Tips for A Healthy and Successful Veganuary
When I was 10 years old I decided that I wasn’t going to eat meat anymore. My parents had NO CLUE how to feed a 10 year old vegetarian in the 90’s. Plant based lifestyles were not nearly as common as they are now and I survived on lots of carbs.
In the last 20 years I have tried multiple times to move into a vegan diet and had lots of unsuccessful attempts.
The first time I tried it I reverted back to eating bagels and tofu cream cheese for breakfast, the second time I got through the mid afternoon slump by picking on snacks from the vending machine, and then there was that time where I had no energy and felt pretty crappy.
I wanted to share some of the things I picked up along my plant based journey with you so you can have the most successful veganuary.
Keep your protein sources clean.
it might be really tempting to cook up vegan hot dogs, and soy nuggets every night of the week, but it’s really important to keep your protein sources clean. There is a lot of controversial information about the effects of soy on the body, and my personal experience with processed soy was not great. I had major digestive issues, and acne. I haven’t deleted all soy from my diet though. I do indulge once a month on some high quality tempeh.
Some of my favorite protein sources are: lentils, beans, nuts and seeds, nutritional yeast, quinoa, and ORGANIC NON-GMO Tempeh.
meal prep or sign up for meal delivery.
If you’re new to the plant based lifestyle and are jumping into Veganuary it is going to be overwhelming. Trying to keep meals interesting, eating a variety of vegetables, and figuring out protein is a lot of work. Preparing each week by creating a “menu” and meal planning, or signing up for a meal delivery like The Hungry Hippie can take a lot of the pressure off.
If you’re in the NY/NJ area and want to sign up for The Hungry Hippie I am offering a special offer for veganuary. To find out more shoot us an email here!
If you’re not local and want to plan your own menu some of my favorite plant based blogs are Deliciously Ella, Oh She Glows, and My New Roots.
GRab a buddy and do it together.
When I went vegetarian at 10, my best friend did it with me. She’s still plant based and we have so much fun sharing meals, trying out vegan restaurants, and feel so much better when we are at parties together. If you can find a veganuary buddy in your existing circle that would be great, but don’t worry if none of your friends want to take the leap with you. Joining a FB community of local vegans is a great way to feel like you are part of a group! They share tons of tips on local restaurants, new product finds, and all kinds of support.
remember this is a process.
Like I shared earlier, going vegan is a challenge. You will probably eat something that had eggs in it at least once during the process. You might not have realized that something was sweetened with honey, or an additive was sourced from an animal. It’s OKAY. Things like this happen all of the time. Be gracious with yourself during this process and use each step of the way as a learning experience. Remember that the most important part of this experience is that you are feeling healthy, happy, and energized. As long as those are the results you are winning.
Get familiar with vegan brands.
The dozens of options at the grocery store is already overwhelming without having to sort through which ones are vegan or not. Getting familiar with brands and products before your head to the aisles will make shopping a breeze. You can even shop from the comfort of your own home with Thrive Market. Thrive has made it super easy to find vegan certified snacks and pantry staples with their filter features. It’s something I truly love and utilize weekly.
Some of my favorite brands that carry vegan products are: Simple Mills, Siete, Food for Live, Hilary’s
keep a stocked pantry.
Putting together a vegan meal doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. I keep my freezer stocked with vegetables and soup, and my fridge with greens, fruits, and nut butters. I always keep a pantry stocked with lentils, quinoa, and beans that are ready to go in minutes. When you are stuck just try different combinations of veggies with a grain, a protein, and a sauce, or make a big salad. A full pantry will help make things easier on you!
be careful of the processed carbs.
Like I shared above when I first went vegan I was all about the carbs. Pasta and bagels every day were bad habits, and nutrient void foods. Relying heavily or solely on these foods can cause energy crashes, digestive issues, bloating, and even acne. When you’re building your plate fill it with almost all vegetables, a clean protein source, and a healthy fat.
An example of a well balanced meal: Roasted Vegetables with Quinoa and Avocado
Supplement as needed.
I am a believer of the food first mentality ,but there are some vitamins that are hard and/or impossible to get on a vegan diet. There are a few supplements that I take daily and they may be things you want to look into.
Vitamin B12 - this is a vitamin that is not available through whole plant based foods. Meaning it is the one vitamin that you cannot get through a vegan diet. Without B12 you can run the risk of anemia, and damage to your nervous system. You can get some of the daily requirement through B12 fortified foods, or you can supplement. The B12 I use is from Garden of Life which is a spray and the B12 is in the form of methylcobalmin the most bio available form of B12 there is.
Algae Omega - You need omega’s for heart, brain, and immunity. You can get a variety of Omega’s from hemp but I love the added insurance of a supplement, plus my skin glows when I’m taking my Algae Omega. My favorite brand is Nordic Naturals.
Vitamin D - One of the most beneficial ways of getting Vitamin D is through sunlight, so when the fall and winter roll around I start upping my Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for energy, and is needed to absorb calcium.
One of the things that I do to ensure that I am getting a baseline for all of these vitamins is take Ritual daily. Ritual is a smart vitamin that looks at the most common vitamins women are deficient in, so unlike most multi’s they only have a few key ingredients. They also look at how our body absorbs these vitamins and group them together inside the capsules. They are subscription based and come out to just $1 a day!
If you have any questions about the Hungry Hippie services, veganuary, or anything mentioned in the above feel free to reach out!