10 Reasons Why There’s No Excuse Not to Go Vegan
Going vegan is a piece of plant-based cake when you remember that by making the switch, you’ll be sparing the lives of animals, helping to protect the environment, and improving your health. If you’re already vegan, keep up the good work! If not, what are you waiting for? Stop with the excuses and start living compassionately.
We’ve heard every excuse in the book, but none of them holds up. Here are a few tips to motivate you to go vegan or to stay on track if you’ve already made the animal-friendly switch.
No, you don’t have to give up cheese—just go dairy-free!
Can’t give up cheese? Well, you don’t have to! Going vegan doesn’t mean limiting the foods you eat—it just means taking the cruelty out of them. Top your pizza with cashew-based mozzarella, sprinkle some vegan Parmesan on your pasta, and spread dairy-free cream cheese on your bagel.
Brands like Miyoko’s Creamery and Daiya offer a variety of delicious vegan cheeses that have all the cheesy flavor but without causing the suffering of mother cows, whose babies are torn away from them by the cruel dairy industry.
Give vegan burgers a try.
If you think vegan burgers don’t have the flavor you expect, you clearly haven’t tried a Beyond Burger! These protein-packed patties look and taste much like traditional burgers, but no animals were exploited and slaughtered to make them. To sweeten the deal, you can find Beyond Meat foods at most major grocery stores.
Plenty of other brands have perfected the meat-free burger, too. Check your local Whole Foods store for NotBurger and Meatless Farm burgers, and get grilling!
When it comes to supplements, stick to the basics.
Taking dietary supplements isn’t just a vegan thing. Research shows that the vast majority of Americans don’t get enough key nutrients in their diet.
Getting the nutrition you need is nothing to stress about—just eat a balanced mix of vegan foods, like beans, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and add a multivitamin to your routine that contains other essential nutrients like B12, vitamin D, iodine, and selenium.
Save time in the kitchen.
So you don’t have time to cook elaborate meals. Who does? You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to prepare simple, delicious vegan dishes. Check out some of PETA’s simple vegan recipes, like three-ingredient lentil soup, five-ingredient hummus pasta, and more.
Additionally, a quick search for “vegan” on your favorite delivery app should bring up lots of options for vegan meals. If you need help getting started, order PETA’s free vegan starter kit, which is packed full of helpful tips and recipes.
Fuel your workouts like a vegan athlete.
Did you know that plenty of big-shot athletes—including world-famous tennis star Venus Williams—are vegan?
Carbohydrate-rich foods like potatoes, oats, pasta, and fruit are the perfect workout fuel, and there’s no shortage of plant-based protein sources, such as beans, lentils, peas, soy, peanuts, quinoa, cashews, and pumpkin seeds.
Get creative with tofu.
If you haven’t warmed up to tofu, don’t worry—you can opt for plenty of other vegan protein sources, such as seitan, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Even so, we suggest trying new ways to prepare tofu before you write it off completely. Try adding it to a flavorful stir-fry or blending it to make tofu ricotta. And have you tried Sriracha tofu yet?
Become familiar with kid-friendly vegan foods.
By going vegan, you can help encourage your family to eat more vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. You can also boost your skills in the kitchen by finding ways to veganize foods your kids already enjoy!
There’s certainly no shortage of kid-friendly vegan foods, from dairy-free boxed mac ’n’ cheese to meatless chicken nuggets.
Try new vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants.
More restaurants nowadays are adding to their menus to accommodate vegan diners, so dining out is the perfect opportunity to encourage businesses to offer more vegan meals. Even better, gather your friends together to support local all-vegan restaurants!
Rely on vegan-friendly apps when you travel.
You can be a vegan foodie anywhere in the world. Follow vegan food travelers on Instagram to find awesome vegan spots, and download the HappyCow app, which will show you where to find the nearest vegan grub, no matter where you are.
Save money at the grocery store.
Vegan lunches and dinners cost 40% less on average than those that contain meat or fish. Check out PETA’s guide to cheap vegan grocery shopping for some tips to save money while eating nutritious foods.
Take the 3-Week Vegan Challenge
If you need another vegan boost, take PETA’s 3-Week Vegan Challenge, which includes our three-week meal plan, simple vegan recipes, product recommendations, and tips for dining out:
