Skip to content
Switch from vegetarian to vegan

Switch from vegetarian to vegan - 10 tips to make it easy

You want to switch from vegetarian to vegan? I think that's great! I made the switch myself some time ago. And to be honest, it wasn't that complicated! It simply depends on how you approach the challenge of getting rid of old habits in order to create new ones. Personally, I consider the decision to switch to a purely plant-based diet to be one of the best decisions of my life - and I'm sure you'll feel the same way in a few weeks' time.

In this article, I would like to give you my top 10 tips for switching from vegetarian to vegan!

Why should you go from vegetarian to vegan at all?

Since I have been eating a vegan diet or vegan lebeI generally feel healthier and more energetic. I could probably write a whole book about the benefits of a balanced plant-based diet. And I'm sure you already know why you think going vegan is the right step. So here is a compact summary:

  • Ethics: For your lifestyle, you no longer actively take Cruelty to animals and the death of animals. Through the Veganism also promotes not only animal rights but also human rights.
  • Health: Contaminants in food are mainly found in animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy products. The risk of serious illnesses decreases, you (almost automatically) eat a much healthier diet and you can also stay fit and fit by eating a purely plant-based diet.
  • Environment: As a vegan, you give a wide berth to resource-intensive factory farming, which is the main cause of many of the biggest problems. Environmental problems of our time from climate change to deforestation. At the same time, you are protecting the planet for future generations such as your children and grandchildren.

Let's not misunderstand each other: Being vegetarian is already a great step towards more respect for animals, health and sustainability. But since I know that the Dairy industry even more brutal than the meat industry, I have decided for myself that vegetarian is not enough.

Tip: If you want to know all the reasons why, why i live veganyou can also have a look at the linked article.

10 tips with which the change from vegetarian to vegan is sure to succeed

Actually, you probably already live about 80 percent vegan. This makes the changeover much easier! You can now easily tickle out the last few percentage points! There are also only a few foods that need to be eliminated or replaced. For example, eggs, butter, dairy products and honey. That's almost it! 😉

Now I'll show you how to make the transition from vegetarian to vegan as easy as possible! Let's go!

1. internalize the advantages of the changeover

Switching from vegetarian to vegan - advantages

You need a basis of willpower and stamina. If you are always aware of your motives for making the change, you will also overcome all the hurdles of the relatively short adjustment period. If you don't, the risk of succumbing to your old habits increases. So what are the benefits? Ethics, health and environmental protection - we've already discussed these.

But do you know what the best thing about the changeover is? You are no longer a hypocrite. Because you love animals but eat them or pay for them to be tortured and exploited? That's a really strange contradiction in terms, isn't it? As a vegan, you can avoid this annoying cognitive dissonance put it to bed!

2. put aside your prejudices

Inform yourself! The more you know about veganism, the better! It is extremely important for the transition from vegetarian to vegan to know the very last Prejudices against veganism to discard them. This only works if you actively engage with them.

Here are some examples of common mistakes, of which there are really dozens:

Click on the relevant link to find out why these are all just quick excuses for leaving everything as it is. Simply eliminate such prejudices to strengthen your conviction.

Free e-book: For more excuses and counterarguments, download my free e-book "All arguments against veganism - and how you simply refute them" down.

3. learn from the mistakes of other "switchers

There are many reasons why people fail to become vegan. One major reason, for example, is that they don't understand the Difference between a plant-based diet and veganism have not internalized. To understand: Plantbased is a plant-based diet, while veganism is an ethical, healthy and ecologically motivated way of life. The deeper your motives for switching to a vegan lifestyle are, the easier it will be to change your habits accordingly. In the end, I just found it a little harder to give up cheese. Until I realized that there are many vegan cheeses and I don't have to give them up at all!

Be aware that it takes about 21 days to turn a change in your life into a real habit. To be on the safe side, give yourself 22 days. That's why the most recommended Conversion program from meat eater or vegetarian to vegan also "Challenge22„.

4. find alternatives for your favorite non-vegan foods

There is now a plant-based alternative for every animal product! I still eat pizza with cheese and burgers with juicy patties - just without animal ingredients. The change simplifies the so-called vegan substitute products immensely! For example, I have listed three cheese alternatives above.

Many non-vegans wonder, Why vegans eat so many substitute products in the first placethat look and taste like meat, milk and cheese. But I hardly eat these products any more. At some point, the substitute products from the supermarket will automatically become less, because you are already "full-blooded vegan" and cook much more yourself.

Here are a few alternatives for switching from vegetarian to vegan:

  • Milk: Just switch to oat, soy, almond or rice milk.
  • Cheese: Prefer coconut oil or almond-based cheese. This is available in all known cheese varieties.
  • Butter: Simply use vegetable margarine in future. But there are also vegan butter!
  • Cream: For example, prefer plant-based spray and whipping cream based on water and hydrogenated palm kernel oil.
  • Eggs: Set to the best alternatives for eggs as a binding agent and for thickening, including oat flakes, tomato paste, cherry pea flour and locust bean gum.
  • Honey: There are even vegan honey from raw cane sugar, water and marigold extract! But you can also just go for agave syrup, for example!

5. use vegan cookbooks and blogs as a source of inspiration

When you switch from vegetarian to vegan, you face the following question at least three times a day: what do i eat now? So be sure to get inspired by cookbooks and blogs with vegan recipes! For example, if you think you'll never be able to enjoy the taste of scrambled eggs again: just use this Recipe for vegan scrambled eggs! And so on...

For your dietary changes, I can also recommend the Online course Become vegan made easy* with Sofia Konstantinidou recommend!

Tip: You can also get a good start to a plant-based diet with our book "Cooking for the climate". You can watch it save here*.

6. watch activist videos and documentaries

Sufficient motivation is crucial for the success of your dietary change. It has helped me enormously to watch videos of vegan youtuber like Earthling Ed, James Aspey or Niko Rittenau to view. Be it via the Activism on the street or the scientific clarification of misconceptions about the vegan diet.

I personally became a vegan with the Dominion film which explains the background of the Factory farming shows. But also the films What The Health and Cowspiracy, as well as some more vegan documentaries help immensely to Motivation for the changeover from vegetarian to vegan to rise immeasurably.

7. make a meal and shopping plan for the whole week

If you have to think about what to cook every day, it can be stressful. The likelihood of giving up on your transition from vegetarian to vegan then increases. That's why we still make a meal plan once a week - even today, by the way. This will also make it much easier for you to change your diet!

Tip: Of course, we also organize our shopping according to the "meal plan". In this way, we don't buy any unnecessary food and can Avoid food waste.

8. take a relaxed approach

No one is forcing you to make the switch from vegetarian to vegan. And nothing has to be perfect. After all, you learn from your mistakes! Just take things at your own pace. Maybe you start first With a vegan week or month. Simply plan the change at a time that suits you so that you have time and peace to make the transition from vegetarian to vegan.

Tip: The Veganuary for example, is one such trial month in which many people dare to make the switch. Of course, you don't have to wait for January! You can start at any time. The important thing is to have a clearly defined period of time in which you are really serious about your plan.

9. look for people who also change over

A vegan burger with fries

Experience has shown that the transition from vegetarian to vegan is extremely easy if you tackle it together with others. This encourages motivation to stay on the ball. Make the switch with your partner or best friend, for example. But also in Facebook groups, cooking classes, forums and on blogs. you will find like-minded people with whom you can exchange ideas. Learning from others and pushing each other is really the be-all and end-all. (and that's why I'm writing this article for you 😉 )

10. be consistent in your intention!

Don't be put off by others. They have probably never dealt with the vegan diet before, or only to a limited extent. You have better reasons for switching from vegetarian to vegan - and that's why you go through with it. Just be prepared for possible hurdles when making the switch, but never lose sight of your goal. Then you will successfully master the change!

Change from vegetarian to vegan - now it works!

Change can be difficult. Especially if you've been eating eggs and non-vegan cheese and drinking cow's milk for most of your life and now suddenly want to stop! But I can tell you from my own experience: in 2-3 weeks you'll be asking yourself why you didn't make the switch to a purely plant-based diet sooner.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Mahadma Gandhi (see Animal welfare quotes)

See the goal, see the benefits. Your actions are back in line with your values, you live even healthier and more sustainably. What more could you want?

Do you have any questions or suggestions about switching from vegetarian to vegan? Or would you like to share your own experiences? Then please write me a comment.

Stay animal-friendly,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS.: You need even more motivation? Then check out now the best vegan commercials that will make every meat eater and vegetarian think.

Coffee box Suggestions for improvement Newsletter

* Links with asterisks are so-called Affiliate linksIf you click on it and buy something, you automatically and actively support my work with CareElite.de, as I receive a small share of the proceeds - and of course nothing changes in the product price. Many thanks for your support and best regards, Christoph!

Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I'm Christoph, an environmental scientist and author - and here at CareElite I'm campaigning against plastic waste in the environment, climate change and all the other major environmental problems of our time. Together with other environmentally conscious bloggers, I want to give you tips & tricks for a naturally healthy, sustainable life as well as your personal development.

2 thoughts on “Umstieg vom Vegetarier zum Veganer – 10 Tipps, mit denen es ganz einfach klappt”

  1. Dear Christoph,
    thank you for your tips!
    Without really noticing it, there are always days when I eat completely vegan. I love vegetables! And that already facilitates a lot 😉
    But I also love yogurt, cottage cheese (grainy cream cheese)....
    So yogurt alternatives I have already seen many, tried and also found some good. But curd and cottage cheese... That seems to be more difficult.
    Nevertheless, I'll take your tip #8 to heart and declare the rest of June vegan for now.
    Love greetings
    Alena

    1. Hi Alena. I would also say that I loved the taste of yogurt, cottage cheese and curd. But I love animals even more. Accordingly, the change was not difficult for me. Especially since there are now also different, vegan cottage cheese and quark alternatives in the supermarket. I think it's great that you're having a vegan month. Perhaps you will also find the appropriate alternatives during this time 🙂

      Good luck and best regards,
      Christoph

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *