New to veganism?
Vegan cook and author Áine Carlin is here to guide you to a plant-based diet
1. Smart swaps
Begin by adding a few plant-based dishes to your normal weekly menu. My advice is to keep things simple by tweaking already familiar dishes, such as shepherd’s pie or your usual go-to curry. For the most part, it’s simply a matter of swapping the meat element for an equally-substantial bean or legume – puy lentils are particularly good in a ragu and tofu makes a super protein-filled addition to stir-fries.
2. Thoughtful snacks
Most people falter when they first become vegan because they struggle to find suitable snacks when they’re on- the-go. For that very reason, I recommend stashing a few bliss balls in your bag to avoid any such pitfalls. The last thing you want is to be caught short and be tempted to reach for a non-vegan muffin.