Vegan Practically

On Wednesday I reviewed some reasons for adopting a vegan lifestyle. Today I’m hoping that those reasons piqued the curiosity of at least a few people who might now be looking for next steps. It’s sometimes tough to know where to start, so today I have some suggestions. These are just ten of many “ways in.” I hope that some of them spark your interest.

1. Veganuary! As I said the other day, Veganuary is a great resource and a fun way to enter the new year with a sense of purpose and optimism.

2. Commit to Meatless Mondays. This is another great initiative that’s a great way to ease in and prove for yourself that it’s not as difficult as it might first seem. The Meatless Monday folks emphasize the environmental reasons for introducing more plant-based options. Their tagline is “It’s good for you, it’s good for the planet.” You’ll find recipes, resources, and information about how to mobilize in your community to promote Meatless Monday.

3. Try new recipes. There is a wealth of recipe websites out there today. I have written about a few of them here. I’m going to try making the Homemade Dumplings from the Meatless Monday website.

4. Host a vegan potluck. This is a great way to spread the joy!

5. Consider vegan alternatives when shopping for shoes.

6. Think more seriously about vegan options for things that seem non-negotiable, like cheese. Vegan cheeses have come a long way over the past decade, and people are doing amazing things with cashews and coconut (among other bases). Since cheese is a major obstacle for a lot of people, I like to create opportunities for people to try vegan cheese, such as the amazing herb spread I made for the holidays. For this version I used dill.

7. Consider where you can make imperceptible tweaks. Do those muffins need eggs? Probably not. Does that soup stock have to be chicken. No, it can be vegetable. Does that ice cream have to be dairy? Not once you’ve explored the world of frozen coconut- or cashew-based desserts. Countless creamy and delicious varieties to choose from.

8. Try a vegan restaurant in your area. There are more and more such places these days. See what it’s like to choose from a menu that is entirely plant-based.

9. If there isn’t one, ask about a plant-based menu — lots of restaurants have them now. If you can’t find somewhere with a plant-based menu, ask about plant-based options on the regular menu. Dining out is not nearly as difficult as it used to be.

10. Try a loving-kindness meditation to increase your sense of connection with the world and the other beings around you. There are countless guided loving-kindness (also known as metta) meditations available for free. I love this one (and the Insight Timer is my favourite app).

Thank you to all of you who have supported the early days and growing pains of this blog. Meaningful change is a collective project that requires a collective effort. Please keep reading veganpractically.com. Subscribe, follow, comment, share it with friends and encourage them to subscribe, make suggestions for future topics to post about.

Happy 2024!