Veganism has become hip, in addition to having potential health benefits, like improved heart health and weight loss, from cutting out animal products and increasing vegetables. 

Understanding your why and motivations

It’s one thing to give up animal products, and that move can lead to health improvements.

Jone Mark

With any kind of change, the stronger and more personal your reason, the more likely you’ll stick with it. When deciding to be a vegan, there can be an ethical and even an emotional component of concern for animal welfare and the environment. Those things mean something to you, and you’re not going to eat, wear, or use any animal products because you consider that inhumane.

But what if better health is your primary reason for going vegan? The elimination of animal products and dairy means a reduction in saturated fats and sodium, which can help with losing weight and/or preventing weight gain, and can reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, blood cholesterol, and diabetes, Stampfer says.

Planning for pitfalls

• How often do you eat out?
• Do you like to cook?
• Do you like to socialize?
• Do you know anyone else who’s vegan who can give you tips, recipes, vegan-friendly restaurants?

Preparation is key when trying a new way of eating. Find appealing vegan recipes in cookbooks or on websites, or set up a food subscription service, and at the beginning line up two weeks of meals so what you’re going to eat isn’t a constant scramble and daily stress, Rimm says.

None of the answers are disqualifying, but you can identify potential pitfalls and get a handle on how you approach food. And the last question is key, since having support when making a change can help smooth the transition and make you feel less alone in the attempt. “It prepares people for what they’re up against,” Rimm says.