10 Tips To Become a Little More Vegan in Your Everyday Life

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle can seem like a daunting challenge, but it doesn't have to be. We'll give you ten tips to become a little more vegan in your daily life.

There is plenty of scientific research to prove that switching to a plant based diet is the most important way to tackle climate change. A study by the University of Oxford and the Swiss Agricultural Research Institute has found that eating a vegan diet can reduce your carbon footprint by as much as 73 percent. This reduction does not just include greenhouse gases but also includes a reduction in water and soil pollution caused by fertilizers and pesticides which can harm ecosystems. Switching to a vegan lifestyle can seem like a daunting challenge, but if you make small and gradual changes, the progression can seem quite natural. Here are some tips to help you become a little more vegan. 

1. Plant-Based Milks

Switching from conventional milk to plant-based milk is a great way to shift your eating habits towards a vegan diet. Diary farms are a major contributor to greenhouse gases, which makes plant-based milks a great alternative. There are many high quality plant based milks on offer, including oat milk, soya, rice, and pea milk, to name a few. You can even buy ‘barista’ versions of plant based milks that are specifically made to froth nicely in coffee. Plant based milks are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, so they have a similar nutrition profile to conventional cow’s milk. You can also make your own plant-based milks at home using our recipes:

• Walnut Milk
• Potato Milk
• Almond Milk
• Flaxseed Milk
• Cashew Milk
• Oat Milk

2. Dark Chocolate

Switching out milk chocolate for dark chocolate is another tip to become a little more vegan in your everyday life. Research by Harvard University shows that dark chocolate offers many health benefits due to the fact that it is rich in plant chemicals called flavanols that may help to protect the heart. Dark chocolate is packed full of antioxidants and is low in sugar compared to milk chocolate. The health benefits of dark chocolate include lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease. 

3. Replace Meat

Meat substitutes are often highly processed and also expensive, so replacing meat with whole foods such as beans and legumes is a great way to ensure filling meals that are full of protein. Legumes are naturally low in fat and are cholesterol free, so they are much healthier than meat. A 2021 study shows the many health benefits that legumes have to offer, including reducing inflammation, improving obesity related disorders, and improving immune function. Try adding beans and legumes to your diet by making our mung bean porridge, or delicious homemade vegan black bean burgers. As well as beans and legumes, vegetables like mushrooms are a great meat replacement as they are naturally chewy and can have a similar texture to meat. 

4. Gelatin-Free Sweets

Switching to gelatin free sweets is another way to become a little more vegan. Most gummy sweets like gummy bears contain gelatin, which is a protein obtained from boiling the skin of cows or pigs. Luckily many popular brands of sweets, including Starburst, Haribo, and Skittles all offer vegan friendly sweets that contain vegan gelatin substitutes. 

5. Cruelty-Free Make-Up

Veganism is not just about diet, but includes all aspects of your life, including what you put on your face. Vegan makeup is cruelty-free, which means that it has not been tested on animals. Many popular makeup brands test on animals, either themselves or through a third party, so it is important to check whether a brand is cruelty free before you purchase from them.  

There are many vegan, zero waste makeup brands available in the US – you don’t have to worry about being limited when it comes to choosing a new product. In addition to not testing on animals, these makeup brands often make sure that their packaging is as sustainable as possible in order to avoid waste. 

6. Eat Food Without Additives

Most processed, packaged food contains additives such as emulsifiers. Additives are used as a way to improve the way the food tastes or to keep it fresher for longer. A lot of these additives are by-products of animals, making them not suitable for a vegan diet. Additives that are never vegan include gelatin, lactose, and various E numbers. The best way to avoid additives is to eat whole, unprocessed foods. 

7. Stop Wearing Leather

Another tip for becoming a little more vegan in your everyday life is to stop wearing leather clothes and shoes. Leather is linked to animal cruelty as it is the skin of an animal. Instead of leather, most vegans will opt for vegan leather. There are many brands that make clothing and shoes from vegan leather, including popular brands like Dr Marten’s who have vegan shoe ranges. 

8. Replace Eggs

Replace eggs to become a little more vegan. You can replace eggs with vegan egg substitutes to make most dishes, including both sweet and savory dishes. Popular vegan egg substitutes include chickpeas, buttermilk, tofu, non-dairy yogurt, and cashews. Chickpea flour is one of the most common egg substitutes in baking, as it works well at binding ingredients together. The best vegan egg substitutes for pancakes include bananas and flax seeds. 

9. Replace Cheese

Cheese is another aspect of the diary food category that you need to adapt to a vegan diet. There are many vegan cheese substitutes, all of which you can make at home. Cutting out cheese from your diet does not mean that you can no longer enjoy your favourite meals. Try our delicious vegan baked mac and cheese recipe, which is made using a homemade vegan cheese sauce.

10. Vegan Friendly Apps

When you want to eat out, it is useful to know what resturaunts around you cater for a vegan diet. Happy Cow and Vanilla Bean are both apps which will help you discover nearby vegan restaurants, cafes, and stores. The restaurants on the apps have reviews by customers, so you know what kind of food to expect. Using one of these apps means that whever you are, you will always be able to find vegan food. 

Read more: 

• Chia Seeds vs. Flax Seeds: What’s the Difference and Which is Better?
• Is Bread Vegan? Brands, Recipes and Tips
• Making Homemade Nutella: Vegan Nutella Recipe

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Tags: Guide Healthy Living Practical Tips Social Vegan