Are You Ready To Take Up Beyoncé’s Vegan Challenge?

February 9, 2015

They say the secret to a fit body is 30 percent workout, and 70 percent diet. And Queen B sure played her diet card well. The curvaceous diva, who now looks fitter than ever, made headlines when she and her hip-hop hubby Jay-Z turned vegan.

Reportedly, she was highly inspired by her personal trainer Marco Borges, and took up the 22-day vegan challenge back in 2013. She soon took to Instagram, posting pictures of her plant-based meals with the hashtag #22daysvegan. Now, the Grammy-winning pop star has thrown open the challenge to her fans. The basic idea? It takes 21 days for a person to break out of any habit. Being vegan for 22 days should hopefully help you and your body accept the diet seamlessly, thereafter.

To encourage people to get on the vegan bandwagon, Beyoncé recently launched an on-demand service called 22 Days Nutrition. All the meals would be plant-based, with non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free and organic ingredients. It couldn’t get any simpler than this. As Beyoncé once said, “All you have to do is try. If I can do it, anybody can.” And she did.

Like Beyoncé, millions of others in America testify to the vegan lifestyle. It is said to improve your health, immunity, and energy levels. If you’re ready to take it on, here are some essential tips to get you started:

1. Understand Why You’re Doing It
The first step to successfully convert, is to understand why you want to go vegan. Is it environment safety, fitness, or health concerns? There’s no arguing that there’s a whole array of health benefits linked with veganism. A plant-based diet is incredibly nutritious; it could decrease blood sugar levels, promote weight loss, lower cholesterol and reduce the intake of saturated fats too. Veganism also strongly believes in cruelty-free living and denies the use of animal-derived products. Once you find your motivation, dive in.

2. Cut Down On Meat Gradually
Going cold turkey on your beloved meat and fish meals will only cause you to crave them strongly. Instead, cut down from eating it thrice a week, to once a week, and then lower it further. Soon, your palate will get accustomed to eating, and enjoying plant-based food.

3. Look For Healthy Alternatives
When you quit eating meat and dairy, you will have to look for alternatives. Instead of suddenly making the change, get into a routine of trying out one vegan alternative per day. For instance, use soy milk for your cereal one morning, and then try almond milk on another day.

4. Try More Vegan Ingredients In Your Everyday Cooking
As you get comfortable with vegan alternatives, begin cooking your favorite meals with plant-based ingredients. For instance, you can use these dairy-alternatives to make vegan cakes and cookies. Eventually, you will learn how to veganize your everyday meals.

5. Get All Your Vital Nutrients
Going meatless and dairy-free may cause you to lose on some vital nutrients. Make sure you opt for vegan sources of these nutrients. Meat is an important source of protein, so substitute it with tofu, and other vegan sources of protein. It’s difficult to find a vegan alternative for vitamins like B-12, so go ahead and use vitamin supplements.

With a little effort and determination, you can embark upon your vegan journey like Beyoncé did.