In the summer of 2019, during a trip with my husband to Washington DC, my vision on what I ate changed in an instant, accidentally.. You can read how I became vegan in many places on this website.
If you’re reading this post, you’re likely beginning to do research on how to become vegan – and while there’s no right or wrong way and everyone’s path to becoming vegan is quite different, this post will walk you through the basics and things to consider along the way.
What is a vegan?
A vegan is someone who has chosen not to eat anything derived from animals – neither flesh nor fluids, this includes milk, eggs, and meat.
Vegan Vs. Vegeterian
The difference between veganism and vegetarianism is that while vegans omit any animal-derived substances from their diet. A vegetarian eats eggs and/or dairy.
Is a Vegan Diet Healthy?
Research suggests that a vegan diet is a healthy option for reducing cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease risks. There are many stories sharing how veganism has helped people to regain control over their health.
4 TIps to Transition:
- Know your why: If you are wondering how to become Vegan, the first step is to understand why you’re choosing a vegan lifestyle. Maybe it’s to reverse something going on with your health. It could be that you’re environmentally conscious and aware of how detrimental meat based diets are to our planet. Maybe it’s for budgetary purposes. Whatever the reason, know your why and keep it in focus.
- Take it slow: Every plant based meal you eat saves an animal, impacts your health, and helps our environment. But, unless you’re feeling totally confident and convicted, it’s okay to take it slow. Swap one meal a day to a plant based meal for a week. Gradually increase those swaps until you’ve elliminated all animal substances from your diet.
- Get Support: Lean on a plant based friend or find an online group (there are many Vegan Facebook Groups) so that when you have questions, you have the support you need.
- Have an open mind: Jackfruit is a versatile fruit – it can be prepared to substitute many meat items. Tofu is a chameleon and can be seasoned to taste like many meat items, too – but if you’re not used to buying these things, they can seem odd – be open minded.
My Journey
For my husband and I, the transition to becoming vegan was slower. After stumbling upon an animal rights march in Washington DC on our way to dinner one July evening, I found myself ordering vegetarian tacos. The seed had been planted. A few months later, while traveling Rome, Italy, I found myself still eating cheese on pizza and pasta, but largely avoiding meat. By Thanksgiving, I kept all animals off of my plate, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. While I’m enjoying my third year totally plant-based, I still have to read labels very carefully.
My Favorite Vegan Restaurant
Oklahoma is known for it’s ranchers so unlike California, it can be a bit more challenging to find vegan options in OKC – however there are three places here that I absolutely love.
- Flower Child – I love their glow bowl and their mother earth bowl. It’s a chain restaurant so you probably have one near you.
- Picasso in the Passeo – They have plenty of options but I love their sliders and their raw veggie dinner nights.
- I don’t know why this is landing in the #3 spot when it’s truly my #1. I love Frida Southwest. They have Vegan calamari and so many other vegan options to choose from.
My Favorite Vegan Dish
My husband makes a Chana Masala – I call it challawalla because the first time he told me what he was making, I couldn’t understand what he said. Soon, I’ll be sharing the recipe here on this blog.
Never Undersestimate the power of planting a seed…
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