. 

6. Do it for you and your morality, not the trend.

Going plant-based is a lifestyle change, not just a brandish accomplishment to boast about. It’s skyrocketed into the limelight for a number of reasons, most recently for the significant positive environmental impacts mass veganism presents. Whatever the “it” factor is now, I implore you to go vegan for the right reasons—those “right” reasons being in accordance with your own needs, moral compass, comfort levels, and capabilities. Know that choosing the vegan way means you’ll have to do your due diligence, whether it’s for your own peace of mind and enjoyment or for the longevity of the planet.

7. It’s not a substitute for healthy living altogether.

With all that’s already been stated, I cannot drive this point home any further: going vegan is not a substitute for tending to your overall well-being. Yes, it introduces a more conscientious way to live, but that does not mean one should neglect their holistic health or stop their growth journey at veganism altogether. Moving your body, scheduling regular doctor’s visits, making time for functional relationships and connections, challenging yourself to start a home garden, or look into that electric car you’ve been eyeing for months? That’s all worthy of your time and energy, too. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned through the transition, it’s that it’s extremely easy to forget to care for your soul with all of the incessant ingredient checking and corporate investigating. Be sure to make time for the whole of your being, to keep evolving, to check back in on the goals you set out to achieve in congruence with going vegan, as well as making time to define what a healthy, balanced lifestyle means to you. 

8. It’s easy to fall into food ruts.

Unless you have the time to make meals or snacks from scratch or the finances to invest in meal subscription services, veganism can get boring real quick. Some recipes call for food processors, fermentation, marinating, and so on. That piece of the puzzle can get costly; thus, you might find yourself making the same revised veggie tacos or stir frys.. which can make you go a little stir crazy. 

Depending on other lifestyle factors or food allergies that may be at play, burning out on go-to meals can affect your overall enthusiasm in the sense that you could start visiting Pinterest or Minimalist Baker for quick meal ideas more than you set out to. This is part of the process (or learning curve), too. Finding other vegans and/or vegan cooks in your spare time can help get the creative juices flowing. If you find yourself in a rut, Hot for Food and Sweet Potato Soul are two wonderful resources for discovering new vegan-friendly meals and snacks that provide a bit more oomph. Oh, and if you have a local Trader Joe’s, asking for a copy of their vegan food list might also get you out of stale snacking habits.

9. It’s fun to experiment with!

Now if you do have the time and patience to dabble in becoming an amateur home chef, you could find experimenting with natural ingredients and conscious swaps fun, relaxing, or awe-inspiring! Plant-based cooking and baking often calls for safe, multipurpose ingredients that can lead to a world of savings. For example, I had a blast learning about all the ways in which coconut oil can be used—hello nighttime skin routine, butter alternative, aromatic hair care, and oil pulling! It didn’t just become a staple in meal prepping, but also in my day-to-day life. Experimenting with ingredients can leave you feeling like a full-on alchemist, in addition to leading you down a road of food-grade lifestyle and wellness brands like Scratch Goods. So don’t be afraid to keep an open mind! 

10. It’s all about discipline.

So in sum, veganism is all about discipline. It may be a rocky start, but the learning curve is worth it. Cooking, vetting, and shopping will get easier over time. You’ll know what to look for, which guides to keep tabs on, which household names and brands to stay away from, as well as your own limitations. You may even find yourself inspired to branch off into other avenues of conscious living, fasting, or earthly diets… say if becoming a raw vegan is more of your thing. 

Be proud of yourself every single step of the way, whether you’re vegan one day out of the week or one for a lifetime. See it as confirmation that you can get to a place where you’re more in tune with yourself, or perhaps maybe even become more self-sufficient. Staying open and committed to the experience can help you become more confident; for example, maybe you’d feel confident enough to explore your homesteading abilities or dive into disaster preparedness. Because if COVID-19 taught me anything, it’s that you don’t want to be an unprepared vegan in times of apocalyptic panic and fear or unexpected crisis.