Switching from a typical Western diet to a vegan one used to seem really difficult. But now, more people are making this transition than ever before. The health benefits of a plant-based diet are becoming widely recognized, and people are realizing that starting a vegan diet isn’t as hard as it once seemed.
Even if you’ve been eating meat your whole life, changing to a vegan diet is simpler than you’d think. The main thing to know is which non-vegan foods to avoid. Once you get that down, you can dive into your new vegan lifestyle. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate which foods to skip on a vegan diet.
### What Vegans Don’t Eat
**Meat:**
This is pretty obvious, but vegans don’t eat any kind of meat. This includes beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and basically any animal flesh, whether from farmed or hunted animals. Instead, vegans opt for alternatives like bean burgers, tempeh, seitan, soy chorizo, and mock chicken.
**Animal By-Products:**
Vegans avoid food derived from dead animals, such as animal fat, bone marrow, and lard. For these, there are substitutes like vegan butter that serve the purpose without involving animals.
**Seafood:**
Just like land animals, sea creatures like fish, shrimp, and lobster are off-limits. Vegans avoid tuna, salmon, or any other fish and shellfish. Alternatives include options like sweet potato shrimp, fishless fillets, and vegan crab cakes.
**Dairy Products:**
Avoiding dairy can be tricky since it’s in so many products. Vegans steer clear of milk, cheese, butter, cream, and sour cream. It’s essential to check labels to ensure what you’re buying is plant-based. There are plenty of substitutes available, such as vegan butter, cashew cheese, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk products like yogurt and ice cream.
**Eggs:**
Eggs are a no-go for vegans because they come from chickens, which are exploited for egg production. Whether they’re from small local farms or large factories, eggs and egg-based products like marshmallows and mayonnaise are avoided. Scrambled tofu, for example, is a great alternative.
Other items to skip include honey and products containing honey, gelatin, and certain additives. By avoiding these foods, anyone can successfully follow a vegan diet.