Go Vegan! Go Vegan! Go Vegan! But what the heck is Vegan? Why do we hear it so ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ often and how the heck do I “Go Vegan?” So very often, we see and hear those words along ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ with shocking facts, but nowhere can we find a school, a course, a class, a books or film on how ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ to actually go vegan. Any command phrase can leave a stigma of judgement, annoyance and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ essence of holier than though. But had I had access to a guide from those voices earlier in my ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ life, I would have gone Vegan a loooonnnnng time ago. This Vegan Transition Guide is crafted ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ for the everyday who has no clue of what heck the V word or lifestyle consists of. I especially ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ dedicate this guide to every person suffering from or witnessing a friend, associate or loved one ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ suffer from any issue whether it be mental, physical or spiritual and is seeking positive change. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I myself have watched countless family, friends and associates suffer from diabetes, cancer, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ heart disease, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, obesity, anemia, anger, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ depression, skin ailments, etc. Once upon a time, I too was was well on my way there. As a ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ P.G. County, Maryland country girl that was raised on food full of animal fats, processed sugars, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ chemicals, not to mention torture, fear and pain, I share this information with you from a place of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ love & empowerment without judgement, wishing you evolution into your best self so that you ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ too can experience life to the fullest as I now do. One thing that I have discovered that health is ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ truly wealth and veganism is just the beginning. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “What began as one of my many will power challenges in 2014 quick evolved into a ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ lifetime commitment & permanent lifestyle, through education & awareness, completely ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ transforming & improving my mental, spiritual, physical states. Not only had I discovered the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ fountain of youth, but my mind and spirit were forever altered, as I became aware of the harsh ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ realities happening in our food production industries, which has armed me with knowledge of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the truth and conscious power to make better decisions for my health, voiceless animals, my ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ community, the environment, mother earth, my future family and several others. As a 38 year ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ old and vegan of only 4 years, I often get asked the famous question, “what’s your secret?” ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Though I am no expert (yet) and constantly evolving, in my vegan transition guide, I am ecstatic ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ to share with you what I have learned in my journey and the lifestyle that has helped me combat ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ depression, anxiety, fluctuating weight, stress, fatigue, skin breakouts, mental fog and even self ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ doubt. Veganism has truly improved my overall well being, health, spirituality, creativity, ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ connection to all life, the bigger picture and alignment with the divine, the natural way.” ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ~Mýa What Vegans Eat ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Fruits ● Veggie and bean burgers ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Figs ● Nut based or soy cheeses ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Vegetables ● Nutritional yeast ​ ​ ● Nuts ● Breads made with no eggs or yeast ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Seeds ● Vegan wine ​ ​ ● Beans ● Non-dairy dark chocolate ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Legumes ● Nicecreams (made with coconut or ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Grain nut based milks) ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Superfoods ● Superfoods (chia seeds, hemp ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Herbs seeds, goji berries, acai berries, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Spices cacao, wheatgrass, spirulina, maca ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Tempeh powder) ● Seitan ● Plant based protein powders, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Nut milks (almond, cashew, walnut, non-glycerin vitamins or ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ hemp, rice, soy) supplements ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew) ● Kombucha (raw, fermented, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Plant based oils (avocado, vegetable, probiotic drink) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ canola, avocado, sesame seed, black ● Fresh pressed or fresh squeezed ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ seed oil, oregano oil, etc.) juices ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Vegan wine ● Dairy & Egg free pancakes, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ waffles, frenchtoast, donuts, ​ ​ ​ ​ cheesecakes, chocolate cakes, ​ ​ ​ ​ cookies, etc. ​ ​ *There are vegan beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and dairy free cheese, milk, butter & ice cream ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ alternative products available in local grocery stores, Whole Foods or online websites. More ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ details in “Often Asked Questions.” ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ What Vegans Do Not ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Eat, Use or Do ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ VEGANS DO NOT EAT, CONSUME, USE OR WEAR ANY ANIMALS ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ OR BY-PRODUCTS OF ANIMALS ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Land mammals: (Cow, lamb, ● Whey protein powders ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ goat, pig, dog, deer, cat, horse, ● Desserts with eggs, milk, or products ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ rabbit, etc.) with glycerin, gelatin, collagen, (an ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Poultry (Chicken, turkey, duck, animal product derived from animals ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ eagle) bones, body parts & animal fat - ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Seafood (all marine life including Gummy Bears, Jello, marshmallows, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ caviar/fish eggs) shampoos, conditioners, hair) yeast, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Amphibians or reptiles (lizards, wine, capsules, etc.) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ salamanders, frogs, ● Most wines are filtered with ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ chameleons, alligators, membranes or guts of mammals or ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ crocodile, snakes, etc.) fish. ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Eggs ● Honey, Worchester Shire Sauce ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (made with anchovies), Honey BBQ ● Dairy (milk, cheese, butter, ice ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ sauce, etc. cream, milk based dressings, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ milk chocolate, yogurts, pasta ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ shells made with eggs or honey) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Bees wax or products with bees ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ wax Additional Things Vegans ​ ​ ​ ​ Do Not Purchase, Wear, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Support or Do ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Ivory (Ivory comes from the tusks of elephants) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Animal skins or hairs: Leather (cow), suede (cow), fur (fox, ostrich, chinchilla, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ rabbit, mink, etc.), feathers, horse hair, down and goose jackets, silk (silkworm), ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ wool (sheep), cashmere (goat), exotic animal skins (i.e. crocodile, alligator, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ostrich, snake, etc.), bearskin rugs, deer head ornaments, mink lashes, rabbit ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ hair or animal hair make up brushes ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Clothing, shoes, hats, sunglasses, backpacks, handbags, wallets, bedding ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (down), furniture, phone cases, etc. made from the materials mentioned above. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Purchase, support or use products that contain glycerin, gelatin, collagen or are ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ tested on animals (beauty, fragrance or household). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Attend, participate in or support circuses, zoos, Seaworld and similar ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ establishments ● Attend, participate in or support bullfights, rodeos, dog fights, animal fights of any ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ sort ● Attending Polo matches or horse racing or Derby events ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Partake in tourist like activites that involve captive animals (horse back riding, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ horse and carriage, posing for pictures with wild animals who are often drugged ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ for “manageable” docile nature & and beaten for “discipline”) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​