How to get your family to start a vegan diet?| Learn the what, why and how of starting a vegan diet!

It's only recently that I started a vegan diet, so I'm no expert, but I had been contemplating this change for almost a decade. You might be thinking that's a very long time to make a decision and you're right. It was a combination of apathy, misconceptions, cultural background and an intense love affair with meat (chicken, beef, fish, turkey you name it, I loved my meat!) that led to my procrastination over it. So if you're in a similiar boat or if you're very new to this lifestyle, then this blog is just right for you.

So when I finally made the decision to start a plant-based diet (with a lot of research as well as some soul searching), I knew I wanted to encompass a lifestyle change...so not just a vegan diet but I wanted to ensure that I was not going to buy any animal-based leather products and that's when House of Ethics came into the picture when I decided to start a brand that retails plant-based fabric such as cork leather, jute, palm leaves and rattan for vegan bags and accessories.

In this blog post, I'll show you how you can start a plant-based diet for yourself, what are the most important benefits to you, your family and how a vegan diet can help prevent animal cruelty and climate change. A recent study by University of Oxford concluded that a vegan diet could reduce an individual's carbon footprint by 73%. So the question begs...why don't we just start?

The simple answer is that it is difficult to change, especially since we have been programmed to eat meat from when we were weaning little babies! This is a decision that I have struggled to make myself, and for anyone who is starting out, I would suggest taking a gradual approach and that means first cutting down your red meat intake, then move onto chicken and fish and incorporating more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Only when you are ready, you may want to take the next step and eliminate all animal products from your diet and lifestyle (this also includes the use of leather and beauty products made from animal derivatives and switching to plant-based alternatives like cork leather).

What we choose to eat says a lot about our lifestyle choices.

First...what do Vegans Eat?

A vegan diet is one in which you don't eat any meat, fish, dairy or honey. Unlike vegans, vegetarians still consume dairy products. They don't eat fish, which the pescatarians do.

So what do vegans eat? So much good, wholesome and amazing food!

• Vegetables & Fruits

• Lentils & beans

• Grains & rice

• Nuts & seeds

• Tempeh (made with soy), seitan (made with wheat)

• Tofu

• Sooo much more...

We are so much more exposed today to healthy wholesome plant-based foods from around the world.

The Benefits of a Vegan Diet

You are what you eat. In many ways, becoming a vegan means that you're adopting a new lifestyle, one in which you are more conscious of what you consume, shop and ultimately waste. In general, there are three main benefits, and you might associate yourself more with one over the other. Sometimes people follow this diet because they want to reach a personal goal or because of religious conviction or that they might want to help create awareness around a certain issue.

1. Animal Welfare

According to the animal welfare charity. Compassion in World Farming, 70 billion animals are slaughtered for human consumption each year. An increasing number of meat and dairy products we consume come from factory farms where the animals are intensively reared in overcrowded and artificially-lit sheds, they suffer from fear, stress and disease, and in many cases around the world, are slaughtered in a painful and inhumane manner. In the light of rising global consumption and the difficulty of enforcing legislative measures across the supply chain, animal cruelty will remain prevalent...unless we change our diets and the demand for these products.

2. Health Benefits

There is growing evidence that a vegan diet helps in the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes. According to the Harvard Medical School, vegans also have a lower incidence of colon cancer and heart disease. On a personal level, I have felt like I have had more energy and stamina, better digestion, better quality sleep and many more. All of this is of course based on the assumption that your diet is balanced and avoids processed and junk foods.

3. Reduce your carbon footprint

A vegan diet can not only reduce your carbon footprint but also help to limit your impact on the natural environment. Many people don't realise the connection between a vegetarian / vegan diet and environmental degradation. Personally, I felt that this was my strongest reason for going vegan. Once I read the facts, it was very difficult to look at a steak of beef in the same way!

A vegan / vegetarian diet can not only reduce your carbon footprint but also help to limit your impact on the natural environment.

In short, the meat and dairy industry contributes to:

• Climate change from the emission of greenhouse gases, primarily from methane produced by the livestock and carbon dioxide from the energy and transport activities related to the production processes.

• Deforestation, as rainforests are cleared for animal agriculture, which in turn leads to the destruction of habitats and extinction of animal, bird and insect species.

• Exploitation of of natural resources such as the over consumption of fresh water sources and the desertification of arable land.

• Excessive waste generated from the cattle farms to the slaughter houses.

• Unsustainable fishing practices, as 3/4th of the catch is discarded as by-kill.

You can also check out the carbon footprint calculator, where you can compare your results as a vegan, vegetarian and a person who consumes meat and dairy. The results will really surprise you!

Now that you know your why, let's talk about the how.

Resources that could be used to feed a growing and hungry population are diverted for the benefit of the livestock industry.

Going Vegan

1. Slow and steady. Some people go cold turkey but if you need the buy-in from you family members, then you might need to be a little gentle and introduce more vegetarian / vegan meals over a couple of weeks or months before going all out vegan. Have a detailed chat with them first explaining the reasons that you would like to start (or show them this article) and discuss your options. At first, you might have to make a couple of separate meals but over time, they might become more open to meatless mondays or vegan on weekends.

2. Do your research. The internet is choking full of information, recipes, meal plans and beautifully choreographed images of delicious looking meals made with colourful vegetables and protein-packed meal ideas. The Eating Well Guide from the Vegetarian Society is a really good place to start if you want to learn more about nutrition and eating a balanced and healthy meal.

3. Make a Meal Plan: All good intentions start with good planning. Make a plan for what you are going to eat 1, 3 5 or 7 nights and a shopping list for the ingredients that will go with your dinners. Check out pinterest for free templates on meal planning.

4. Order online: Once you have a meal plan for the week / month, order your groceries online if you can. I find that I actually manage to stick to my shopping list that way, avoid buying unnecessary items, don't exceed my budget and save money!

5. Track your progress: Keep a note of all the good stuff you're feeling or doing, whether it's the increase in your energy levels, or the fact that you have managed to reduce your carbon footprint, write down everything. On days when you might feel a little unmotivated, go back to your notes and read what you have accomplished. It's definitely something to be proud of.

You can't go wrong with a stone-baked pizza and your favourite toppings

When I started a vegan diet, one of my biggest struggles was not knowing what to cook for dinner that night. So I started experimenting with some recipes, or un-meating my favourites, or just making interesting combinations as I went along. One thing that helped me was fixing certain cuisines to specific theme nights. So something that looked like this:

• Monday: Meat-Substitute Meals (try different brands before you fall in love with one)

• Tuesday: Tacos (I keep playing around with the filling and condiments)

• Whatever Wednesdays: New or old family favourites from around the world

• Thursday: Curry Night (Indian/ Pakistani or Thai)

• Friday: Pizza night (come rain or shine, the weekend starts with pizza!)

• Saturday: Soups, stews or salads (depending on the season and what is available)

• Sundays: Takeaway or leftovers (I'm off duty this day!)

Feel free to pick and choose what you like. You might not like to cook from scratch or perhaps you don't have a lot of time on your hands. You might sneak in a chicken sandwich for lunch or pick up a cottage pie on your way home from work. No big deal. Just get back on the wagon and start again.

Please note that even with a healthy and balanced meal, you need certain vitamins and supplements that a vegan diet does not provide. I take B12 supplements but please speak to your doctor or nutritionist.

I hope these tips and ideas help you. Be as flexible as you like, try new combinations, add or take off meals. Get your kids involved and ask them to make a plan for the following month. It's a new journey for them as well. If you'd like to find out other ways you can start living a more sustainable lifestyle and how you can reduce your carbon footprint, then subscribe here and every month we'll send you more articles on similiar topics.