4 tips to transition to a plant-based diet

By: Britt Deanda + Tara Schulenberg
Edited date: October 17, 2022Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Keeping it simple and creative

Many people, especially us yogis, are aware of how much better a plant-based diet is for our health, the way we look and feel the well-being of our environment and the animals, but doing it is another story!

Fret not, yogis- two goddesses have forged the path before you, who have done the unthinkable and deleted the cheese pizza delivery number from their phones so that you can have it easier than we did.

Whether you are dabbling with going 100% plant-based, you are just starting or have been plant-based for a while, these tips are vital in making this a sustainable lifestyle and have made all the difference for us!

1. Commit 

Even if you are dabbling, commit to something, even if it is one plant-based meal a day! Setting up clear commitments will help you stay in a positive mindset, so you’re not too hard on yourself. It is so important to set intentions with anything new and connect to your why to stay inspired and on track- writing this down and journaling always helps!

The great news is, we have found that commitment is the key to true happiness, and it is the first of Yogi Bhajan’s seven steps to happiness and is critical to making any change! Our “why” is this: We want to live in the highest vibration possible to elevate our energy, be the light and heighten the globe! 

We want all beings, animals included, to be treated respectfully, and we want to treat our planet with the love it deserves. Fact: Every day, as a vegan, you save approx. One thousand one hundred gallons of water, 30 square ft of the forest, 1 animal life, 40 lbs of grain, and 20 lbs of Co2!

2. Understand the frequency

The frequency of what we eat is so important. Everything vibrates at a specific frequency, and a dead animal that has had a life of cruelty and is on a shelf decaying is a much lower frequency than fresh fruit and vegetables from your local farmers market.

There are also so many levels of water frequency that we drink, and drinking high-frequency water is a great way to raise your vibration. Looking at everything from a vibrational standpoint allows us to connect everything to how we feel because, as humans, our emotions are our vibrational measurement system. How do you feel when you eat one food versus another, and what makes you feel alive versus sluggish and in lower vibration emotions like guilt, fear, etc.?

3. Focus on adding

Instead of depriving yourself of things and being in the lack mindset of, “I can’t have this, I can’t have that,” focus on adding new creative foods into your diet. Maybe it’s an inventive, fresh smoothie once a day to start or plant-based ice cream. There are so many substitutions that you don’t have to deprive yourself of something you love; you can choose a plant-based version.

We love coconut butter and yogurts, and there are so many plants based, soy-free, vegetable, and lentil versions of hamburger patties and taco “meat,” even chocolate! It’s fun to be creative in the kitchen and make our food colorful and beautiful. We love to play mantras while we cook and eat and enjoy fantastic plant-based food!

4. Eating out/meal delivery

When you eat out at non-vegan restaurants, we always politely tell the staff that we are vegan and ask about dishes to make sure anything we order doesn’t have any hidden dairy items. Sometimes even avocado toast has hidden butter, and it won’t say it on the menu, so we always ask.

There are so many nutritious vegans and vegetarian options at almost every restaurant now. Still, if there aren’t any options, you can always order sides or make substitutions to dishes, and we have found people are typically very accommodating and respect your choices.

When we are traveling, we use YOGI TIMES’s Lifestyle City Guide (per city) and happycow.net to find vegan restaurants and meet the most amazing like-minded people there and find some delicious food. 

Some great food delivery services in major cities can give you some good ideas and allow you to try more plant-based meals and is especially helpful for busy families!

Learn more at YOGI TIMES UNIVERSITY and download 12 delicious and nutritious recipes from Elaina Love. Elaina has created thousands of super-satisfying recipes that taste delicious. In her free e-book, you will find various nourishing sweet and savory recipes that will leave you feeling healthy, vibrant, and full of energy.