Interested in becoming a vegan? You’re not alone! This growing trend is no surprise – especially considering that it’s one of the best ways to move towards a more compassionate way of living – for the animals, the planet, and your health.
But if you’ve been a lifelong meat-eater, it’s hard to know where to start. Luckily, there are a few easy steps you can take to start this journey – and whether you’re doing it for health reasons, ethical concerns, or just out of curiosity, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve outlined 4 simple steps that will help you ease into a plant-based lifestyle, and stick to it.
1. Be Clear on Your Reasons for Going Vegan
Before you begin this transition, make a list of all the reasons why you are going plant-based. There is no doubt that a vegan diet has many benefits, and some of the reasons why people are increasingly adopting this way of life include:
- Weight loss
- Long-term health benefits
- Compassion towards animals
- Environmental sustainability
Remember that veganism is a significant lifestyle change that requires ongoing determination and commitment. Being completely clear as to why you want to make the shift will help you stick to it in the long run.
2. Look for Delicious Alternatives
One of the biggest challenges for new vegans is missing the taste of foods like chocolates, cheese, and burgers. If you’re worried that the love of your old favorite foods could derail your new lifestyle, do your research and seek out some vegan-friendly swaps.
Contrary to what you might have heard, going vegan doesn’t mean grazing on raw veggies or having to survive on bland food! There is a whole world of tasty options out there, including vegan cheese and milk alternatives that will make this transition painless and oh-so-delicious!
3. Learn Your Way Around a Vegan Kitchen
Vegan cooking is remarkably easy to learn and delivers all sorts of unexpected rewards. With just a little practice and exploration, you’ll soon become an expert and invariably enjoy fresher, tastier meals with higher quality ingredients.
Want to kickstart your meatless journey with a dish that not only satisfies your taste buds and fills you up, but also doesn’t require a lot of prep work? Check out the delicious and simple vegan recipe from our chef below!
Recipe: Whole Roasted Cauliflower Steak with NSK House Salad (Serves 3)
Ingredients for Cauliflower:
1 Medium Whole Head of Cauliflower (leaves picked, stems trimmed, but left on)
4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbsp NSK Jamaican Jerk Rub
1 Tbsp NSK Salsa Macha
1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Fresh Lemon Zest
Ingredients for NSK House Salad
1 Punnet Fresh Rocket Leaves
2 Tbsp Sun Dried Tomatoes (thinly sliced)
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
4 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Raw Pumpkin Seeds
Salt and Pepper to taste
For the Cauliflower:
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, Jamaican Jerk Rub, Salsa Macha, lemon juice and lemon zest and mix with a whisk or fork until well combined.
- Take the marination mix and rub well all over the cauliflower, reserving 1 tbsp of marination for after cooking.
- Preheat your oven to 165 Degrees Celsius, and when heated, place the marinated cauliflower in the oven for 27 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
For the Salad:
- Combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt & pepper, and whisk until fully emulsified.
- Add the sundried tomatoes to the rocket leaves in a separate bowl
- When ready to serve, combine the dressing to the rocket and sundried tomatoes and garnish with pumpkin seeds.
Serving
Serve the roasted cauliflower with the house salad to enjoy a high protein, healthy lunch or dinner. You can thank us later!
4. Give Yourself a ‘Cheat’ Day
Going vegan may just be one of the best things you could ever do for your health and the environment, but no one said it would be easy! If you’re ready to incorporate veganism into your day-to-day life, start by giving yourself an occasional ‘cheat’ day.
Don’t feel guilty about allowing yourself a few non-vegan comfort foods while you make this transition – it will give you the motivation to continue forward, one step at a time, into this wonderful and wholly compassionate lifestyle (and hey – doesn’t that mean showing yourself some compassion too?)
We Promise Healthy Food and Happy Times
Our final piece of advice is: shamelessly indulge while exploring the meatless universe! Our diverse collection of restaurants and bars offer a huge variety of delicious vegan meals, snacks, desserts, and take-home products that even the most rigid of carnivores will rave about.
To book a table or discover more about the locally produced, artisanal products available at our retail shop, contact us at +254 707 800 800 or info@nairobistreetkitchen.com.