In the last few years, the vegan diet has seen a dramatic rise in popularity. From animal rights to climate impact to personal health, there are many reasons to consider a Vegan diet and, as food manufacturers and supermarkets catch up to the trend, it’s becoming easy than ever before.

That being said, going vegan might still seem like a daunting task. It’ll involve learning new recipes, changing your weekly shop, and maybe saying goodbye to some of your favourite dishes.

If you’re looking to go Vegan but can’t quite find the motivation to push past these challenges then don’t panic! We’re here to make your life easier with these five hacks to make veganism fun and easy.

Make Small Changes

If you’ve grown up in a family of die-hard carnivores, or if cheese is a main staple of your diet, then you might find the transition to alternatives more difficult. The important thing to remember, however, is that your taste buds do change over time.

The chances are that the first time you use soy milk or swap out that mincemeat for a nice five bean chilli, everything’s going to taste a little odd.

Motivation is the most important part of any life change. If you’re not motivated, it won’t happen, and there’s nothing that’ll kill your motivation faster than dissatisfying meals.

Over time, with many products, you’ll stop being bothered by the unfamiliar flavours but, particularly if you’re a fussy eater, don’t try to change everything at once.

The best you can do is make a list of all the meat and dairy products you regularly consume and, one by one, cut them out.

Set yourself a timeline of goals and try to replace things one at a time.

Find the Right Substitutes

One thing it’s important to address is that substitutes just aren’t for everybody and not all substitutes are created equal. If, for example, you’re trying to replace cheese, you might have to try out a few different types of vegan cheese before you land on one like.

But what to do if you just can’t find a replacement? Well, as we said earlier, don’t panic.

Sometimes, you may just find that one-to-one flavour replacements just don’t work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find something to satisfy that itch. Experimenting with new ingredients, and trying new recipes will help keep your meal plan happy and healthy.

Make it a Hobby

Veganism doesn’t have to take over your life if you don’t want it to. It’s perfectly possible to change what you eat and call it a day there.

If, however, you’re struggling with that, then one of the best things you can do is dive in headfirst. Buy new cookbooks, read vegan blogs, find out what’s happening in your food and you may learn to love your vegan life.

Don’t Let People Shame you

For some, this will be the hardest thing on the list but also the most rewarding.

Vegans are often an easy target for jokes and while it’s mostly light-hearted it can be quite off-putting when you’re trying something new. Just remember that what you eat is your business and no matter what anybody says, there’s nothing wrong with being vegan.

Don’t Shame Yourself

Lifestyle changes aren’t easy. Food is a huge part of how we live our lives. It’s a part of our everyday interactions and it’s one of the most basic human needs.

With all that in mind, you might find that once in a while, you end up having a cheat day. Just remember that you don’t have to give up. There’s nobody to judge your progress but you!