Are you thinking of transitioning to a vegan diet? There are many reasons why you may want to this, and it’s important to remind yourself of your reason. Whether it’s because of ecological concerns, or animal rights, or health concerns, reducing meat in our diet has positive effects on the three reasons listed above.

Here are more reasons why we should consider reducing meat intake:

  • Plant-based diets decrease your risk of major diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and even some types of cancer.
  • Life-threatening Antibiotic resistance often comes from farmed animals.
  • Close to 40% of the world’s grain is being fed to livestock, most of which is produced in countries where 17,000 children die of starvation each day.
  • Animal agriculture is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Rainforests vanish in favour of cattle ranches and soy plantations for livestock.

With ‘Veganuary’ well under way, a campaign that has inspired and supported more than half a million people to try vegan for January and beyond, we caught up with vegan cook and lifestyle blogger Martina at Food Therapy for a Conscious Living for some tips on how to transition to a vegan diet.

1. Don’t go cold turkey.

If you’re used to eating lots of meat turning vegan overnight may not be the best idea. Start by eating a vegan meal twice per week, for example every Monday and Friday. In the meantime, for your other meals, reduce the meat portion and increase the veggie portions.

2. Don’t change what you love completely.

Just because you’re considering a vegan lifestyle doesn’t mean that you have to change your diet completely. If you love pasta Bolognese, for example, switch the meat with lentils or a soya mince. Replace ingredients rather than recreating completely new recipes, as the latter can get overwhelming.

3. Meal planning & shopping.

Do a little meal plan and write down the ingredients you need before you go shopping to avoid getting confused and feeling like recipes are difficult to accomplish. In addition, this will probably save you time and money!

4. Connect with others.

Find a friend or a family member to join in to support each other, share recipes and the experience of this journey.

5. Clarity.

Write down the reason why you are making this shift to a vegan lifestyle and diet and stick it to your fridge or where you will see it everyday. Reminding yourself of why you are doing this will keep you motivating and aligned to your ultimate goals.

Try these vegan recipes this week:

Gluten Free Vegan Pancakes by Martina Camilleri
Vegan Soup by Stefan Hogan
Aubergine Layers by Steffi Zammit