How To Go Vegan In 2026 (15 Helpful Tips)

Get these 15 helpful tips on how to go vegan in 2026. With a little extra effort and knowledge, going vegan can be fun, exciting and easy.

Many people put off veganism because of how overwhelming the transition can seem at first.

I know from personal experience that this lifestyle can have its challenges. So I can imagine how difficult it could be if you are starting from scratch!

Here are 15 tips for going vegan. I used them for myself, and they were pretty helpful.

1. Get Educated 

Going vegan is tough. But being educated before starting will give you a proper foundation for the lifestyle.

For more info on what you can and can’t eat, Vegan.com is a great resource. To find local restaurants in your area, check out HappyCow.

For nutrition and health-based research, check out NutritionFacts.org. It will help you discover supplements you may need to take and how to stay healthy on a vegan diet.

2. Know WHY You Want To Go Vegan 

Many self-help articles and books will skip this step. But you should know why you want to go vegan before switching. 

Do you want to live a healthier life? Help the environment or animals? Knowing your exact reasons for going vegan can help you stay motivated.

3. Learn About Food Labels 

Food labels are key to this lifestyle. Although some packages may have a vegan-friendly logo on them, not all foods will be that straightforward. 

Part of learning how to read food labels is knowing what the words mean. For example, egg proteins may be listed as albumin, lecithin or ovovitellin on food labels.

At first, you’ll probably have to look up definitions of specific terms, but eventually, you’ll start to recognize them easily.

4. Start Cooking 

It’s a hard cold truth that very few restaurants and pre-made foods are vegan. The easiest way to make sure your food is vegan is by cooking it yourself. Your skills will also improve as you go along.

For a few beginner recipes, here’s a list of easy vegan recipes for Veganuary. By the way, don’t forget about desserts! Check out my baking tips and recipe ideas.

5. Proteins Matter

Fortunately, a vegan diet can provide more than enough. Legumes are excellent plant-based proteins. Some protein options include:

• Chickpeas
• Soybeans
• Lentils
• Hummus
• Tofu

You’ll want to add these to your meal rotation. They’re all delicious!

6. Maintain a Well-Rounded Diet

Make sure you’re nourishing yourself with a varied diet and include all food groups. Talk to your doctor, too, and see if you’ll need supplements.

Getting enough Vitamin B12 has been a significant concern for vegans. Other nutrients as well, especially if you eat a lot of highly processed foods.

7. Go At Your Own Pace 

Quitting animal products cold turkey (irony noted) may not work for everyone. Although this approach is helpful for some people, it can be pretty difficult for others, leading them to want to quit.

With that in mind, go at your own pace. Make small changes, one at a time. It doesn’t make you a bad vegan. Do what works for you.

Start by swapping one of your regular meals per week with a vegan alternative. Then you can add more over time until your diet is entirely vegan.

8. Be Simple

Don’t overcomplicate going vegan. It’s pretty easy to do since there are so many alternatives and recipes. For many new vegans, this can be exciting but overwhelming. I’ve been there. 

But buying everything in your sight at the grocery store simply because they have no animal products is not the best way to go. This can be both expensive and lead to food waste. Start simple.

Look for easy-to-make recipes that are yummy but basic. Shop for ingredients that you’re already familiar with and are vegan. If you’d like some examples, check out my Vegan Grocery List.

Start with five recipes you already make and often enjoy, then look for vegan-friendly swaps. Maybe it’s Grandma’s potato salad or your dad’s lasagna. For me, it was Jamaican Stew Peas.

9. Step out of the Box

Although veganism shouldn’t be complicated, you don’t have to eat the same things every day. If you want to go vegan this year, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. 

Once you’ve mastered making your five favorite recipes, gradually start introducing new meals. Maybe try a new dish from a different cuisine once a week or once a month. 

Some cultures have a wide variety of plant-based dishes, such as Indian and South American. Do some research and discover your favorite dishes from every corner of the earth.

10. Bring Snacks 

One of the worst parts of being vegan is being at an event with no vegan food option. Trust me, this will happen a lot. It is always a good idea to bring snacks or meals. The same goes for traveling.

Whether you’re flying or taking a road trip, it’s not safe to assume that vegan options will be available during your trip.

Even though you could call ahead of time to choose a vegan meal option on long-haul flights, for unexpected flight changes, your meal option may not be considered. So be prepared or check ahead of time for vegan options at the airport.

There are a variety of vegan travel snacks that you can try.

11. Pick The Right Snacks

Between meals can be the most tempting time to break your eating habits. Good vegan snacks can help to keep your cravings at bay. Avoid too many store-bought, processed snacks – not because it’s vegan means that it’s healthy. 

Keep some nuts and dried fruits on hand. Almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, raisins, dehydrated mangoes, everything goes. Mix them up and enjoy.

Try dips and spreads. (Hummus on bagels is my favorite!)

12. Be Part of the Community

Do you want to go vegan? You’re not alone. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Join social media groups. r/vegan and r/veganrecipes on Reddit are helpful online communities to start.

Put together dinner parties with a small group of vegan friends and join the conversation. Being vegan is a community effort, so be part of the community. Better yet, build one around you!

13. Be Prepared For Nay-sayers

Not everyone will accept your choice to be vegan. But make it a point to smile and be kind even when people are questioning your lifestyle.

I know how hard this can be, but you don’t want to ruin friendships and relationships over something this simple.

If you find that certain people are being particularly troublesome, ask them nicely to stop. Then don’t give their words or actions any more attention. 

Reach out to members of a vegan community if you need someone to talk to or share their personal experiences.

14. Be Kind To Yourself 

When starting any new lifestyle, mistakes will be made. Whether it’s intentional or not. There’s a high chance that you’ll end up having something non-vegan.

This tends to happen in the beginning when you’re still learning about alternative names of non-vegan ingredients.

Whenever that happens, be kind to yourself and move on. There’s no shame in that. Refocus and do better tomorrow.

15. Listen To Your Body 

Not everyone talks about how going vegan can have adverse effects on your body when first switching. As with any new lifestyle, a dramatic change might take a while to adjust to.

Because of this fact, one of the best pieces of advice I can give is to listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right, you may need to slow down your pace. 

Adverse effects don’t always mean that you can’t go vegan. Speak with a doctor if you have questions or concerns. Don’t always rely on social media for advice.

I hope that these tips are helpful on your vegan journey. You can find many different vegan recipes on this blog that are easy to make and can give you more inspiration.

Feel free to share how your journey is going in the comments. I’d love to hear them!