You guys are in for a treat today!
Today’s guest post is brought to you by the amazing sisters, Erika and Jessie over at Urban Alchemy. They were the brilliant minds behind one of my favorite juice cleanses, BRU’s, and are now getting into all kinds of other awesomeness with their latest work in empowering women and getting them nourished-spiritually, mentally and physically. Check out their upcoming eBook and cleanses at the bottom of this fabulous guest post!
PS-If you’re local to Boston, Jessie is the absolute BEST yoga teacher! Visit her at Waltham Yoga if you get the chance 🙂
So You Want To Go Vegan? 10 Things Every Vegan (And Almost Vegan) Should Know Before You Do
We’ve been vegan for a long time and we’re still asked on an almost weekly basis, “But how do you do it? Isn’t it hard? I could never give up ice cream, cheese, and __ (insert favorite animal product here)!” One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding veganism is that it’s incredibly difficult–in all honesty, it doesn’t have to be. So for those of you beginning a vegan diet, considering going vegan, or just looking to incorporate more plant-based foods onto your plate, here are 10 things you need to know before you do.
So You Want To Go Vegan? 10 Things Every Vegan (And Almost Vegan) Should Know Before You Do
1. Get crystal clear on your WHY.
What’s the reason behind the change in diet? What’s your motivation? Get crystal clear on your WHY (i.e. your intention for going vegan). Energy follows intention so if you’re going vegan for a reason that has meaning to you, deep meaning, then you’re setting yourself up for success (and you’ll be a hell of a lot more motivated to stick with it).
2. Just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
Another common misconception is that if it’s vegan, it’s healthy. Oreos are technically vegan, and we know they’re certainly not healthy. You can be vegan and still have a very poor diet (i.e. a diet comprised of highly processed vegan junk food and health food-like products). Vegan or not, your emphasis should always be on real whole-foods as close to their natural state as possible like fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, raw nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, and whole grains.
3. You can ease into it.
You don’t have to make the transition overnight. You can start by incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet and make gradual changes overtime. The more plant-based foods you add in, the less space there is for everything else.
4. You don’t need to take a billion supplements to meet your nutritional requirements.
A healthy vegan diet comprised of nutrient dense, whole plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, raw nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, and whole grains), provides an abundance of all the macro and micronutrients your body needs to thrive (including enough protein, iron, and calcium despite what your meat-eating friends may argue). Generally speaking, if you don’t have pre-existing medical conditions, the only supplements we do recommend taking if you plan to eat strictly plant-based are: probiotics for maintaining a balance of good bacteria within the gut; vitamin b12 as it is not found in many plant-based foods; and vitamin D if you’re not out in the sun for at least 10 minutes per day.
5. You can eat out at a restaurant (and you don’t need to stick to salad).
As veganism gains popularity (Liam Hemsworth just went vegan!<3), more and more restaurants and food establishments are adding vegan dishes to their menus. In most cases you can find at least one vegan or vegetarian option already on the menu, but if there’s not, don’t be afraid to ask your server or request something different. Most restaurants are very accommodating.
Get creative. Think substituting the feta for avocado or asking for an off menu item like a grilled veggie platter. One of our favorite dishes ever was pasta primavera sans pasta on a bed of fresh greens. Was that on the menu? No.. but with a little help from our server and some creative thinking, we were able to build a dish we loved.
6. You will spend more time in the kitchen.
Even though you can eat out (reread number 5 if you think you can’t), you will spend more time in the kitchen–it’s inevitable. As you make the transition you’re going to want to want to start making your own food and preparing your own meals so embrace it. Find some go-to recipes you absolutely love (Lisa has tons over here at The Vegan Pact!), take a vegan cooking class, have fun with it! The more you do it, the easier it will get. Eventually, home cooking and meal prep will become second nature.
7. How to make a green smoothie.
Every vegan, aspiring vegan, and health conscious individual on the planet should know how to make a green smoothie. Consuming a daily green smoothie is one of the absolute best things you can do for your health and one of the easiest ways to get your greens–ps. green smoothies don’t have to taste like grass (we make them taste really f-ing good).
Our current favorite combo is:
1-2 cups water
1 cup frozen mango
1 bosc pear
1-2 large handfuls spinach
1-2 large handfuls kale
1 scoop Sun Warrior Chocolate protein powder
1 tbs chia seeds
ice as needed
If you’re making a lot of these you may want to think about investing in a high quality blender, we absolutely love our Vitamix.
8. It doesn’t have to be more expensive (but it might be).
As you make the switch to a vegan diet you’ll become way more conscious of what you put into your body and you’ll most likely find yourself shopping at way more farmers markets, co-ops and Wholefoods than before you were vegan. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending more money, meat is one of the more expensive items you’ll find in the grocery store (way more expensive than veggies, grains & beans), so you can save. However, as you go further down the rabbit hole of endless vegan options: i.e. superfoods, supplements and substitutes, it starts to get pricey. Our best advice, stick to nutrient dense plant-based whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, raw nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, and whole grains, instead of fancy superfoods, supplements and substitutes. Your wallet will thank you!
9. Not everyone else wants to be vegan.
Just because you’re making this decision doesn’t mean everyone else around you is going to make it too.
We know it’s exciting (you’re going to feel really, really good and it is great for the animals as well as the planet), but instead of pushing this way of eating onto others, lead by example. Share your love, share your food, but don’t force it on other people.
10. You’re not in it alone.
When you start to make your health a priority, everything else starts to fall into place. It’s an act of compassion and radical self-love. And you don’t have to do it alone–we’re here to help. We’re here to guide you, to support you, to encourage you, to inspire you, to hold your hand, and to help you step into your best life ever. Visit us at www.urbanalchemy.co, and join us for our next online cleanse course. We would love to have you. In the meantime, download our latest eBook, Alchemy Insights for 10 need-to-know tips on stepping up, taking action & moving forward (psst.. it’s free).
BIO:
Erika & Jessica Sweeney | Co-founders & Alchemists, Urban Alchemy
There’s more to life than the grind, there’s living — and we’re on a heart-driven mission to help beautiful women, just like you, remember that. Because… YOU, like all people, deserve to thrive — to experience glowing health, to feel good, really good, and to live a life way beyond your wildest dreams. And us (Erika & Jess), we’re the straight-talking spirited nutritionistas that will help you get there. If you want to move forward, take your health to the next level and nourish your mind, body, & soul — download our latest eBook [http://www.urbanalchemy.co/free/] totally free & join us over at Urban Alchemy [www.urbanalchemy.co], we’d love to have you.
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