Vegan or Vegetarian: 5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Committing To a New Diet

To go vegan or not to go vegan? To go on a gluten-free diet or not? To enjoy meat or meet healthier lifestyle goals? These are the questions that you find yourself conflicted with when you choose to start a new diet.

Changing the way you eat is about more than just swapping dairy milk for soy. It’s a commitment that entails an overhaul of your lifestyle. Just as you would ask numerous questions before launching into any big commitment, it’s worth checking in with yourself on the following five questions before you say “yes,” to a new eating plan.

1.    What are my non-negotiable foods? 

While a single smoothie picture being vegan or vegetarian on the first page of your diet plan may grab your attention and look delicious, remember that is not the whole diet. Read the diet plan carefully to see which foods you need to avoid and which ones you’ll need to eat more often.

If you have to abandon too many foods that you love and eat lots of food that make your nose crinkle in disgust, the diet may not be for you. However, before you give up on it altogether, see if there are any plant-based alternatives that will allow you to enjoy a healthier life without sacrificing your favorite dishes.

 

2.    Will my diet work with my lifestyle? 

While all diets must achieve the right balance of food groups, success comes only when it resonates with your lifestyle. Some diets may require you to reorganize your lifestyle entirely so that you can consume more meals than you’re used to. 

 

If this commitment seems too cumbersome, opt for a less demanding option. If you’re the type of person who enjoys cooking, choose a diet that allows you to do plenty of it. The key here is that your new diet must fit in with and enhance your lifestyle, not detract from it.

 

3.    How long will I choose to commit to this plan?

If becoming healthier was possible in one week, life would be easy. Many diets promise perfect body recomposition but everyone’s reactions are different. To get results, you usually need to make it a long-term commitment. So, you need to ask yourself if you could stick to this way of eating for years on end. It makes no sense to start something you can’t follow through.

 

4.    What bad habits will fall away because of this diet? 

The idea of starting a diet is to get rid of the bad eating habits that may be preventing you from being healthy in the first place. Does the diet allow you to stop overeating? Does it make you more miserable and make you want to eat your feelings away? If the diet triggers more bad eating habits than good, then it’s not worth your time.

 

5.    Does this diet match my ideals?

The food you’re expected to eat may work for you, the plan may fit into your schedule, but is the lifestyle surrounding the diet something you’re happy to be associated with? This is a tough one to answer, especially for those considering diets like keto or carnivore that focus on heavy meat consumption. Do some soul searching and settle on a diet that suits your personality and ethical outlook on life. 

 

To go vegan or not to go vegan , Remember to be honest with yourself. If you can commit to a diet, go for it. If you believe in the diet, it will work for you. But you have to be all-in and have fun with it, or else you’ll be back to your old ways again in no time.