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Five Ways to Get Hooked on Plants by Julia Murray, VLCE

Ok, so you’ve heard it all before…

  • Animal agriculture produces more greenhouse gases than the transportation sector.
  • Animals feel pain and experience deep emotions.
  • Animal products may not lead to longevity and actually may lead to disease.

Instead of the details of why to go vegan, let’s focus on the next steps you can personally take to get more hooked on those plants.

You were probably brought up to eat meat and dairy as a part of a healthy, well-rounded diet. As a vegan, I’m no different, in fact, most vegan’s lives started out with drinking a glass of milk a day for calcium, and having meat as the center of the plate. It’s what our families knew to be healthy according to what we were told. Now that the truth behind the animal product industries is slowly leaking out, we vegans (who were once in your shoes), just can’t find it in ourselves to support what we now know to be the most detrimental, cruel, and inhumane industry that ever existed… especially when alternative options to animal products are so dang delicious these days!

If you’re leaning towards an animal-free diet, you’re probably at a place where you want some answers. You’re in need of some simple steps that will make choosing plants over animals a bit more normal in your life.

Transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle is something that could take some time (it did for me). But, often, the best things take time, so don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t quit cold tofu.

5 steps to getting Hooked On Plants:

1) Figure out your WHY

Just like anything in life, it’s 100x easier to follow through if you have a powerful reason that resonates with you personally.

Which pillar makes you want to eat less animals?

  • Your health: Did you have a health scare? Do you want to lose a few pounds or feel more energized?
  • The animals: Did you just realize your dog is no different from a pig or a cow?
  • The environment: Do you want to do your part to prevent climate change, ocean dead zones and deforestation?

To figure out which of the 3 pillars pulls on you the strongest, absorb all of the information you can by educating yourself.

2) Focus on the GAINS

Maybe you feel anxious about the idea of not having animal products in your life. Instead focus on the new food this lifestyle will open you up to! New fruit, veg, grains, legumes, plus, all of the delicious vegan alternatives to your favourite animal products.

The best part? You get to eat in abundance! Plant foods are naturally lower in calories, but higher in fibre and nutrients: a winning combination if you want to drop a few pounds, while feeling completely satisfied and nourished.

3) Stop worrying about PROTEIN

Throughout our lifetime, we were told that the only place to get a complete protein was from animal sources. Now we know, not only is getting a complete protein from plants very possible and easy, but it’s also better for us.

As long as you’re eating enough calories from a variety of whole plant foods throughout your week, you’ll get more than enough quality amino acids.

4) Veganize go-to RECIPES:

If you really think about it, you probably have just 5-10 recipes you rotate through.

All you need to do is slowly replace your handful of recipes with vegan versions.

Examples:

  • turkey burgers = Moroccan chickpea burgers
  • mac & cheese = butternut squash mac & peas
  • chicken stir-fry = tofu or tempeh stir fry + peanut sauce

5) Have FUN

Maybe you’re shocked by the truth behind the ‘farm to plate’ process, and all the detrimental effects it has on the planet, our health and the animals. Rather than being passionately angered, try to make it a fun and exciting transition that you’ll enjoy sticking to.

  • Veganize recipes
  • Explore vegan alternatives to your faves
  • Experience vegan restaurants
  • Use the Happy Cow App when you’re travelling
  • Chill out: if have an animal product by accident or every now and then, that’s ok. Focus on the fact that each time you choose plants over animals, you’re making a difference to yourself, the animals and the planet.

Julia Murray is:

Follow her here: @hookedonplants @juliamurrayski

Her vegan dog: @zaktherescuedog

4 thoughts on “Five Ways to Get Hooked on Plants by Julia Murray, VLCE”

  1. Great post Julia! I love the photo with that compares Animal Protein vs. Plant Protein (what it comes with and without). How can you not choose the plant protein after that? 🙂

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