Going vegan is more than just a diet trend; it’s a lifestyle change which is making waves all over the globe. As more people are starting to get more conscious about what they eat, more are also drawn towards healthier options such as going vegan. Although difficult at first, testimonies from those who have now chosen to go vegan unanimously state that going vegan is one of the best decisions that they have made. If you are on the road to making this change in your life as well, read on for these 5 Mistakes You’ll Probably Make When Going Vegan!
1. Thinking That Vegan Food Choices Are Healthier
The most common misconception of those who are starting out on a vegan diet is that vegan food options are always healthier; but no, this isn’t always entirely true. For example, soy or rice milk has often been said to be healthier than cow’s milk, but its protein count is lower and it has more sugar.
2. Failing To Have Variety In Your Meals
If you are non-vegan, you’ll probably notice that your weekly meal plan includes a variety of the following:
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Pasta, rice, quinoa, and other carbs
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Legumes or beans
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Vegetables
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Meat such as beef, chicken, or pork
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Fish
When you start going vegan, one mistake you might make is neglecting to include a dietary variety. For example, you may tend to focus on having just pasta as your carbs for the whole week because it’s easier to make as a vegan option. You may end up lacking many essential nutrients that a pasta meal alone cannot supply, especially as a newbie. SnackNation is an option to help you get supplied with nutrient-rich vegan meals from morning to evening, including snacks, so you’ll have extra variety in your meal, as standard.
3. Lack of Vitamin B12 Sources
Vitamin B12 is needed by your body to produce red blood cells. Without enough of this nutrient you’ll end up experiencing symptoms such as nausea, drowsiness, anaemia and memory deficiencies. Vitamin B12 is primarily sourced from animals such as meat and poultry, so when you start going vegan, you might (unintentionally) make the mistake of avoiding it. Rich vitamin B12 sources include plant alternatives such as edible algae. It’s recommended that you get a full health check from your doctor before starting to go vegan or at the very least, consult an expert or a nutritionist first. You do need to be aware of the vital nutrients that your particular bodily composition needs.
4. Purchasing Your Products From Boutique Speciality Stores
With today’s clamour for a healthier lifestyle, there are also many new boutique-style businesses on the rise, offering healthy, organic raw ingredients or grocery supplies. The problem with these stores is that their products can be on the higher-end of the price spectrum. It’s not uncommon to equate organic with ‘expensive’, and you may come to the conclusion that going vegan will burn a hole in your pocket! There are many homemade alternatives you can try such as creating your own yogurt bowls from fruits bought at the market or making your own burger patties from plant-based ingredients. Do some research, for DIY recipes on Pinterest, for example, that will show you ideas on using cheaper, more locally-sourced produce.
5. Neglecting Water Consumption
One of the best things about going vegan is that your meals will now be high in fiber. As a result, your digestion easily improves, and you generally feel lighter, healthier and more energised every day. You might also get obsessed with making vegetable or fruit smoothies in an effort to ensure you get sufficient protein to power up your day. Here, it’s easy to understand the tendency that vegans may develop, forgetting to drink an adequate amount of water. Even if you’ve already gone vegan, you should still consume eight to twelve glasses of water daily. Water is vital to the optimum functioning of the body and helps prevents the onset of all manner of dis-ease from diabetes to heart problems and more.
