by Jena Alsup

As the climate crisis worsens every year, more people are choosing to go vegan. The environmental benefits are undeniable—according to a study from the University of Oxford, transitioning to a plant-based diet is the “single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth.”

I joined the veganism movement three years ago the summer before starting high school. I have experienced my fair share of challenges and hope to share advice for those that may be going through similar struggles. While the tips provided below are predominantly aimed at teenagers, they can be used to help beginner vegans of all ages!

Tip #1: Speak with Your Parents or Parental Guardians

After talking to other high schoolers, I have found that reluctant parents are usually the biggest barrier since it's hard to make these big decisions when your parents are still supporting you. It is important to remember that your parents only have your best interest in mind and want to make sure you are staying healthy. With that said, I recommend starting by taking it slow. Implementing veganism is not an all or nothing journey. You can introduce your parents to the idea through books and movies (e.g., Cowspiracy, What the Health, and How Not to Die) to become more independent when it comes to shopping for groceries and cooking food. I also suggest talking to your pediatrician or school nurse, they might be able to provide some reassurance to your parents or guardians that you are receiving adequate nutrition.

Tip #2: Pack Your Own School Lunches

If you go to a public high school like me, the vegan cafeteria options are most likely minimal or nonexistent. I usually pack my lunch, so here are some of my favorite quick and easy options:

• Pasta with veggies, Tofurky, and marinara sauce or pesto. This is super simple and can be easily prepared ahead of time. Banza is my go-to pasta and is made of chickpeas!

• Almond butter and jelly tortilla wraps. I usually make this if I am running late since it is super-fast and delicious!

• Açai bowls. I usually make this the night before school and freeze it. Then I add toppings the morning of, and it will be defrosted by lunchtime. As for ingredients, I tend to put banana, mango, cherries, spinach, and flax milk in the blender. For toppings, I often do strawberries, almond butter, chia seeds, and goji berries.

Tip #3: Take Advantage of Vegan Resources

 The vegan community is rapidly growing and there are so many free resources to make your life easier or interact with others. One of my favorite websites is Happy Cow—it works somewhat like Google Maps but tells you whether certain restaurants are vegan/vegetarian or serve vegan options. It has been a tremendous help while trying to pick places to eat on vacation. I also recommend following vegan influencers on social media (some of my favorites are @queerbrownvegan and @sisoyvegan). They are an awesome resource for staying up to date on the vegan movement and getting recipe ideas. 

Tip #4: Remind Yourself Why You Chose to Become Vegan

For me, climate change and health were the most important factors. However, for you, these reasons could be completely different, whether it's for the environment, health, animal rights, or human rights abuses, determine why you are choosing to be vegan and think back to this reason whenever you feel like giving up—trust me, it helps.

Tip #5: Do Not Beat Yourself Up Over Not Fully Committing

About six months into being vegan, I was eating a Chipotle bowl and swallowed some cheese that was added in by accident. I was so mad at myself for not noticing the cheese and the Chipotle employee for not being more careful. But looking back, I've realized that there was nothing more I could've done and that everyone is bound to make mistakes. It is important to remember that many people collectively reducing their animal consumption by 80% is much more impactful than a few stressing over every little detail and getting to 100%.

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Hopefully, after implementing some of these tips, your journey with veganism will be easier. Good luck!