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Feeling Blah? Challenge Yourself to Eat Vegan for a Week 

If you’re low on energy and feeling a bit sluggish, it’s likely that your diet has been less than spectacular lately. One great way to slingshot your way back to feeling full of energy and recharged is to start with your diet.  Why not go Vegan for a week? If you can hang in there for a mere 7 days, you might decide to stick with it permanently. 

A vegan diet, which means no meat, eggs, or dairy products, is a great reset for your body.  It might sound challenging, but many people today are vegan and swear by it.  Today,there are so many delcious vegan dairy and meat alternatives, that you may not even be able to tell the difference.

To give yourself the best chance while going Vegan for the 7 days , try the following 10 tips: 

1.  If possible, get all non-conforming foods out of the house. If you live with others, you’ll need to either get everyone on board or be strong enough to say no to the foods you commonly eat.  

   Try to get your favorite non-vegan foods out of the house. All personal trainers know that anything in the house will eventually get eaten .
    

2. Be public about your intentions. Let your friends, family, and co-workers know about the week you have plan to eat primarily vegan. It’s harder to quit when you know that everyone else is watching you and you’ll be held accountable, who knows maybe they’ll join in!
    

3. Take one day at a time. Stay focused on today and stay present.  

   If you’re really struggling, just get through the next meal. Incorporate some of your favorite dishes, minus the meat and dairy and take note of how they taste and how you feel after eating them.
    

4. Embrace the experience. Eating in a new way for a week isn’t a bad thing. It’s fun. It’s an experiment. It’s a way to experience something new and challenge yourself to break out of old habits and routine.

   Try to have fun with this new way of eating and notice all the emotions and tendencies that pop up along the journey.  

   It’s a great chance to learn something about yourself. 
    

5. Do some shopping and cooking beforehand. Avoid getting into a situation where you’re hungry with nothing to eat. Always have something “vegan-friendly” on hand for those times you feel hungry.  Think of fresh fruit, nuts, seeds. hummus and veggies as well as nut butters for snacks between meals.
    

6. Keep the recipes simple if you’re not a big fan of cooking.  Whether a vegan diet or not, there are of course both complicated recipes as well as simple ones. If you aren’t fond of cooking, avoid torturing yourself and grab a Vegan frozen meal and make sure to keep some vegan/plant based burgers on hand for a quick meal. Pasta and veggies is always a great option and its both feeling and completely vegan. You can even opt for a chickpea or buckwheat pasta which is higher in fiber and nutrients too!
    

7. Eat out. There’s no reason you have to stay in and slave away in the kitchen. Most restaurants have vegan options. Enjoy yourself and go out on the town. You can veganize a meal at any restuarant, simply ask for no dairy ( butter, cheese , milk) and no meat. My favorites are ethnic restaurants as the meals are super flavorful.

   My favorites are Chinese, Thai, Indian and Mexican
    

8. Eat the vegan versions of foods you love. There are vegan versions of SO many popular foods.  You can get Vegan Burgers, Sausage, Pizza, Taco fillings, Lasagna, Soups and more! You’ll get the same great taste of the foods you love, without consuming meat products.

   
   

9. Spend a little time each day reminding yourself about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. There are many websites and books available that highlight the benefits of a vegan diet. Besides being better for the envrionment, a vegan diet helps with weight loss, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart conditions, skin ailments as well as improves digestion.
    

10. Turn it into a social activity. Get your family and friends to try a vegan diet with you, even if it’s just #meatlessmonday. It will make your vegan challenge more memorable and fun. It also greatly increases the likelihood of success.
     

    Reward yourself. Changing your diet is challenging but it does’t have to be a struggle. Use the tips above to help you incorporate a vegan diet into your lifestyle.

    At the end of the week, take note of how you feel, how you slept and if you’ve shed any extra pounds simply by streamlining your diet for the week.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. 1/2 gallon to a gallon is ideal! My favorite water bottle is below, it has reminders to motivate you to stay hydrated during the day! (click on the photo to purchase)

Looking for more info on going vegan, Read the 10 Benefits of a Vegan Diet Here.

Whether you continue with a vegan diet or incoporate it sporatically , Either way, you’ll be feeling better after giving your body this healthful break.