What are typical mistakes vegans make when starting out? If you're looking for the answer to this question, you've come to the right place! Whether of an ethical, ecological or health-related nature: there are a variety of good Reasons for the vegan lifestyle. But for very few people, the transition is completely smooth. Of course, this is not a bad thing - but we can still learn from the experiences and insights of other vegans.
In this article, I would therefore like to introduce you to 15 typical mistakes made by vegan beginners. Simply use them to make a smoother transition from meat-eater or vegan. Vegetarian to vegan on the dance floor. Have fun!
Here is in advance already a small Overview about the contribution:
- Thinking you're a health guru now
- Simply omitting meat, eggs and dairy products
- Completely forgetting the variety of international cuisine
- Thinking meal preps are complicated
- Tackling the transition without a plan
- Eating too few calories
- Thinking veganism is a common form of nutrition
- Giving in to cravings for meat and dairy products
- Being lazy and disinterested
- Consume more vegan finished products
- Not enough regional and seasonal food to buy
- Start without knowledge of nutrients
- Believing you have to do everything perfectly
- Mastering the changeover without support
- Missionize other people
1. believing you are now a health guru
Anyone who takes a serious look at vegan nutrition learns quite a lot about Nutrients and a balanced one, healthy lifestyle. But you don't have to push this on everyone. Vegan does not automatically mean healthy! After all, potato chips and cola are also vegan but far from being healthy.
However, you don't have to give up sugar and processed products completely - and you can also Continue to consume favorite dishes such as pizza, pasta, burgers or foods such as milk and cheese - just in a vegan, sustainable and healthier way. So just have fun and learn step by step.
2. simply omit meat, eggs and dairy products.
Living vegan is actually not a renunciation. But if you simply cut out animal products without looking for alternatives or discovering new foods and meals, it can quickly seem that way. All the more faster one is then also frustrated, gives up and suffers perhaps even a lack condition. So embrace the diversity of vegan cuisine and the switch will definitely enrich your life.
3. forgetting the diversity of international, vegan cuisine
The first two to three weeks of the changeover are usually the biggest hurdle - because that's how long it takes time to break a habit and establish a new one. During this period, many vegan beginners have problems coming up with new dishes. The temptation is often great to simply fall back into old habits. But vegan dishes are a dime a dozen. Simply use the following Inherently vegan-vegetarian national cuisinesto help your creativity take off:
- Chinese
- Thai
- Japanese
- Italian
- Israeli
- Indian
- Arabic
Tip: In another article, you will also learn how you can find a vegan meal in really every restaurant.
4. think meal preps are far too complicated
A typical beginner's mistake for vegans is not even starting with meal preps. But in all honesty, ever since I started cooking my lunch for the week in about an hour on a Sunday and then preparing it in Stainless steel lunch boxes store, my Life so much easier have become. I don't have to wonder what I'm going to eat every day - and I have time to relax at lunchtime. This short time of planning and preparation is really worth its weight in gold.
5. approaching the changeover without a plan
Just to start spontaneously... that rarely works - whether you stop smoking or want to eat a vegan diet. Unfortunately, this jerky, impulsive approach is usually only successful in the short term and is therefore a typical rookie mistake made by vegans.
It's much easier to stay on the ball if you have a (precise or rough) plan. When do I go shopping, what do I buy, what meal preps do I prepare, what dishes do I cook and what snacks etc. do I have ready for when my cravings kick in again? Answer the questions and be prepared - then the change is totally simple and quickly becomes routine.
6. Eating too few calories
Many former beginners say that they are always much too hungry and therefore eventually no longer vegan were. The mistake lies in simply leaving out animal products and not giving your body a substitute with the to provide the same amount of calories. Lentils, for example, have fewer calories than cheese or meat. You should increase the quantities accordingly. Healthy fats also keep you full for longer. If you get peckish, you can treat yourself to an apple with peanut butter or carrots with hummus, for example (especially during the transition phase).
7. to consider veganism a common form of nutrition
There is a Difference between veganism and a plant-based diet. The latter is a form of nutrition. Veganism, on the other hand, is a way of life. For the welfare of the animals, one renounces the consumption of animal products (food, entertainment, clothing, Animal testing etc.) - and therefore primarily pursues ethical motives against the exploitation of animals. There are also ecological and health reasons.
Make veganism a part of your personality! If you have a strong, personal reason for being vegan, the initial change to your diet will quickly become a permanent lifestyle.
Tip: Under "Why live vegan?" I present my most important motives for an animal-friendly, environmentally friendly and healthy lifestyle.
8. giving in to the craving for meat and dairy products
A typical beginner's mistake for vegans is to succumb to old habits and give in to cravings. The Cravings are of course still there at the beginning of the changeoverYou should keep this in mind. It takes some time for them to disappear completely. Maybe you were wondering, Why vegans often consume meat substitutes? I almost don't eat them anymore, but they definitely helped a lot with the transition to vegan, since they look and taste like meat.
9. being too lazy and disinterested
If the "pain" is not great enough, you will quickly give up. It is extremely important that you are always aware of why you want to eat vegan or why you want to live vegan. No cruelty to animals, no Deforestation of the rainforests, no antibiotics in the food... there are hundreds of motives! But by lazy and uninterested, I also mean that you quickly lose the desire to think about and cook a vegan meal due to a lack of information and enjoyment. Then Just go to a restaurant more often and let yourself be inspired and cooked for. You will quickly get to know new dishes and the variety and excitement of climate-friendly, plant-based cuisine.
Important: Be sure to use my tips on vegan egg substitute and vegetable milk substituteto make the transition even easier for you!
10. consuming too many vegan convenience products
As I said, the vegan substitutes for meat, cheese etc. are extremely helpful when switching to a vegan diet - but in the long run they really go to the money. Accordingly, the impression can quickly arise that Veganism teuer is. The consequence? The mistake of many new vegans to give up.
In fact, the cheapest foods in the supermarket are vegan: Rice, lentils, peas, noodles... you just need to increase the desire to get active and cook yourself!
11. buying too few regional and seasonal foods
People who consume a lot of convenience products automatically consume less regional and seasonal produce. Accordingly, the ecological consequences of your diet for the planet. It is also a mistake made by new vegans, as food from the region that is in season also tastes much better. They are usually more nutritious, fresher and more sustainable and make your vegan dishes a real taste experience.
Related articles:
12. to start without any knowledge of nutrients
It is possible to cover your nutritional requirements at all stages of life with a plant-based diet.₁ Avoiding animal products but can quickly develop into a one-sided diet, if you do not plan the changeover and inform yourself accordingly. As said: Vegan foods are not automatically healthier and not automatically healthy! The following nutrients apply According to DGE₂ as critical nutrients in a vegan diet, to which special attention should be paid:
Don't make the rookie mistake of vegans of underestimating the importance of nutrients for your health. With a regular blood test from your GP, you can play it safe and master the transition to veganism in a targeted manner.
13. believing you have to do everything perfectly
Veganism is not about doing everything perfectly. It's about, To gradually minimize animal suffering through one's own way of life. The fact that you don't do something perfectly is no reason not to keep developing.
And as you know, you can learn from your mistakes! I've made dozens of them myself when converting to vegan - and I'll share some of them with you here. 😉
14. mastering the changeover without support
Many people feel offended and disturbed by the mere presence of a vegan. For example, because they believe that as a vegan for something better. Even if this is not the case, of course, the hurdles that others put in your way are correspondingly large. For some new vegans might then find it difficult to stay on the ball. The path of least resistance and so...
Therefore it is advisable to Mastering transition together with a friend or family member. Facebook groups with like-minded people can also be a helpful companion!
15. proselytizing other people
It feels incredibly good to no longer have to Cruelty to animals to pay. One thinks: "Hey, why doesn't everyone do it that way?" - accordingly, you want to get as many people as possible on board - especially as a vegan beginner. But this doesn't always go down well, which is why I think it's one of the typical mistakes vegans make as beginners. Meat eaters often move even further away from veganism because they feel missionized. So always keep in mind that it took you some time toountil you have recognized your true motives and finally decided on a vegan lifestyle.
Learn from the rookie mistakes of vegans and do better straight away
Making mistakes and learning from them is great and part of the personal development. I hope that you too were able to learn from my mistakes with the vegan lifestyle and simplify the transition for yourself.
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Or can you think of any other typical mistakes vegans make? Then write me as always happy to comment!
Stay animal-friendly,
PS.: Did you know that you can be a Vegan also promotes human rights? In the linked article I explain why this is the case!
References:
₁ American Dietetic Association; W. J. Craig; A. R. Mangels: Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets (as of July 2009), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19562864. [20.07.2021].
₂ Selected questions and answers on the DGE's position on vegan nutrition (September 2020), available at https://www.dge.de/wissenschaft/weitere-publikationen/faqs/vegane-ernaehrung/#c2895. [20.07.2021].
