The Top 10 Myths About Going Vegan

I am always getting questions about what it takes to go vegan. More and more people are giving this healthy diet a try — for a wide variety of reasons. One if for health — nothing really puts your diet into the wellness fast track like "going vegan" does. Suddenly you are forced to think about and analyze the foods you eat and feed your family. You are reading labels and talking to waiters about ingredients and vegan options — and you will with no doubt in my mind — be eating better. More whole foods, leafy greens, and a wider diversity of legumes and grains will slowly seep into your everyday food plan — both for yourself and your family. Your spouse and kids don't even have to join in the "going vegan" commitment to taste the repercussions of your new diet.

Tasting your new vegan recipes and ingredients slowly becomes fun and interesting to them. Tempeh, quinoa, hemp, and nutritional yeast. Plus, you may have heard the recent news that red meat is blamed for one in 10 early deaths — just another paved stone in the path for those looking to try going vegan — changing their diet in a big way. But there are plenty of "going vegan" myths out there. Here are 10 of them..

— Kathy Patal Sky, Babble

 

It is true that you will be eating plentiful amounts of super healthy leafy greens, veggies, nuts, fruit, and more — in salad form. But vegans eat everything just like you do now. Salads can be the center of a meal or a side dish. Vegans eat veggie burgers, pasta, sandwiches, tacos, ice cream sundaes, grains, and more. And salads. And from my experience, vegans make the best salads around because of the diversity of healthy ingredients they add in.

Make a barbecue tempeh salad.

 

I can proudly say that since going vegan I have veganized all my favorite recipes. Pancakes, lasagna, pizza, soups, sandwiches — even "clam" chowder and mac and cheese. In fact, cheese (a common favorite) is easy to replace if you know how.

Get 10 vegan options for cheese.

 

 

 

You will drink them. But they are yummy, not yucky. You will love and crave vibrant sweet, tasty, emerald green smoothies and juices. If you have ever loved fruit smoothies you can learn to love green smoothies. They are bliss and instant energy in a glass!
Make a green smoothie.

 

 

Not true. There is plenty of vegan junk food out there. Both recipes for it and products in stores. A little in fun in moderation. But just because the cake says it is vegan doesn't mean you can eat five slices.
Make vegan Elvis Cake.

 

 

 

Protein is in everything. And beans, nuts, grains — even fruits and veggies have it. Eating a well-balanced vegan diet means you will most likely be getting enough protein. Consult a nutritionist if you are unsure of how to balance your diet. Tofu, tempeh, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds are my favorite high-density forms. And soy and hemp are complete proteins.

Make tofu triangles.

 

 

Click here for the rest of the story and more vegan myths.

 

More From Babble:

• 19 delicious recipes you'd never guess are vegan

• Top 5 foods that will make you gain weight

• 16 vegan treats for sweet spring desserts

• The 25 healthiest foods for under $1

• The 8 most obese cities in America (and what they LOVE to eat)