Tips for being vegan

Tip #1 Google It!

If you have a question about veganism, the Internet is often a great place to start looking for answers. Try Googling “is [product name] vegan” for some fast results. Searching on social media platforms will also deliver quick results with multiple facebook groups, instagram pages, tik tok and twitter users all providing vegan content. Often if you’ve had a question about something, another vegan has too.

Check out these local groups and accounts for heaps of useful information from the vegan community:

Facebook:

Instagram: 

Tip #2 Be a Happy, Healthy Vegan

It can be difficult for new vegans to deal with how their omnivorous friends and family respond to their new lifestyle. Whilst some vegans find their friends and family supportive, others might find it hard to deal with questions and teasing. You just need to keep in mind that you’re doing this for reasons that you believe in. Eventually your friends and family will see that this isn’t just a phase and they will hopefully learn to adjust. If you live with your parents and have relied on them to cook all your meals, then you’re probably going to have to cook for yourself.

Don’t see this as a negative thing, you’re taking a stand for something you believe in which is a very positive thing! Try not to take yourself too seriously or be too preachy. Let people ask you the questions first before engaging with them about veganism. The best thing to do is be a happy, healthy vegan and show them that veganism is easy and a great thing to do!

Recommended reading:

Watch:

Tip #3 Learn to Cook

If you’ve been living on an omnivorous diet all your life, making the switch to vegan cooking might seem a bit daunting. Luckily, there are lots of great vegan recipes available in cookbooks and online. Check out these cookbooks, available online or in stores. Planet Books and Beaufort Street Books have a great range, or can order them in online.

If you want to save money or want to find a specific recipe check out the following websites. Don’t forget to use Google too. For example, try typing in a dish eg ‘lasagne’ with the words ‘vegan recipe’ after it, eg ‘lasagne vegan recipe’. You might be surprised at what ‘non-vegan’ dishes can be made vegan!

Join a local cooking class! We are lucky to have an exceptional vegan cooking school in the Perth Hills. Ayarah offers beautiful hands-on cooking classes and vegan nutrition workshops designed to educate and inspire you on all aspects of plant-based living and health.

Tip #4 Educate Yourself

Whether you want to arm yourself with information about veganism to fend off questions or just for your own sake, it pays to be in the know about animal rights and veganism. Reading magazines or listening to podcasts can also make you feel less alone in the vegan community if you don’t know many vegans.

Books and Magazines

Some of these are available in public and university libraries:

Podcasts

Available on multiple platforms including iTunes and Spotify:

Movies:

Many of the following documentaries are available on Netflix or to stream for free online.

  • Dominion – Warning: a shocking and graphic expose of animal exploitation in Australia.
  • Game Changers – Elite athletes who eat plant-based
  • Earthlings – an award-winning documentary film about the suffering of animals for food, fashion, pets, entertainment and research.
  • Food Inc. – Examines how corporate interests drive exploitation of human and non-human animals.
  • Forks over Knives – examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the chronic diseases that afflict us can be controlled or even reversed by rejecting animal-based and processed foods.
  • Cowspiracy – Examines the environmental impact of animal agriculture.
  • What the Health – Reversing chronic disease through veganism.
  • Seaspiracy – The impact of animal exploitation on the marine ecosystem and beyond.
  • Gunda – A moving day in the life story of a pig called Gunda
  • 73 Cows – This BAFTA award winning documentary tells the story a beef farmer who transitions to sustainable veganic faming.

Websites

 

Tip #5 Get Informed, Get Active

Sometimes it can be overwhelming thinking about all the injustices committed against animals in this world. Going vegan is the most important step in helping to end animal exploitation. You can help others to go vegan by doing animal rights activism or getting involved in other ways.

 

Check out these ideas:

 

Tip #6 For Young Vegans

 

Young vegans face some challenges that don’t necessarily apply to other vegans, such as dealing with parents. Connecting with people your own age that experience the same issues can really help.

Vegan teens can check out the following:

 

Tip #7 For Vegan Parents

 

Remember that a vegan diet is suitable for all stages of life, including pregnancy, infancy and childhood, so don’t let doctors or anyone else tell you otherwise.

Here are some further links that may be useful for vegan parents: