10 Common Mistakes Vegans Make

Going vegan can feel exciting, inspiring, and a little overwhelming all at the same time. There’s so much new food to try, new labels to read, and new habits to build. Because of that, it’s totally normal to hit a few bumps along the way. In fact, there are several common mistakes vegans make, especially when they’re just getting started and trying to figure everything out.

The good news is that none of these mistakes means you’re failing or doing it “wrong.” Most of them are super common and easy to fix once you notice them. Some people jump in too fast, go vegan overnight, or feel like they need to throw out every non-vegan item in their home right away. Others rely too much on faux meats, assume everything vegan is automatically healthy, or try to do it all on their own without support.

Before you completely overhaul your pantry or throw out your current cookbook collection, read this! We’ll walk through the top ten common vegan mistakes so you can feel more confident, stay motivated, and actually enjoy the journey.

1. Forcing Your Family to Go Vegan with You

Totally get it—when you go vegan, it can feel like you need everyone in your house to do it with you. But trying to force your family to go vegan usually just causes tension and makes people dig their heels in. Food is super personal, and most people don’t love feeling like their choices are being controlled or judged. Instead, it’s usually way more effective to just do your thing, make some really good vegan meals, and let them get curious on their own. A little patience (and a few delicious dinners) can go a long way.

2. Preaching to Your Non-Vegan Friends and Family

Preaching to friends and family who aren’t vegan can be a mistake because it can get awkward really fast. Even if you’re coming from a good place, people might feel like they’re being put on the spot or talked down to. And once someone feels judged, they usually stop listening completely. It can also turn simple meals and hangouts into uncomfortable debates, which is the last thing you want. Most of the time, it’s way easier (and more effective) to just be chill, do your thing, and let your choices speak for themselves. Learning how to have more respectful, patient, and impactful conversations can also help when the time comes.

3. Buying Every Vegan Product at the Store

Going on a vegan product shopping spree, you see, it can get expensive really fast. Many vegans say that exploring new items in the grocery store is like a trip to Disneyland. “Wait—there are vegan cupcakes? This store sells vegan marshmallows? You can get 7 different brands of vegan yogurt?” It’s easy to get excited and want to try everything, but you might end up with a pantry full of snacks, sauces, and random ingredients you don’t even like. Plus, a lot of vegan specialty items are fun, but they’re not always the best everyday staples.

Starting simple usually works better, like grabbing a few basics you know you’ll use and slowly adding new products as you go. That way, you can figure out what you actually love without blowing your whole grocery budget in one trip.

4. Getting Rid of All the Non-Vegan Products in Your Home

Throwing out all the non-vegan products in your home right away might seem like a fresh start, but it can actually make things harder. For one, it can feel wasteful, especially if you’re tossing perfectly good food, toiletries, or household items that you already paid for. It can also add a lot of pressure, like you have to be “all in” overnight or you’re doing it wrong. Plus, if you live with other people, it can create tension fast if they feel like their stuff is being taken away. A more chill approach is to use up what you have, replace things as they run out, and slowly build a vegan home without the stress.

When it comes to all the animal products in your home, it can be expensive and overwhelming to replace everything all at once. Instead of an overnight overhaul, make the conscious decision to be animal-free when it comes time to replace those items.

5. Giving Up if You’re Not Feeling the Vegan “Glow”

Totally normal heads-up: depending on what your diet looked like before going vegan, you might feel a little “off” at first. Some people get mild detox-like symptoms when they stop eating animal products, and it’s usually nothing to freak out about. Everyone’s different, but things like headaches, low energy, or even a slightly upset stomach can happen in the beginning.

The good news is it usually passes pretty quickly, anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Just take it easy on yourself and focus on the basics—get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and eat nourishing foods like fruits, veggies, beans, and whole grains. And don’t forget to actually eat enough! Plant-based meals can be lighter than what you’re used to, so you might need bigger portions or extra snacks. If you start feeling tired or lightheaded, it’s often just your body saying, “Hey…feed me!”

6. Focusing Only on Your Diet

A lot of new vegans start by focusing just on food, but a vegan lifestyle can go beyond your plate and include a caring approach to all living things. That means thinking about what you wear and use, too! If you want to avoid supporting animal cruelty, don’t forget that it can pop up in clothing and beauty products as well.

Look for brands that are cruelty-free and try to support them when you shop. We also put together a guide on common animal products that might be hiding in your home—it’s a great way to get a full picture of your vegan journey.

7. Believing It’s Healthy Because It’s Vegan

Living a plant-based life can give you incredible health, energy, vibrancy, and even longevity if you eat a diet focused on whole foods. 

But friends, let’s not forget that Oreos are vegan and some french fries are vegan. Just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy. 

Have fun with all the yummy vegan snacks and new vegan cheeses, and meat products now widely available in major grocery outlets and local retailers. But be sure to balance those products out with an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, leafy green salads, whole grains, and natural proteins like beans, tofu, legumes, and tempeh.

8. Relying on Faux Meats vs Whole Foods

After years of eating the Standard American Diet (SAD), it can be challenging to replace what’s on your plate. If you’re used to eating chicken and rice or meat and potatoes, it’s easy to just swap the chicken for a Gardein Scallopini or the meat for a Beyond Burger. It’s a very common newbie vegan mistake!

That will satisfy you for a few meals and is a great way to transition from the animal products you’re used to, but you’ll be missing out on the abundance of incredibly delicious meal options that a vegan diet offers.

In addition to supplementing your diet with one or more of the amazing plant-based meat alternatives (hooray for Beyond Meat, Gardein, Field Roast, Yves, Tofurky and so many others!), take the opportunity to look at mealtime in a whole new way.

Vegan bowls became one of my favorite ways to eat after going plant-based, not to mention all of the casseroles, stews, and salads that we have discovered. Have fun browsing cookbooks and experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes. Going vegan is an opportunity to ditch the SAD model and focus on the variety of ways that plant foods can be combined.

9. Doing It On Your Own

Like anything in life, it’s easier and much more enjoyable with a friend. If you can find a support system to back you up and help you stay on track, you’ll be more successful on your plant-based journey.

If you can’t find a friend to join you, connect with vegan meet-ups in your area, subscribe to vegan blogs, follow inspiring vegans on Instagram, attend local vegan festivals, and go on vegan cruises. You can find community online at first, and before you know it, you’ll find camaraderie in the vegan scene in your area. Visiting local animal sanctuaries is another place to meet other vegans and fellow animal-lovers.

10. Going Vegan Overnight

Becoming vegan is a major lifestyle change, and as in any transition, it takes time to get your footing and find a groove that works for you—and that’s totally normal!

Going plant-based isn’t a race. It’s a wonderful, delicious, fulfilling journey. No matter how long it takes to get there or the choices you make along the way, any step you take to save animals or improve their lives makes a positive impact on them, our planet, and your health.