Mistakes I Did When First Becoming Vegan + Tips For New Vegans By Seekingjessx

Hello everyone,

I am Jess and I am passionate about everything to do with veganism, fitness and nutrition. Currently I am studying to become a vegan nutritionist.

I am well aware of the fact that transitioning into veganism is not the easiest. I, myself, became vegan in December 2017.

It was honestly the best decision I have ever made. I watched multiple documentaries on the health benefits and the aspect of animal agriculture. I knew there was no way of going back anymore. It was the best decision that was not only going to impact my health positively, but also have positive impacts on the environment. And most importantly, I could help safe many animals and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

But initially I didn’t have a real plan on how to best approach a vegan diet. I have done some mistakes during my transition, from which I have learned from. I would like to share these mistakes with you, in case you are at the start of transitioning into veganism or you are considering it.

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MISTAKES TO AVOID

#1 I believed everything I heard, read and saw

I became vegan, because of the internet. It showed me things I didn’t know about and it taught me a lot about myself, which I am grateful for.

At the same time, unfortunately, there is also a lot of misinformation out there and literally everyone can put up videos with content, which is not necessarily always correct.

One thing that has really given me a false image of veganism were people promoting a very restricted diet, such as the fruitarian diet for example. For some people this kind of diet might work, but for the average transitioning vegan, this kind of diet can come with a lot of confusion as well as health issues, when not applied correctly.

And so this was me, I believed everything I saw, which confused me a lot.

#2 I overate. On everything.

I believed everything influencers said. Such as: “eat as much as you want and lose weight”.

And because of this type of misinformation, I started consuming a lot more calories than my body actually needed, which also lead to a lot of digestive issues. Again, for people like me (coming from a distorted body image and an unhealthy mindset about food) these kind of statements can seem very confusing.

At that time I was living in Barcelona, where vegan junk food is available everywhere. And here we are, I was over-excited and I started trying it all, from vegan burgers, to pizzas, to ice-creams and cakes. I forgot that these foods are full of sugars and added oils, something, I was avoiding before at any cost, as I was always very health conscious.

Don’t get me wrong, it is okay to consume these foods once in a while. But not to such an extent where you feel low on energy, you have digestive issues and you gain weight. And that was me. Even though I was working out every single day, I was gaining weight and I didn’t understand why.

As an upcoming vegan nutritionist, my main focus is on health, physically as well as mentally. As these two go hand in hand. It is also important to understand how we can fuel our body in order to feel like our best selves. This includes indulging on convenient foods once in a while. As in the long run these foods will not make you feel good.

Also, I believe that mock meats and convenient foods are great for those of you who are currently transitioning into a vegan diet, as this will help you ease the process.

#3 I didn’t do enough research

There is never enough research you can do. And I think that this point ties in with my previous two points.

Before I went vegan, I always considered my diet as healthy. You know, the “lean chicken and eggs for protein” kinda diet. Well, so by cutting out those animal foods, I was left with “almost nothing” and a little confused about what to eat. I always thought carbs are the enemy, as they can make you “gain weight”. So my diet consisted of almost no carbs at all (excluding fruit). And all of a sudden I am vegan, where carbs make up the stable of your diet.

So obviously I didn’t know enough about what I can substitute these foods with. I also didn’t know that carbs, the complex ones, such as grains, beans, etc. do NOT make you fat. Grains should be a staple of your diet.

With time I learned how tasteful, healthy and good vegan/plant based food is. Also, it is funny how I used to hate cooking. Since I am vegan though, I really enjoy it, as you can be really creative in the kitchen.

I would also like to share some tips with you, ss I would like to help you with your transition.

TIPS FOR NEW VEGANS

#1 Do your research

By far one of the most important tips I can give every new vegan. Do your research about what to eat, where to buy your groceries, and essential nutrients such as Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D.

#2 Connect with other vegans

Connecting with other vegans has helped me a lot in my transition and has taught me many new things. You can connect with vegans through social media, like Instagram and various Facebook groups. You can exchange recipes and even plan meetups.

#3 Stock up on staples like potatoes, rice, grains & legumes

A number one mistake many new vegans do is that they don’t eat enough food, and end up giving up on the diet as they feel weak and with no energy. Mostly this is due to a lack of knowledge on what to eat. Stocking up on stables like potatoes, rice, grains, beans will keep you on the safe side. You always have food available, which is quick and easy to prepare. Oh and let’s not forget about the health benefits and how affordable these foods are ;)

#4 Go to vegan events

Vegan events are becoming a thing. I see it all over Europe! You will learn a lot, eat amazing food and meet like minded people. It is honestly one of the best experiences a new transitioning vegan can have.

#5 Don’t try to be the healthiest vegan

Try it all! Try to really give all of the different vegan foods a try, from mock meats to vegan cheeses. Especially if you are used to eat animal foods a lot in the past, substitution foods can help a lot in the transitioning phase. Many new vegans might want to go all in and be the healthiest they have ever been. And they fail, because they don’t know what to eat. Try it all, from vegan burgers to pizzas to donuts. Personally, this has helped me figure out what I like and what I don’t and most importantly what I feel best with.

#6 Don’t try to be perfect

Making mistakes is human and that’s what we as vegans need to understand. Since I became vegan more than a year ago, it happened that I have consumed something non vegan by accident once in a while. Either, because I didn’t know it wasn’t vegan or I assumed it was (like wine for example). Perfectionism is the enemy to all happiness. Getting over those mistakes, moving on and accepting the fact that it is okay, will bring you the furthest. It is important to understand that you shouldn’t beat yourself up for it. It is a step by step process.

Now, I know this has been a lot of information. But one last thing that I really want to share with you is for you to understand that veganism is not a restrictive diet. Becoming vegan has made me look at food from a complete different perspective. I feel like I have become much more of a foodie than I used to be. I got introduced to a whole new world of different flavours.

If you need a little help or inspiration, make sure to check out my blog (link to seeking-jess.com) and Instagram (link to @seekingjessx).

I hope to see you on there!

With love

Jess x