Quick Synopsis

So you’re a new vegan. Congrats! You’re doing something great for your body, the planet, and the animals. But changing your lifestyle is hard - especially getting started.

Well, rest easy. We’re here to get you going with some of our best beginner’s tips for going vegan, from staying satisfied with plant-based proteins like nuts and beans, to making these quick and easy vegan swaps in the kitchen, to batch cooking and meal planning, to getting support from family and friends about your new lifestyle.

“MamaSezz helped me switch to a plant-based diet. The transition was way easy because of MamaSezz. I love my new lifestyle.” - Jim

The Full Story

Going vegan is about so much more than food - it’s a lifestyle and like anything worthwhile, there’s a big learning curve. The good news is we’re here to make your going vegan easier (and tastier) so you can enjoy all the benefits of living this way.

1. Stay satisfied

No one likes a hangry person. When you cut out animal products be sure to add lots of nutrient dense plant-based foods to keep you full and happy. Bulk up your meals with plenty of fresh veggies, whole grains (high fiber keeps you full longer!) and plant-based proteins like:

Raw nuts including almonds, cashews, walnuts
Beans and legumes, including lentils, black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, edamame (soy beans)
Whole grains like brown rice, bulgur, quinoa, steel-cut oats, wild rice
Seeds like chia and flax
Nut butters, like all-natural peanut butter and almond butter
Green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, Bok Choy, Kale
White Potatoes
Tofu
Tempeh

2. But don’t stress too much over protein

Worried you won’t get enough protein? A common concern, but not a necessary one. Not only is it super easy to get all the protein you need on a plant-based vegan diet, but protein deficiency is also pretty rare. (It’s fiber deficiency that’s got 97% of Americans in its grasp!) By eating a well-rounded vegan diet filled with lots of whole grains, starchy and non-starchy vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds all your nutritional needs will be met. Wondering how much protein you actually need? Calculate your protein requirements here.

3. Cashew cream is your friend

You can give up cheese, we promise. You just need a little help from your new friend, cashew cream. It will make your pasta sing and help you overcome your cheezy cravings.

To make homemade cashew cream just soak 1 cup raw cashews for at least an hour in 2 cups of water. You can add a pinch of salt if you like. Once soaked, blend in high-speed blender or food processor until creamy. We like to add in 1-2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast to give it a nutty, cheesy flavor and a squirt of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for a nice tang. Test your favorite herbs and spices as well.

Or skip the prep and stock up on ready-made Mama’s Mac Sauce for a vegan twist for a cheese sauce.

4. Seek out vegan restaurants or vegan options nearby

Eating out as a vegan is easier than ever before and a little research goes a long way. Check out websites like HappyCow or Yelp to search for vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants in your area. You can also join regional vegan Facebook groups (Vegan Vermont, Vegan New Hampshire) to get recommendations from local veggies. If you don’t have time to plan ahead you can still enjoy your meal by following these tips for dining out on a plant-based diet.

5. Make a meal plan

Having a plan in place at mealtime is key for any vegan newbie. It’ll help you avoid making not so vegan food choices when you’re hungry and tired, plus it’ll keep things interesting so you can avoid the dreaded dinnertime rut. Grab these vegan meal planning tips to get started.

Don’t have time to shop, prep, and cook? No worries! You can get ready to eat vegan meals from MamaSezz delivered with handy chef-designed meal plans to keep you on track.

6. Download a vegan app

Vegan apps will make your plant-based life so much easier -- from helping you navigate airport food options to scanning products in the grocery store to ensure they’re actually vegan. Here are 8 vegan apps to add to your phone ASAP.

7. Find your favorite vegan substitutes

Tips for eating vegan 101 always include adapting some of your favorite recipes with vegan ingredients. Not sure how to do that? We’ve got your back with these 11 plant-based ingredient swaps to make at home.

8. Pack snacks when you are on the go

No matter how much you prep and plan, there will be times when you’re somewhere at mealtime that just doesn’t have any vegan options for you. So what’s a hungry vegan newbie to do? Pack snacks! Keep your car, backpack, purse, coat pockets stocked with grab-and-go vegan snacks so hunger won’t ruin the day. Check out these 10 quick and easy vegan travel snacks for your next day out.

9. Get some awesome cookbooks

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel in your newly vegan kitchen! There are so many awesome plant-based cookbooks out there to peruse and find inspiration. Some of our current favorite healthy vegan cookbooks:

Oh She Glows
No Meat Athlete Cookbook
Power Plates
The Plant Power Way
The Habby Herbivore
Straight Up Food
Forks Over Knives
Thug Kitchen

Or browse these great healthy vegan recipe blogs:

10. Find a supportive community

You don’t have to do it alone! Thanks to the world wide web, you can connect with fellow vegans in seconds. There are so many vegan Facebook groups, whether you’re looking for vegan recipes, vegan pregnancy support, local meetups, whatever you need. Want some help getting started? Join the MamaSezz Heart Beet Club for plant-based beginner tips, tricks, and daily encouragement!

11. Avoid convenience foods

A quick health tip for vegans is to remember that just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s good for you! (Oreos are vegan, after all). One of the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle is that it’s so darn good for your body. But ditching animal products is just half of it. If you’re replacing animal products with processed vegan junk food, you may be doing the animals a solid, but you’re selling your health short. Adding a wide variety of whole plant foods to your diet is key so eat up lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds.

12. Load up and try new veggies

There’s a whole wide world of delicious and healthy vegan eating out there -- go explore! Try at least 1 new fruit, vegetable, or whole grain every week. Test out different cooking methods, roast veggies with new spices and seasonings, get creative with your vegan garnishes.

13. Batch cook

If cooking dinner every night simply isn’t for you, we highly recommend you batch cook. Making a big pot of whole grains will pay off big time as you head into your busy week, saving you time, money, and energy. Get our favorite vegan batch cooking tips here.

14. Don’t be embarrassed by your decision and leave judgments at the door

Change is disruptive by definition. But it doesn’t have to be a bumpy transition to the vegan life. There are ways to get the support you need, as well as ways to handle skeptical family and friends.

Just as you hope for their support and understanding, you’ll want to steer clear from being judgmental, too. While it may upset you when friends and family aren’t open to a vegan lifestyle, remember everyone is on their own journey. Maybe they’ll get to where you are, maybe they won’t.

15. Remember - progress, not perfection

Rome wasn’t built in a day and a “perfect” vegan doesn’t exist. If you “cave” at your office party and nibble on some cheese or if you discover halfway through a restaurant meal your dish has meat in it (even though you were assured it was vegan), take a deep breath -- in and out -- and relax. All you can do is your best and take it one step at a time. You’re doing just fine and tomorrow is another day.

Key Takeaways

Avoid hanger and stay satisfied with hearty whole grains, lots of fruits and veggies, and plant-based proteins.
You’ll get all the protein you need on a well-rounded whole food vegan diet.
Cashew cream is your new best friend and a delicious way to curb cheese cravings.
Do some research before going out via Yelp or Happy Cow to find vegan-friendly restaurants and businesses.
Make meal plans to stay on track throughout the week!
Arm your phone with vegan apps to help you navigate airports, restaurants, grocery stores, and more.
Swap out animal products for plant-based ingredients in your favorite weeknight meals.
Never leave home without a pack full of vegan snacks!
Get yourself some inspiring vegan cookbooks.
Find your tribe -- whether online or in-person, there are plenty of vegan support groups to get your plant chat group on.
Skip convenience foods in favor of whole plant foods for a healthier vegan lifestyle.
Eat tons of veggies -- and add new ones to your plate each week.
Batch cook to save time, money, and energy later in the week.
Ask for support from (and don’t judge) non-vegan friends and family.
Don’t kick yourself for not being “perfect.” Progress, not perfection!

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