GLAMOUR columnist Bradley Simmonds shares his ultimate guide to going vegan

I too now include myself in the growing population of people who are trying to reduce their consumption of meat, not just because of the environment but because I’ve realised I didn’t actually need to eat as much as I was. So maybe it's vegans who will be having the last laugh?
People often comment about vegans not consuming enough protein as a result of their diet, I’m sure this is true for many vegans, but it is still possible to reach your recommended daily allowance if you plan meal time carefully.

Are you getting enough protein?

Protein is an essential part of my diet, as it is for everyone. Protein restores and repairs our body, so consuming enough of it daily from food sources is very important for our physical health.

However, at the moment there is a slight obsession with consuming a lot of it. Protein seems to be in everything from yoghurt to ice cream, to supplements and even cereal. It’s another current food trend that, in my opinion, isn’t actually as beneficial as the 'vegan trend' could be if done properly.

So if you want to give veganism a go here’s what to make sure of...

1. Make sure you’re eating a variety of plant-based foods so that your body can thrive.
2. Make sure you’re eating enough. Now you no longer consume dairy or meat products, you are restricting where your calories come from, therefore making sure you’re meeting your recommended calorie intake from the plant-based foods you have chosen to enjoy, is essential.
3. I wouldn’t recommend living off processed vegan foods, there are a lot on the market now and it’s great that vegans and non-vegans have the options available to them, however living off vegan ready meals for example, isn’t a long-term healthy answer to converting to the lifestyle.
4. Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. The vegan diet is not a weight loss diet.

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Here are some tips for turning vegan...

1. Invest in some good vegan cookbooks that promote delicious but wholesome cooking
2. Speak to a nutritionist who can advise you on what your new diet should look like, including advice on any supplements you may need.
3. Prepare and get organised with meal times to make sure you’re eating enough and eating well.

Although I won’t be converting to veganism any time soon, I’m certainly open to including more vegetarian and vegan meals into my diet. I think there are some real benefits to including more plant-based foods into our diets and I think most people would really benefit from eating more of these foods, even if we all made a conscious effort to eat more vegetables at meal times.