So, you’ve decided to transition to a plant-based, vegan lifestyle in 2026. Maybe you joined a Veganuary Challenge earlier in recent years or you’ve made a conscious decision to start eating a more plant-based, vegan-friendly diet this year. Maybe you don’t know where to start or you’re having trouble staying committed. Or maybe you’re looking for some inspiration or support. You’ve come to the right place.
A brief background: I was a meat-eater for most of my life, but I stopped eating meat and seafood completely during the summer of 2016. Then, as the pandemic hit, I started transitioning to a more plant-based diet in March 2020. It started with the milk and the ice cream, then the yogurt and baked goods, and eventually, the cheese. In April 2020, I transitioned to a full-time plant-based diet, and I became more conscious about my overall consumption (and not just food choices).
There’s a lot of advice out there. There are plenty of resources and nutrition experts and pseudo-dieticians who will try to give you the best advice and tips. Listen to them or don’t. If you made this decision on your own, I’m proud of you, and I’m here to support you!
Here are a few of my tips if you’re trying out a plant-based diet:
1. Go At Your Own Pace
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you want to go “cold turkey”, go “cold turkey” or if that just isn’t possible, it’s okay to swap out a meal or a snack here or there. You can start small if all you want to do right now is start small. What works for you may not work for everyone else and that’s okay. What’s important to remember is that you made a great decision to go vegan; what that looks like to you may not be what it looks like for anyone else.
Try doing all vegan breakfasts or a week or vegan dinners. Add non-dairy creamer to your coffee. Try a vegan ice cream brand. Do Meatless Mondays. This shouldn’t be a stressful decision or process. Do what you can and then keep going. Transitioning gradually worked for me. Unless you’re doing Veganuary, where you have to commit to the whole month, it’s okay to start gradually and go at your own pace. You’re not in competition with anyone or anything else.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Substitute
It’s never been easier to go vegan in 2026, thanks to substitutes for everything. And it’s okay to substitute your favorite foods or snacks with plant-based alternatives until you feel more comfortable with more whole foods, etc. I was a big fan of boxed macaroni and cheese, and it hit differently with a glass of ice-cold apple juice after a long day of school or work. When I first started transitioning, I used store-bought brands as alternatives until I could confidently make my own, much more delicious vegan mac and cheese. Now, I won’t look back.
So, don’t be embarrassed to use substitutes. A lot of people will tell you not to. They’ll say it’s much better to cook your own meals and they’re right but a lot of the time, it just isn’t feasible. I have chronic fatigue and there are many nights when I don’t have the energy to cook. But instead of foregoing eating completely (which I really can’t do because of health issues), it can be helpful to have things like plant-based chicken nuggets or frozen pizza on hand. Don’t be afraid to substitute.
3. Veganize Your Favorite Meals
I already mentioned mac and cheese but if you have favorite meals, try making them vegan! Vegan products have come such a long way over the past couple of years. While I think some things still aren’t perfect (ahem, vegan cheese), it’s a lot easier to make a vegan version of say, stuffed shells, than it used to be, whether you use a homemade tofu ricotta or store-bought ricotta. Personally, I love a pumpkin-and-spinach version. Take your favorite meals and see what you can do. You’ll be able to still eat something you love and feel better about it. You don’t have to give up anything when you switch to a plant-based diet; it’s about adding things.
4. Read Nutrition Labels
This is a good habit to get into, whether you’re going vegan or not. Since transitioning, I’ve made it a point to read the nutrition labels on everything I buy from grocery stores. This is key for two reasons: 1) you might find out that some of your usual or favorite products are accidentally vegan and you don’t need to stop eating them, and 2) on the other hand, you’ll discover that some things you thought were vegan actually aren’t. I’ve run into this issue a lot with bread, where milk and eggs are usually the hidden culprits. Typically, nutrition labels list common allergens after “Contains:”; you should still read the entire list of ingredients. Once you find plant-based diet-friendly foods you enjoy, they’ll become staples and make grocery shopping a little easier.
5. Experiment
I grew up eating Punjabi food and my mother (and both grandmothers) are excellent cooks. Since Punjabi food is historically, traditionally vegetarian, I didn’t have much of an issue. I did have to stop eating things like gulab jamun and other dairy-based dishes (shahi paneer, kadhi, dal makhani, etc.) but for the most part, most of my favorite foods (rajma chawal, aloo poori, and samose all come to mind) were still okay. I could easily make swaps for other foods and I’m still trying to do things like make my own plant-based paneer.
Which is a lot of words to say: be adventurous. Experiment with different cuisines, different sauces and condiments and spices, and different foods that you might not be accustomed to eating. I hated cauliflower until I figured out how to cook it. A lot of people hate tofu until they cook it right. There are cuisines that are more vegan-friendly than others. I’m a big fan of Asian food across the board and haven’t had to “sacrifice” anything. In other cuisines where meat and dairy might be bigger components, it may be more difficult to consume so experiment. See what you like. Don’t dwell on what you don’t. There is so much good food out there; we just have to find it and try it.
(Bonus!)
6. It’s okay if you make a mistake.
This is the most important thing to remember. You might make mistakes. You probably will make mistakes. As I was transitioning, there were times when it was easier to give in and say, “Oh, I’ll just eat that because everyone else is and I don’t want to be difficult”. You might sacrifice what you want in order to appease other people or you’ll go out to eat with friends at a place that may not have vegan options. You might eat something you thought was vegan, but it wasn’t. Maybe, like me, you’ll crave something like pizza. I grew up in New Jersey, so I know good pizza. But now, there are so many places that offer it that I don’t miss it.
Shit happens. Don’t overthink it. Accept it and keep going.
You got this.
So, are you ready to go vegan in 2026?
Leave a reply