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!