Since launching in 2014, Veganuary has become one of the most popular food trends with thousands pledging to eat more plant based foods.
It’s easy to see why. With ever-growing delicious options in the supermarket, and new research suggesting a plant-based diet could cut your climate heating emissions by 75%, more people are becoming curious.
Last year, I was one of them. In the back of my mind I was convinced that eating plant-based would be too boring, too expensive and just too difficult. Would it even be possible to go vegan as a a teenager?
I found out the answer is absolutely! And since taking on the challenge I haven’t wanted to go back. Here are the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way that have helped me have the best plant-based experience.
It’s easier than you think
This is the first thing I always say to anyone who’s curious about going vegan. All of our staples such as pasta, rice, bread, and veggies are already vegan. With tons of meat and dairy substitutes, it’s often as simple as swapping out one item in a recipe, for something that tastes identical—or maybe better.
With thousands of snacks and treats, it’s rare that I feel I am missing out.
Lookout for accidentally vegan products
Just because a food isn’t labelled vegan, don’t rule it out! Thousands of your favourite snacks are fully plant-based but manufacturers forget to put this on the packaging.
Right now, I am obsessed with gingerbread and classic Oreo, which are both delicious and vegan! My other favourite examples are some apple pies, popcorn, tortilla chips and fizzy sweets.
Some products say they ‘may contain’ animal products such as milk. For most vegans, this is perfectly fine to eat—it just means that they were produced in the same factory as other products with these ingredients.
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You don’t have to give up your favourites
For many people, the most daunting thing is giving up your favourite comfort foods. What if I told you that you didn’t have to? If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you can find a substitute for absolutely anything!
Today, there are incredible meat substitutes in most stores—why not experiment and find your favourites?
If you can’t find it, you can make it! Vegan shepards pie is a simple mashed potato with tomato sauce, lentils or veggie chili. Scrambled tofu with salt, pepper and a hint of chili is your new scrambled eggs.
You can create divine curry sauces with a tin of coconut milk and a simple spice mix. Ice cream is super easy to make, just blend soya milk with sugar, vanilla extract and fruit of choice (slightly spotty bananas make the sweetest). Then, freeze.
Try new cuisines
Don’t be afraid to try new cuisines such as Indian or Mediterranean, which have incredible vegan & vegetarian dishes. You will fall in love with creamy lentil dishes and samosas, falafel and couscous, and my family favourite: hummus! 
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Cake!
This has been one of the best hacks I’ve discovered. We all need a big slice of cake every now and again. While there are so many delicious vegan cakes, they can be pricey, they can be small and sometimes not as value for money as other alternatives.
However, don’t fear. Most cake packet mixes—including chocolate and velvet—are vegan. Yum!
Just add soya/oat milk and an egg substitute (my favourite is called aqufeba which is just a super fancy name for the juice from a chickpea can). Now you have a low cost, and low effort cake to feel proud of—and you can have fun decorating it!
Photo by Taryn Elliot from Pexels
Shop around
Don’t just stick to one supermarket. Scout out the aisles and discover the unique vegan gems at each store. At the start of living plant based, I thought I had to give up instant mashed potato and garlic bread (horror!!) I tried a new supermarket and surprisingly, I found that their home-brand items were naturally vegan.
Don’t just check the free-from aisle
I’ve spent so much money on vegan chocolate substitutes which, don’t get me wrong, are delicious. But many people don’t realise that most dark chocolate products are totally fine to eat as they don’t contain dairy! Take a look on the shelves and you might find a cheaper chocolate that’s easier to get ahold of.
The same goes for so many products. Before going to the free-from aisle, make sure that the product isn’t vegan already. If you don’t, you might end up paying a higher price. Sometime, you might need to think outside of the box: a vegan macaroni sauce in a jar can be pricey, but you can pick up a powdered version (just add soya milk) for less than £1.
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Remember: vegan doesn’t equal healthy
You can absolutely be a healthy teen and eat plant based. However, just because you’re vegan it doesn’t mean you’re eating healthy—after all chips and lemonade are both vegan!
A healthy diet is a balanced one where you’re getting all the nutrients that you need. Especially as teenagers this is so important for us!
You can incorporate proteins such as meat alternatives, lentils and chickpeas, tofu, and peanut butter into your diet.
Try to purchase plant milk and cheese with added vitamins such as B12 which is often missing from a vegan diet, or look out for vitamins in store.
Don’t feel like you have to go “cold turkey” and become vegan straight away. You could become vegetarian first, which is what I did, to make the change more gradual. Or, you could begin with having a vegan day each week.
Get inspo from online
Scroll through Pinterest and TikTok to find vegan recipes and food ideas that will keep you coming back for more. This will also keep you motivated if you’re stuck eating the same old recipes.
Don’t let other peoples opinion put you off
If you want to eat more plant-based food, go for it! Don’t let the fear of people's opinions or misconceptions stop you from doing something you want to do.
At first I wondered what people would think about me going plant based, but the reaction was not what I was expecting! It’s actually a great conversation starter and I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t been won over by some delicious vegan treats.
Today, eating plant based is way more popular, and you can still go out to restaurants with your friends, or grab an oat-milk latte.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)Do it your way
It’s more than okay to make mistakes or eat non-vegan food sometimes. In fact, it’s going to happen! Everyone has their own reasons for eating plant based and their own lifestyle factors. It’s important to do it your way.
For example, some vegans would buy a leather jacket or bag if it’s thrifted as it isn’t supporting animal cruelty but it is helping reduce fashion waste. Or, some vegans would eat honey or eggs if they come from someone’s back garden and the animals are not mistreated in any way.
Many people are flexi-vegan, where they eat plant based on certain days of the week. Research from Colorado University reveals that just one meat free day per week helps the environment as much as cutting out 348 miles of driving!
A lot of vegans will make exceptions every now and again, for example if someone made a homemade dish for them, or they tried new food while travelling. Ultimately, this depends on the reasons that you started a plant-based diet, and what feels right for you.
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Finally, have fun!
Eating plant based shouldn’t feel like a chore. In 2025, there are countless exciting recipes ands and scrumptious meal options out there, just waiting for you to try!
I hope these tips gave you some ideas. If you’re trying to eat more vegan or vegetarian food this year, let us know in the comments!
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
