Why I Transitioned Back To 100% Plant Based And My Tips For Making The Switch

I became a vegetarian at the age of 13 (16 years ago). I remember it so clearly when I made the choice to remove meat and seafood from my diet. It was pretty cliche how it happened, my sister started making jokes at dinner about “Mary had a little lamb”. I instantly felt regret for what I had eaten (this was around the time I became vegetarian). Although ethical reasons were a huge part (and are the main reason I still choose to not eat animal meat) there were also weight related reasons. Two days before my 13th birthday, my mom had told me about a supermodel who was vegetarian. The second I heard that statement, I decided my 13th birthday would be the last day that I would eat meat… and it was. I remember I requested meatballs, sausages and spaghetti for my final meal. It was not easy to transition especially given that there were no healthy vegan options out there in 2005 and my family ate meat. Luckily my parents were very supportive in my choice and helped my transition. Since then, it’s been almost natural to me to not eat meat. I have learned how to navigate the menus at restaurants and parties. I also learned how to master my vegetarian skills in the kitchen.

Two years ago, I decided to try something new. My fiancé and I began learning about the Paleo diet. I found it fascinating how this diet could transform lives of so many people. Of course the wellness junkie in me had to learn all about it, so I grabbed a book from the bookstore and read up on it. After careful research, I decided I wanted to try it out (I love experimenting with different nutrition approaches) and I somehow convinced my fiancé to try it out with me. The Paleo diet removes grains, legumes and dairy from the diet as well as many other things. The Paleo diet is a high fat and low carb diet. For those of you who are curious about the vegetarian/vegan diet, your main source of protein consists of things like tofu, lentils, beans and grains like quinoa (all of which is restricted in the Paleo diet). Once I removed grains, legumes and soy, I realized that I had no source of protein which is a vital part of health. I began to add in eggs and that turned into adding seafood (I didn’t have the heart or need to add in meat). I hadn’t had seafood since I was 13 so you can only imagine how my taste buds were feeling after no seafood for 14 years. I was in love. Even after I added grains and legumes back into my diet, I still continued to eat seafood. Two years went by and I had enough. I was “fished out”. I had been eating different types of seafood 3-5 days of the week for 2 whole years. I finally reached a point where it was not serving me anymore and I could barely look at it. All of the reasons that started my vegetarian adventure had come back into mind (plus the sustainable reasons).

Part of me knew that adding in seafood was more experimental than a lifestyle change. I was curious and I wanted to see how my body would react. Personally, my skin was glowing, my hair grew faster and I was able to gain some weight back after losing a lot to my gut health issues (I can’t promise that you’d have the same results or that this happened as a result of eating seafood). I also noticed a decrease in energy and a decrease in stamina which were the only negative side affects I am aware of (I am also unsure if this is 100% related to seafood). I am glad to have been able to experiment with seafood but I am finally ready to part with it.

What I am learning during this vegetarian/vegan journey is that there is no right or wrong way to go about it. I spent years not even thinking about eating meat or seafood. Part of my journey was feeling like I can’t break the streak that I was on. I had feelings like I would be giving up on myself, the planet and the animals had I taken even just one bite of meat or seafood. I thought I would be judged or excluded if I decided to change my eating habits (which is crazy now that I think about it). I experienced feelings of regret in my first bite of seafood but I also I felt an insane amount of pleasure from adding it into my diet.

I want to remind you that as you go on your plant based journey, whether you just started meatless Mondays or if you’ve been a vegan for 15 years, you are doing something great (no matter what the process looks like for you).

Below are some of my tips for transitioning to a plant based diet. These tips are beneficial whether you want to transition back to a full plant based diet or if you are getting curious for the first time.

Let the people in your life know about your desire to switch to plant based

Support from others is key. This is important especially for those who live with you. I was lucky that my parents were so supportive during my transition, but that may not be the case for you. Let them know your desires and your reasons for doing it. They don’t necessarily need to agree with you, but they should be understanding and supportive.

Make the transition easy for the people in your household

When I started eating fish again, my fiancé was so excited that we could eat the same things for the first time. Now that I have decided to go back to 100% plant based, we won’t be able to share cod tacos or a salmon bake anymore. It is important to remind yourself that the others in your household don’t have to transition with you (although you may inspire them to in the process). I can still make tacos on taco night (lentils for me, and cod for Bobby). I also can make a plant based meal and Bobby can add his meat on top if he chooses (this way we aren’t cooking separate meals). It is important to not push your decisions and opinions on others.

Find recipe ideas

There are an endless amount of plant based recipes out there. Find some simple recipes that work for you and your lifestyle to try out! I recommend searching for recipes on the internet, try out one of my favorite smoothie recipes and invest in a plant based cook book with simple healthy recipes.

Beware of fake meats

Transitioning to a plant based diet can be so easy with all of the plant based meat, seafood and dairy options out there today. They are delicious and some even taste like the real thing… but they are fake which means that they are full of unhealthy ingredients. The only time that I eat these is when I want to treat myself, these are not everyday options.

Always keep your shelves stocked with plant based staples

I am always stocked up on quinoa, lentils, tofu and beans. These are my personal favorite plant based protein options.

Meal prep

The great thing about plant based diets is that you can meal prep your protein and it will last a week in the fridge. I always have quinoa and lentils meal prepped and ready to toss on salads and dinners.

Learn to navigate restaurant menus

I always recommend picking out what you want before arriving to the restaurant, if you can. Check out my blog post here on how to eat healthy when dining out. I have included a lot of my favorite tips that I use to eat healthy when ordering out. However, there may be a scenario where you aren’t sure or you know that there are no plant based options available (a BBQ or a smokehouse of some sort). In this case, don’t go hungry, be prepared (I love carrying around plant based protein bars for when I am situations where food is unavailable) and don’t be afraid to eat before you go (kindly explain to the people you are dining with that you have transitioned to a plant based diet).

Research

Don’t go in blindly! Do careful research about the plant based diet. This is how you will discover the proper healthy protein swaps.

Be gentle with yourself

Switching to a full plant based lifestyle is hard, especially if it is your first time, so it is important to be easy with yourself. It is important to never restrict yourself, whether that be from gluten, dairy, sugar or meat. For me, eating plant based comes naturally, but that is not going to be the case for everyone. Find a way to indulge without feeling guilty. You may need to start with one plant based day, then slowly increase to where it feels right for you.

Find a transition method that works for you

I went for the cold turkey method, but you could also begin by doing half day plant based, or begin with one full day and add in more as you feel more comfortable. You know yourself best, so do what you feel is best for your body and mind!

Step out of your comfort zone

You are about to transition your eating patterns to something new! That is exciting and scary. It is also going to require stepping out of your comfort zone and cooking with foods that you may have never cooked with. It is important to not be afraid to try new things!

I would love to hear your stories in the comments below! Let me know your journey with plant based in the comments!