How To Go Vegan: Six Methods
So, you’ve decided you want to go vegan.
Or maybe you just want to go vegetarian.
Or maybe you want to know how to eat vegan around your new vegan girlfriend.
Or maybe…
Whatever the reason, here are six ways to begin your veg*n journey:
1. Go vegan one day a week.
This way you get to try vegan breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. It’s just one day per week and less than 20% of your weekly food, but it’s a good introduction and it WILL make a difference in your health. As you get used to it, you can increase from one day a week to two and then to three and so on…
2. Seek out vegan restaurants.
Visit vegan dining establishments or try vegan options at omni restaurants. Treat yourself to a leaner, cheaper dining out experience that gives you a chance to try vegan foods without any of the work. You might even find that you can afford to dine out twice as often if you always choose vegan options.
3. Buy a vegan cookbook.
Get your hands on a vegan cookbook or two and try some recipes a few times a week. If you don’t cook very often, try making all of your cooking experiences vegan cooking experiences. Reserve the meat-eating for dining out until you’re ready to give it up for good.
4. Surround yourself with vegans.
Try to find and make friends with people who can help show you the ropes. If you can’t find them in person, find them online. Vegans are all over the place online 
5. Cut dairy out of your diet.
Then cut out eggs. Then red meat. Then chicken. Then fish… The reason to start with diary is because lots of people cut out red meat to improve their health, but then they rely too heavily on dairy, which is not so healthy. But if you start by cutting out dairy, you won’t develop the dairy habit that keeps many vegetarians from going vegan.
6. Try something new every time you shop for groceries.
This is good advice for everyone, but it’s a great way to ease vegan foods into your diet. Try new vegetables, try new fruits, try new “fake” meat products. Try new seasonings. Keep your mind open and try something new every time you have a chance.
Great post! Love these easy to implement and pragmatic suggestions for going vegan. Next time one of my non-vegan friends says they could never go vegan, I’ll challenge them with one of these easy ways to try vegan without the commitment.
Also - to get a sense of community, keep informed of the issues, and learn about the vegan lifestyle in an easy and accessible way - try listening to podcasts!
A few great ones are “Vegetarian Food for Thought” and “Vegan Freak Radio.” I can’t recommend these enough for someone who is an audio learner and wants to listen to information in their busy life on the bus, way to work, etc. They are just mp3 files though, so can be listened to on the computer if you don’t have an mp3 player.
My transition to veganism was aided significantly by these two podcasts, and I have been continuing to listen to them as a strong vegan of one year!
Great idea, Valerie.
And Cassie, yes, that’s part of the idea
Here’s another easy way to go vegan: just do it. Some people find it easier to quit bad habits like smoking or eating meat if they do it cold turkey.