Tips On Going Veg: Part I

Put down the bison burger, girlfran, and get ready to start your vegan adventure.

Behold: wisdom I wish I'd had when I became vegan. In the wake of this post, which explained why I'm vegan, but didn't give elaborate details as to how I've come to occupy this lush, green brain space (complete with romping baby brain animals!), I've received several requests for newbie tips from those of you making the transition into a vegan (or more vegan) diet. I raise my mug of coffee and frothed almond milk to you, girlfran! You'll be feeling more sprightly in no time at all! Below; a little list of veg essentials:

1. You have to want to eat vegan. If you're going whole-(beloved family pet) hog because you think you should - you won't put in the effort required to keep your meals interesting, and your attempt at veganism will be another botched "diet." Ask yourself why you're considering veganism and use your answer to guide your food decisions. That said, I'm not preaching that you go fully vegan, at least not right away...

2. Start slow. At Fat Tuesdays, my family likes to pick on a friend of our who declares that she's a vegetarian except she eats bacon. That's bomb! That means that in all of the instances she's not eating bacon, she's enjoying a heart-healthier, more environmentally supportive diet that veers away from the creepy chemicals in mass produced meat. As you know, I'm all about balance, and I don't fault you if you can't stand the idea of poopooing the turkey platter at Thanksgiving. Focus, instead, on what you can add to your diet instead of the foods you have to take away.

3. On that note, add foods that titillate (teehee) your tastebuds! Think of your go-to omnivorous meals, and simply... make 'em vegan! Think: replace your favorite Shepherd's pie with a lentil-based recipe. This couple veganized everything in the Betty Crocker Cookbook (and that's a tome, I tell you.) Some of my other favorite veg recipe blogs are:

Dreena's Plant Powered Kitchen

Angela's Oh She Glows

Allyson's Manifest Vegan

and Gena's Choosing Raw

These are crazy accomplished women - many of them have written books and their websites are loaded with vegan cooking basics: i.e. milled flax and/or chia seed works as an egg replacement in baking, nutritional yeast looks like fish food but tastes like parmesan! All of this info is out there to be found.

4. Learn to properly prepare vegetables. Veganizing omni foods is an art form, to be sure, but for me, the beauty of a vegan diet is in its simplicity. I'd rather make a meal of roasted root vegetables and massaged kale salad than something that directly mimics meat. Back in my omni days (when food was the enemy), I didn't know that veggies could taste like heaven. I had always boiled brussels sprouts or defrosted frozen broccoli and forced said mush down my throat... I didn't know that sauteing brussels leaves in coconut oil, salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon makes them AWESOME or that roasting broccoli in olive oil and tamari makes it crunchy and addictive. Don't even get me started on roasted root vegetables: sweet potatoes, yams, squash of all kinds, or my beloved parsnips and watch this video for a how-to on making all of those salads you're eating taste DIVINE.

Acquire those basic skills, and you'll find that you crave plants... really!