Going vegan doesn’t mean you’re depriving yourself. Plenty of people who hear about the different “rules” of veganism get put off by a lot of the restrictions of the diet. A vegan diet simply consists of foods that do not contain or use any animal products.
Because a typical Australian diet consists of eating proteins with veggies, it can seem like a huge change to completely stop eating meat. Let alone everything else that has traces of animal products.
However, the Australian food industry is continuously growing to accommodate for the healthy eating lifestyle. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, our country is now the third-fastest growing vegan market in the world.
The article quotes the Australian Dietary Guidelines, which claims that “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthy and nutritionally adequate.”
Plant based diets actually boost your energy levels because you’re eating vitamin rich products that can be sustained by your body for longer so you’re always performing at your peak.
For those who want to make a jump to a healthier lifestyle here are 6 ways to help you implement veganism in your everyday life:
- Reach out to your friends
Trying out a new diet is always easier when you have a support group. Whether you just want a close friend to rant to about your food cravings or need advice on the best place to get your groceries, get first-hand advice from friends who know your local area.
- Don’t stress about your protein intake
You don’t have to be a gym junkie to know how essential protein is for your diet. But meat isn’t the only food source for protein. Beans, soy products like tofu and seitan, quinoa, nuts, and hemp seeds are just some of the foods that contain rich amounts of protein and are easy to include into your everyday meals with the right recipes.
- Concentrate on fresh fruits and vegetables
Something you may notice when you go vegan is that you’ll start looking more at food packages. From there you’ll see just how many products use animal products, which can get overwhelming, fast. If you put your focus on eating whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables you don’t have to worry about hidden animal products that may be in meals claiming to be healthy alternatives.
- Reassess your shopping plan
The main items on any vegan shopping list consist of grains, beans and nuts, which are all affordable and store well. However, it can seem expensive having to buy fresh vegetables and fruits. A simple change of shopping an hour before the markets close to checking out websites like VeganCuts.com or other discounted products shops can help you stay on track of your budget and diet essentials.
- Introduce ethnic cuisines in your diet
While more and more vegan-friendly products are readily available to recreate a lot of traditionally meat-based recipes, not everything can be vegan. For those looking for new recipes get inspired by Asian, Italian, Ethiopian and Indian cuisines who focus their diets off of plant-based products.
- Find a new go to take out place
Cutting out meat and animal products from your diet doesn’t mean you can’t have a cheat day. Melbourne is renowned for its variety of vegan-only eateries, and the majority of restaurants in the metro and inner-suburbs happily cater for vegans, with plenty of healthy options in their menus. Know which vegan-friendly restaurants are around you, so when you don’t feel like cooking at home, you can enjoy a meal out instead.
On the hunt for a new vegan lunch place? Try out our variety of delicious vegan-friendly salads, desserts, organic coffee and breakfast staples like avocado and toast and bircher muesli. At Home Juice and Bar we’re passionate about providing the Melbourne metro area with guilt-free and healthy alternatives.
Visit our Docklands store today, check out our products online or call us on 1300 464 729.
