Best Beginner Tips for Veganism

By Koya Webb

If you’ve recently made the decision to go vegan, congratulations! Sometimes taking that first step can be the most difficult part of the journey, however, we can assure you that this is a transition you will be grateful for making.

When you first make the switch, things can feel pretty overwhelming to say the least. You might not know where to start or have a clear idea of what things you should eat and what you shouldn’t, but don’t panic; we’re here to help you. With time, you’ll find yourself getting creative in the kitchen and discovering new recipes and meals that will excite you!

Here are some of my best beginner tips for veganism that will make the start of your vegan journey run smoothly.

Do Your Research
With sites like Google and YouTube right at our fingertips, there are thousands of websites and documentaries available to educate yourself on veganism.

This tip is essential as doing your research will allow you to discover the core foods and nutrients that your body needs, provide you with new recipes and ideas for meals, familiarize yourself with healthy and/or harmful ingredients to look out for, and so much more.

With veganism, you can never educate yourself enough! If you are curious or have a question about something, try looking it up first! You’ll almost always be able to find the answer.

Start with Alternatives
As a beginner to a vegan diet, it’ll take some time before you start to utilize your own cooking and recipes to replace you favorite previously loved non-vegan meals.

An easy way to ease into veganism without completely ridding yourself from some of your favorite meals is to purchase vegan alternatives and substitutes. If you’ve always loved burgers, swap out a meat burger for a veggie burger. If you’ve always loved milk, try out almond, coconut or soy milk and determine which one you like best!

While I don’t recommend you rely too heavily on vegan-based alternative foods that contain a lot of soy as you move forward in your vegan diet, it is a great starting point to get you moving along. If you decide to go along with this step, don’t forget to sustain yourself with plenty of whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables alongside the alternatives that you choose to eat!

Find a Partner
Whether this be a family member or a friend in person or online, find someone who can support you and possibly even embark on this brand new journey with you! Whomever this friend may be, they might be able to provide you with some additional knowledge on veganism that you may not have even be aware about.

Having a partner in general is a great way to gain some extra support and motivation when it comes to lifestyle switches such as this one.

Stay Prepared
One of the downsides to being vegan is that not every place or situation accommodates the vegan diet. Always be prepared to deal with a lack of vegan options whether you are going out to eat with a friend or attending a meeting.

It’s important to make sure you have some snacks like nuts, fruit or energy bars with you whenever you come across moments like these!

Be Patient
When starting out as a vegan, patience is key. It’ll take some time before you master determining what is vegan and what isn’t or how to perfect certain recipes to your liking, however, if at any point you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up over it!

Just with everything else that we do, practice makes perfect. In no time you’ll become a master of the vegan diet and with these tips, we hope you’ll now have a solid foundation as you get started. Best of luck!

Koya Webb, an internationally recognized yoga teacher, personal trainer, holistic health and wellness coach, author, motivational speaker, and professional fitness model, is revolutionizing the holistic living landscape. She’s known as a “transformational specialist” when it comes to helping people reach their goals — by encouraging sustainable positive lifestyle changes that maximize their ability to cultivate self-love, lose weight, increase energy, reverse life-threatening conditions, and experience optimal health.

Koya, who encourages clients to practice daily self-care and make healthy living a priority in a fun and accessible way, aims to lower the number of people with chronic diseases associated with an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle. With over a decade of holistic studies at her command, Koya is dedicated to making a positive impact in the world of healthy living. This former competitive track-and-field athlete combines the work ethic and dedication of an athlete with simple, practical holistic health practices that anyone can follow to live a healthy and active lifestyle.