By Candice DeForest

Life in your twenties can be chaotic. You may be transitioning from college to a full-time job, or just leaving home for the first time and figuring out how to balance grocery shopping, planning meals, cooking and attempting to be healthy on a budget. As a vegetarian or vegan, this can seem particularly daunting as there may be a perception of health food as expensive or unaffordable. I’ll admit, I’ve pushed grocery shopping to the bottom of my priority list at times and managed to surprise myself with an everything-in-the-pantry inventive black bean burger! (You’d be surprised at how few ingredients you actually need to whip up a tasty, easy meal.)

Sometimes, it seems easier to skip meals or grab fast food while you’re busy and on the go. However, the good news is you don’t have to stick to a ramen noodle or all carb diet to lead a healthy and balanced life as a busy young professional.

Here are three tips to simplify and take control of your vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.

1. Research: As with any major life decision or goal, it is important to take a knowledgeable approach. In particular with diet, each person has individual requirements according to their lifestyle, activity level and health needs. Start by understanding the basics of how to build a balanced and healthy diet with a few helpful articles from The Vegetarian Resource Group.
   • Heart Healthy Eating Tips
   • Common Vegan Foods
   • Protein in the Vegan Diet

   Also, consider joining a vegetarian networking group (try Meetup.com) to share recipes and ideas with others. Don’t forget to subscribe to the VRG email newsletter for ongoing tips and recipe ideas. New to the vegan and vegetarian lifestyle? Consider trying it for a month before committing long term. Convince a friend to join you in your new endeavor!

2. Plan: Once you’ve consulted your sources, it is time to begin your plan of action! Consider how much time do you have to devote each week or day to meal planning or grocery shopping and what a realistic budget may be to spend on food each month. A few helpful tips for the planning process:
   • Set a budget for grocery shopping and dining out.
     Check out:
     • Low-Cost Vegan Meal Plans for meal suggestions and estimated cost.
     • 30 Day Menu (for those who don’t like to cook).
   • Spend those few minutes during commercial breaks of your favorite TV show to plan meals for the week.
   • Stick to a list for grocery shopping.
   • Prepare easy grab-and-go snacks at the beginning of each week to save time, such as cutting up veggies or making a trail mix with your favorite nuts and dried fruit for a high-protein snack.
3. Have fun: Last but not least, have fun with it. A vegan lifestyle in your 20’s doesn’t have to be all about health blogs and grocery shopping lists! Consider planning meals with friends, trying new recipes, signing up for a vegan cooking course or dining out at your favorite vegan restaurant. Check out the online restaurant guide for a state-by-state listing of veggie-friendly places to dine. Personal favorites include Aladdin’s Eatery with its to-die-for hummus and Tommy’s Restaurant falafel which has yet to be beat!
    
   I love getting my friends together for a potluck night where we each bring a dish to share. There’s always plenty to go around and the cost is minimal for each person. To save a few bucks each week, search for coupons online and in store flyers and advertisements. A couple of additional resources to check out for recipe ideas:
   • A personal favorite for this time of year, “Must Pumpkin Always Be Pie?”
   • Potato Vegetable Chowder, perfect for those chilly fall evenings.
   • Mary Ella Steck’s Vegan Tamale Recipe.

How do you manage a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle? Share your questions or comments here.