I was talking to someone a few weeks ago and realized one of the main reasons families have a hard time transitioning to vegan life is because it's too much of a leap.
It can be pretty difficult to jump from Chick Fil'A to fried tofu & kale salads overnight.
That's a fact.
The missing link is being a vegetarian first.
I was a vegetarian for 2 years before becoming a vegan, so I don't know why I didn't really think to encourage this for other families.
In fact, when I was a vegetarian, I didn't even think I would start a vegan journey (since I tried before and it didn't work).
I just want to give you permission to do what works best for your family. Don't discount the progress! There's so much power in making gradual changes.
I believe making gradual changes will lead to a long-term vegan life.
Even if you commit to eating more vegetables daily, it's a step in the right direction.
Spring mix, cucumber, red onion, tomato & avocado. I used an oil and lemon dressing
In this latest video, I give you 4 tips on how to transition to more plant-based meals. Click below to watch....
Tips to move forward:
- Replace your butter & milk with plant-based alternatives - This is a easy change because you won't notice it too much. Instead of conventional butter, use Earth Balance or one of these options. Also, for plant-based milk you can use soy, almond, coconut or hemp milk for cereal and cooking.
- Add an extra vegetable to your plate or commit to a daily salad like the one above - This will help crowd out some of the foods you shouldn't eat
- Do some research - Watch a few documentaries (Vegucated is a good one) and read some books (Sistah Vegan & Diet for A New America are good ones)
- Commit to Meatless Monday - Your family is more likely to embrace this small change opposed to feeling overwhelmed with being vegan overnight.
Be gentle with yourself and open to new experiences and I promise you'll make great strides forward.
You've got this!
