Supplements Make for No Regrets

When I was vegan, the number one question I was asked by family members was how I'm getting my vitamins and minerals. Even with the healthiest diet imaginable, it's difficult to have to avoid supplements to have your body working in top order. 

The first vitamin to be considered for everyday use by every vegan should be vitamin B12. Generally found in beef and fish, B12 is a huge help to regulating metabolism, the development of red blood cells, and nervous system health. According to an Oxford study, vegans and vegetarians are more at risk to have a B12 deficiency, which can lead to anemia and nervous system damage.

Vitamin B12 doesn't need to come from supplement pills, however. Some folks prefer to not use pills. For this, I'd recommend nutritional yeast, or the dietary supplement Spirulina. I won't tell you spirulina is any good, because it's essentially pond algae and it tastes like dirt, but it's high in protein, as well as B12!

Next up is the ever lovely vitamin D. Vitamin D is famously found in milk and fish, but can also be found in some brands of orange juice. Basically, vitamin D is the key to allow your body to absorb a ton of different minerals such as iron and calcium. It's difficult to find in vegan forms, however. The best bet is drinking a cup or orange juice with vitamin D a day, or even 15 minutes in direct sunlight has been said to increase vitamin D intake.

Finally, we come to iron. Iron is truly what makes us strong as humans, and isn't particularly difficult to consume. While it's often found in red meats, iron can also be found in the greenest of veggies, like spinach. Popeye always had his spinach can to give him strength, which is the same for vegans. Sometimes, however, a supplement is necessary.

Confessions of a Former Vegan: Spring Fever

Although it may not seem like it with the impending nor'easter coming to the Eastern United States, spring is just around the corner. You know what that means? Parties, BBQs, and good times are ahead.
I know what you're thinking, what if you're a vegan at a BBQ? Not to worry, I've got some key tips to help you survive the season, and hopefully have a blast doing it.
There are millions of ways to do a BBQ vegan, whether you're hosting or not. One of the best things you can do when attending a BBQ is to bring your own dish. Peta's list of vegan BBQ recipes is a great starting point. From there, add your favorite ingredients.
If you're running short on time, a black bean burger works just fine for hanging at a BBQ! Season that bad boy up, and make sure to ask the grill master to cook yours first to avoid contamination!

Confessions of a Former Vegan: Keep It Up!

One of the biggest regrets I ever faced from my time as a vegan was giving it up. Slip ups came few and far between, but I couldn't resist the allure of meat and dairy products, which eventually became my downfall.

Don't fall into my mistakes! There are many ways you can keep yourself going on your vegan diet.

1. Don't forget why you made the decision to go vegan in the first place
Everybody has different reasons for going vegan. For some people, it's for the animals. For others, it's the environment. It's important to keep the reason front and center in your mind to keep yourself motivated.

2. Plan meals ahead of time
It's hard to eat vegan without any preparation. Make a meal calendar, learn to cook your own meals, and invite friends over! Don't get caught at 6:30 without a plan for dinner - that's where mistakes can happen, and you can potentially break vegan. The meal plan I used during my transition into veganism can be found here.
3. Don't sweat small slip ups
Everybody messes up. Small slip ups will occur, but don't let them discourage you. They'll just serve to make you stronger in the end. Your stomach might be off for a day or two, but it's totally fine, super star!
4. Get involved with other vegans
It's way easier to keep yourself on a vegan diet if you have like-minded people supporting you. Get lunch, dinner, and trade recipes with other vegan folk to help you strengthen your diet. There are tons of places to meet fellow vegans, like Facebook groups. Introduce yourself to the proprietors of vegan friendly restaurants, attend gatherings, and read blogs on veganism to get involved.

Being vegan is a huge challenge, but a worthy one. Keeping your mind straight, meals planned, and vegan organizations close can help you stay on track, and keep you from straying from the path. Keep it up!