Like most women, you probably try your best to live a healthy lifestyle. You go to yoga on a regular basis, you eat kale, quinoa, and sweet potatoes and you make time for the gym. You still consume eggs, meat, and cheese, though, because that’s just the way you’ve always eaten.
There are so many diets out there, from Paleo and gluten-free to alkaline—how are you supposed to figure out which one is right for you? Maybe you have friends who are completely committed to the vegan lifestyle, or perhaps no one you know has taken the health food plunge yet.
If you’ve been wanting to change up your diet, you might want to think about going the vegan route—and no, you don’t have to eat tofu.
1. It’s simple
No doubt about it, cooking can be hard—especially after a long day at the office. That gets even tougher when you’re cooking with meat. You have to decide if you want chicken, fish, beef or pork so you can build your meal around your chosen protein.
You also have to pick a cooking style (bake, saute, grill, fry, etc.). As if that’s not enough, you have to make sure that your meat is cooked properly so you don’t get sick.
Going vegan eliminates the need for all of that. You can build simple meals around protein like beans or grains, and add some green veggies—like spinach or kale—and some healthy fats like an olive oil salad dressing or some avocado. Dinner is done.
2. It’s healthy
If you turn vegan, you automatically eat so many more vegetables—it just works out that way—but you’ll also want to build your meals around veggies since they’re extremely filling.
When you swap out meat for healthy protein/carb combos like quinoa or millet, you’re getting all those nutrients, and you’re definitely stocking up on vitamins and minerals from all those veggies you’re learning to like.
3. It’s trendy
Okay, so you don’t always want to do something just because it’s popular as that would definitely get you into some trouble. However, becoming vegan is trendier than ever right now and that is exactly why it might be the right choice for you.
Vegan cookbooks like Angela Liddon’s The Oh She Glows Cookbooks are topping the bestseller lists while bloggers like Ella Woodward of DeliciouslyElla.com are creating amazing recipes, going on book tours and even coming up with their own food products.
When something becomes trendy, it becomes a lot of fun and veganism is no different. These famous vegans make you want to be part of the whole community. Suddenly, eating oatmeal with banana, nut butter, and chia seeds or a great big green smoothie for breakfast seems so much cooler than your typical eggs and toast.
4. It’s creative
When you take meat out of the equation, you can do so many cool things with food. Vegan bloggers and chefs are getting creative in the kitchen these days, making dishes like cream sauce made from cashews and jam with chia seeds. You can also make some awesome desserts like chocolate pudding using avocados.
You can follow recipes or come up with your own—either way, you’re bound to succeed. After all, you’re using ingredients that are foolproof: it’s hard to overcook kale or mess up a grain salad made with quinoa and fresh veggies.
If you’ve been in a food rut and eat nothing but grilled chicken and broccoli for dinner, this might be the right way to switch up your healthy eating.
5. It’s logical
If you want to be as healthy as possible (which you probably do—no one really wants to live off take-out chicken wings and french fries), then you know that fuelling your body with real, whole foods is the way to go.
That, of course, means trading gluten-filled toast for a protein powder-packed green smoothie for breakfast, your typical sandwich for a huge salad for lunch and making any number of fun dinners (from vegan chili to stews to grain bowls).
Eating whole foods makes sense because you’re literally eating something with one ingredient list. It’s a sweet potato and that’s it. There are no weird chemicals or fillers.
6. It’s empowering
If you make the transition to a plant-based diet, you’re going to feel immensely proud of yourself. You’re going to have to learn to cook, too, because there’s really no way around that. Say goodbye to the days when you grabbed quick take-out on your way home from work. You’re not going to be relying on prepared foods anymore.
Learning to take care of yourself and your body is an empowering thing. Your confidence will soar (along with your energy levels) and you’ll want to keep learning how to cook. You’ll also want to keep going on your healthy journey. What’s better than that?
7. It’s inspiring
When you turn vegan, you’re doing something great for yourself and the environment. Giving up meat means you’re not causing pollution in the world or in your body—you’re reducing your heart disease risk, too.
Sometimes, it’s really cool to feel like part of a bigger community that believes in something, and you will definitely get that if you become a vegan. Going vegan is definitely a big step, but it just might be a lifestyle change that will change your life for the better.
Are you a vegan? Would you ever consider it—even for a month trial period? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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