Your Guide To A Vegan Lifestyle

If you’re thinking about becoming vegan, or simply want to know what it takes, then you’re in the right place and this guide is for you. 

Looking back, I genuinely can’t believe how much my diet has changed. From frozen bulk chicken to fresh ingredients. What once seemed impossible - eating a meal without meat - is now my daily life. I am now happier than ever with my diet and can’t believe that I made it to this place. I used to be embarrassed by my cooking, but now, I love cooking for my fiancée and friends. I didn’t think it was possible then, and this guide is for those who don’t think it’s possible now.  

When I was younger, like many of us, my meals consisted of a carb, a veg, and meat. I couldn’t have thought of a meal without meat. For so many of my meals, meat was at the center. I remember one time my dad mentioned that he’d read a book called The China Study and that we all needed to drink less milk and eat less meat. We all gave him so much shit for being gullible and trying to convert us to eating less meat. Funny thing is, now I’m vegan and he’s still eating meat. Time changes people, that’s for sure.

I can’t exactly remember when I started thinking about becoming vegetarian, which was the first step for me to becoming vegan. Perhaps after a particularly bad break up. It was then I started thinking more about what I was eating and putting into my body. I was able to reassess what my own values were, and I realised I felt quite strongly about not eating animals. I didn’t really know how to start from there, and hence the reason for this guide. It’s a guide for those who want to learn more about transitioning from eating less meat to no meat, or for some who are vegetarian and considering becoming vegan. Honestly, I forget that I’m vegan now and am happy to share that it does become easy once you’ve taken the first step.

STEP 1 

Look at what you are eating. What’s vegan? What’s vegetarian? If your meals are primarily meat-focused, it’s likely you’re not even reading this, but if you are and meat is a main portion of your meals, then I suggest trying to switch to some fake meat alternatives. There are a lot of different brands out there, and everyone has their own preference for brands and flavors, so go out there and try some! At the beginning of my switch, I tried a lot of different products like these, and one of my main meals was just two burgers. Yes, it was basic and not nutritious, but it was vegan.

STEP 2

Look at the ingredients of everything you buy. Yes, it’s a bit time-consuming in the beginning, but once you do that first big shop, you’ll have all the staples for your kitchen that you need. You’ll be surprised what’s vegan and what’s not! Once I’d done this step, it was easy to shop. I knew what food I could and couldn’t get, and it just made it easy. This is probably the step that stops a lot of people from becoming vegan, but trust me, it is easy to do. You can also check out Is It Vegan (site link) and download the app to easily find out if a product is vegan.

STEP 3

Learn some easy vegan recipes! This is actually the hardest step of the three, so I am more than happy to share some of the easy vegan meals that I make with my partner and how to make tofu taste damn delicious every time. I’ll start with the tofu, as this is now a staple and a daily ingredient in my diet. I don’t buy fake meat anymore, simply because of the cost, and maybe a little because of the preservatives in them. Funny thing is, I don’t miss them at all.

Tofu is now my go to. It’s easy to cook, affordable and consistent. Buy a block of extra firm or firm tofu. Cut the block in half and then cut that into small cubes. Before this, heat up a pan with a small amount of oil and add a teaspoon of minced garlic (or you can chop 1-2 garlic cloves). Let that heat up until you start to hear it cooking, and then add the tofu. Leave that for 1-2 minutes and then add the following ingredients: soy sauce (1 tbsp), chili (1 tsp), lemon juice (1 tsp), maple syrup (1 tsp). With that as the base, turn the heat up a small amount and let that tofu crisp up nicely. Mix every now and then, and feel free to add any veg that you might want to fry too. Basically, you can adjust all the ingredients as you please, but this tofu is so good in any Asian-style dish, and I have it in wraps for lunch almost every day. Depending on the dish, I may remove the chili or add a spicy lemon sauce too. Some other dishes that we regularly make are tasty pesto pasta, fiery and filling Thai green curry and flavoursome lentil dahl. 

There are of course some challenges when it comes to being vegan. Things like eating out in restaurants, or when travelling abroad. It’s up to you to decide how strict you want to be with your vegan diet. For me, it’s about my morals, I wouldn’t personally eat meat, even if it was the only thing available, but for others that might be fine, and that’s okay. Sometimes I do feel limited when travelling to not be able to dip into local cuisine and try new flavours without asking questions, but in the end, we usually find local vegan spots with vegan owners and get to connect and support like minded individuals. I remember one time I went to a BBQ and all they had was meat and bread, and I ended up pretty hungry, but I only blamed myself for not bringing something vegan to the BBQ. In the end, you’re responsible for feeding yourself when you choose a new diet, but I hope that people around you are willing to accommodate to your diet, and they may even be inspired to cook some vegan dishes too! Some of our favourite cookbooks are Thrifty Vegan by Katy Beskow, The Green Roasting Tin by Rukmini Uyer and BOSH! By Henry Firth and Ian Theasby. 

There are so many delicious and easy vegan recipes out there, and trust me, you’ll feel better not only mentally but also physically when you make that switch to a vegan diet. I’ve not looked back once, and I hope that you won’t either. That said, if you simply want to reduce the amount of meat you eat and aren’t looking to become fully vegan, that’s okay. Some people are vegan at home, and more flexible out of it. In the end, what you eat is entirely your choice, and you shouldn’t be made to feel bad about it. 

I hope this guide has been helpful and if you’re willing to share, I’d love to hear some of your vegan recipes or your story of moving to a vegan diet. Feel free to send me an email at jamieswaller97@gmail.com

Written by Jamie Waller

"we are what we eat" - someone once said