Is veganism a diet? In many ways it is, but it’s also much more than that. People decide to cut out eating meat and dairy products before finding other ways they can implement veganism into their lifestyle. Due to this, it could impact the choices in terms of how you socialize, travel and shop.
While you may have believed that veganism is just a diet, it can become a vegan lifestyle. In this article, we’re going to look at how to live a vegan lifestyle.
The question “Is veganism a diet?” all starts with food:
When people decide to go vegan, they ditch meat and animal-based products for alternatives. There are many vegan health benefits that have been proven as a result of this dietary change. However, one of the worries is whether they’re getting the nutrients their body needs to remain strong and healthy. As you won’t be able to consume animal products that typically contain these nutrients, you’ll have to source them elsewhere.
Here’s how you can balance your food groups:
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables will become one of your main sources of vitamins when starting the vegan diet. They can be added to almost any meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are of course, easy to get hold of all year round. As well as eating fresh fruit and vegetables, you could also eat them tinned, dried or frozen to create a fresh spin on your meal.
It is recommended that you should be eating five 80-gram portions each day as a vegan.
Starchy foods
You should be choosing to eat foods that are rich in fiber, such as the likes of oats, sweet potatoes, wholemeal bread and pasta. Fiber-rich foods can provide several health benefits such as lower blood sugar levels, weight loss and less chance of constipation.
Protein-rich foods
As you won’t be eating meat on the vegan diet, you’re going to have to find alternatives to stay healthy. The lack of protein is a worry that many people have when turning to the vegan diet, but it can be easily sourced. Some of the world’s best athletes have turned to veganism and claimed that it has made them feel much better in themselves and more energized.
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Calcium
Again, as dairy is typically sourced from calcium, many people believe they’ll struggle to find alternatives. Rest assured, it’s easier than you think. Instead of drinking cow’s milk. yogurts, cream and cheese, you can eat foods such as tofu and fortified plant milk.
Vitamin B12
It’s essential that all vitamin diets contain a reliable source of Vitamin B12 to help speed up reactions in the body. If your body does lack in B12, you’re more likely to suffer from anemia and nervous system damage.
Vitamin B12 is typically made in microorganisms, which unfortunately isn’t found in all plant-based foods. According to experts, foods fortified with B12 sand supplements are the only ways vegans can get the daily required amount of vitamin B12.
Veganism as Lifestyle
If you asked yourself the question ‘Is veganism a diet’? – you would be right, but you can also live a full vegan lifestyle. It’s not just about the foods you eat, but how the welfare of animals and the environment can transcend into your daily activities and choices.
Here are just a few examples:
1. Fashion
In the ideal minds of the vegan world, the fashion industry would be completely animal product-free, in terms of materials used and stopping animal testing. However, at the current time, the movement hasn’t expanded to such a large scale. There is still a lot of work to be done in terms of the future of fashion and using animal-free materials to create products. As a result, vegans are forced to search hard for clothing that’s vegan.
The good news is that shops around the world are now catching onto the trend and are creating vegan products on a small scale. This doesn’t mean you have to search endlessly for clothes to buy.
More and more vegan retailers are popping up online, so keep your eyes peeled! You’ll no longer need to read the small print to check if the piece of clothing is vegan. These websites offer vegan alternatives to your favorite garments such as leather jackets, winter boots and wool-free cardigans.
If you’re in any doubt, look for products that are embossed with the vegan trademark. This is a recognized international symbol that guarantees no animal testing has been carried out on behalf of the manufacturer, or no animal products are contained within it.
Some of the most famous brands you can purchase from include the likes of Beyond Skin, Noah and Bourjois to help live your vegan lifestyle.
You may also check our Vegan Clothing & Accessories shop!
2. Socializing
If you’re a passionate vegan, it can be difficult to switch off from your thoughts and beliefs. When asked about your choices to go vegan, it can be very easy to slip into a debate or deep discussion. While many people choose to go vegan for health reasons, it’s usually the case that others do so for ethical reasons. When you’re so passionate about a subject, it can be hard not to get too engrossed in conversation, especially when it relates to veganism.
Many people may question you, asking ‘Is Veganism A Diet?’ and why you chose to live the full lifestyle. Don’t feel as though you have to explain everything in detail straight away. You could always send them information about your choice (our website would make a great starting point). This way, they can learn what it means to go vegan by experts.
Being vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on meals with your friends. You can still go out and enjoy yourself. Many restaurant chains are now creating specialized vegan meals on their menus. You can call ahead and check this out before booking if it makes you feel more at ease.
Meeting other vegans who are like-minded can be a great way to socialize, share your experiences and recipes and talk about the challenges you’ve faced. Sometimes, being vegan can be very isolating. Spending time with similar people may give you that boost to power through.
3. Traveling
Many vegans worry about how they’re going to maintain their vegan diet when they’re on vacation. Wondering whether you’ll find suitable accommodation and restaurants that are vegan-friendly is the main concern.
If you’re looking to travel abroad, do be assured that many city supermarkets now stock vegan products such as soya milk. You’ll also be able to get your hands on as much fruit and vegetables as you like. More vegan restaurants are also popping up in countries all over the world. HappyCow is a useful resource that gives you recommendations for vegan-friendly cafes and restaurants.
4.Books
People who choose to go vegan are always keen to do further research into the diet and lifestyle. Educating yourself about what’s available to you will help you stick to veganism with ease and confidence. Here are just some of the books you can take a read of that may come in useful for your vegan journey:
- The Vegan Way: 21 Days to a Happier, Healthier Plant-Based Lifestyle That Will Transform Your Home, Your Diet, and You by Jackie Day
- Vegan for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide to a Healthy Vegan Lifestyle by Shasta Averyhardt
- The Mindful Vegan: A 30-Day Plan for Finding Health, Balance, Peace, and Happiness by Lani Muelrath
- The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life by Russell Simmons
5. Products
SEE ALSO: 4 Ways To Expand Your Vegan Lifestyle Beyond Your Diet to browse a number of products and brands that’ll become a godsend in your new vegan lifestyle. Many vegans worry that they will still be forced to use animal products, despite cutting it out of their diet. In this blog, you’ll learn what other vegan products are on the market to fit into your vegan lifestyle.
We hope we’ve answered your question ‘Is Veganism A Diet?’ and proven that veganism as a lifestyle can be achieved. Are you solely on the vegan diet, or have you embraced the vegan lifestyle?
Share in the comments below!
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