7 Mistakes New Vegans Make (And How I Learned the Hard Way)

So you’ve decided to go vegan? Congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most rewarding journeys of your life. But hold up—before you toss out every animal product in your fridge and declare yourself plant-powered, let me save you from some serious headaches I wish someone had warned me about.

I’ve been vegan for over five years now, and trust me, I made every mistake in the book. From thinking I could survive on pasta and marinara sauce (spoiler alert: you can’t) to spending my entire paycheck at Whole Foods because I thought expensive meant better. Ready to learn from my epic fails? Let’s jump in.

1. Thinking “Vegan” Automatically Means “Healthy”

Here’s the thing that nobody tells you: Oreos are vegan. So are French fries, most potato chips, and that sugary cereal you loved as a kid. Mind-blowing, right?

I spent my first three months as a vegan basically living off:

• Pasta with marinara sauce
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Vegan ice cream (way too much vegan ice cream)
• Every processed vegan substitute I could find

Did I feel amazing? Absolutely not. I felt sluggish, my skin broke out, and I couldn’t figure out why this “healthy” lifestyle was making me feel worse than before.

The reality check: Vegan junk food is still junk food. Your body needs nutrients, not just plant-based calories. Focus on whole foods first—fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and grains. Save the processed stuff for occasional treats, not daily staples.

2. Falling Into the Protein Panic Trap

“But where do you get your protein?” Sound familiar? This question haunted me so much that I became obsessed with protein powder, quinoa, and tracking every gram I consumed.

Here’s what I discovered after months of unnecessary stress: getting enough protein on a vegan diet is actually pretty easy. Unless you’re surviving on iceberg lettuce and air, you’re probably fine.

Solid protein sources that actually taste good:

• Lentils (red, green, black—they’re all protein powerhouses)
• Chickpeas and hummus
• Hemp seeds (sprinkle these on everything)
• Tofu and tempeh
• Nuts and nut butters
• Beans of every variety

The average person needs about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. That’s roughly 50-60 grams for most people. One cup of lentils has 18 grams. See? You’ve got this.

3. Spending Your Life Savings on Specialty Products

Remember when I mentioned my Whole Foods shopping sprees? Yeah, that was a dark time for my bank account. I genuinely thought I needed every single vegan specialty product to survive.

Cashew cheese for $12? Obviously essential.
Gluten-free, organic, artisanal vegan pasta for $8? Can’t live without it.
Raw, sprouted, blessed-by-monks almond butter? Into the cart it went.

After nearly going broke, I learned something revolutionary: the cheapest foods in the grocery store are often vegan. Rice, beans, lentils, oats, bananas, potatoes—these staples cost pennies and pack serious nutritional punch.

Sure, treat yourself to fancy vegan cheese occasionally, but don’t blow your budget thinking you need premium everything. Your wallet (and future self) will thank you.

4. Trying to Veganize Every Childhood Favorite Immediately

I get it. You miss your mom’s meatloaf, your favorite burger joint, and that cheese pizza that got you through college. So you frantically search for vegan versions of everything you used to love.

Here’s where I went wrong: I spent more time trying to recreate old favorites than discovering new ones. I’d make “vegan meatballs” that tasted like disappointment and wonder why this whole vegan thing felt so hard.

Plot twist: The best vegan meals aren’t trying to be anything else. Thai curry, Mediterranean grain bowls, Mexican bean and rice dishes—these foods are naturally delicious and happen to be vegan.

My current go-to meals that never disappoint:

• Buddha bowls with tahini dressing
• Lentil dal with naan
• Black bean tacos with avocado
• Stir-fries with whatever vegetables look good
• Hearty vegetable soups

Give yourself permission to discover new favorites instead of mourning old ones. Trust me, your taste buds will evolve faster than you think.

5. Ignoring Vitamin B12 (The Only Supplement You Actually Need)

This one’s serious, folks. Vitamin B12 deficiency is no joke. It can cause fatigue, nerve damage, and a whole host of health problems you definitely want to avoid.

I learned this the hard way when I started feeling exhausted all the time about eight months into my vegan journey. My doctor ran some blood tests, and surprise—my B12 levels were in the basement.

Here’s the deal: B12 comes from bacteria, and while our ancestors got it from unwashed vegetables and untreated water, our modern sanitized world has eliminated most natural sources. Even many meat-eaters are B12 deficient because the animals they eat are often supplemented too.

The solution is simple: Take a B12 supplement. I take 250 mcg daily, and my levels are perfect now. You can also find B12-fortified nutritional yeast, plant milks, and cereals, but a supplement is the most reliable option.

Don’t mess around with this one. FYI, it’s literally the only supplement most vegans need to worry about 🙂

6. Being the Preachy Vegan (Yes, We All Know That Guy)

Oh boy, this brings back some cringey memories. In my early vegan days, I had zero chill. Every conversation somehow became about animal agriculture, environmental destruction, or why everyone should immediately stop eating meat.

Family dinners became uncomfortable. Friends stopped inviting me to restaurants. I couldn’t understand why people were “resistant to the truth.”

Reality check: Nobody likes being lectured, especially about their food choices. Your aggressive approach isn’t converting anyone—it’s just making people associate veganism with being annoying.

The most effective vegans I know lead by example. They bring delicious food to parties, answer questions when asked (not when uninvited), and show how enjoyable plant-based living can be. People are way more likely to try veganism when they see you thriving, not when you’re shaming them.

Save your energy for positive advocacy. Trust me, people notice when you’re glowing with health and happiness—that speaks louder than any lecture ever could.

7. Giving Up After One “Slip-Up”

Here’s something nobody prepared me for: perfectionism will destroy your vegan journey. I used to think one mistake meant I’d failed completely.

Accidentally ate something with milk powder? Vegan card revoked.
Forgot to check if the wine was filtered with egg whites? Might as well give up entirely.
Realized my favorite bread contained honey? Time to throw in the towel.

This all-or-nothing thinking is toxic and completely counterproductive. Going vegan is a process, not a switch you flip overnight. You’re going to make mistakes, miss ingredients, and occasionally find yourself in situations where perfect vegan options aren’t available.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me: Progress over perfection, always. Every plant-based meal matters. Every conscious choice adds up. You’re not aiming for a perfect vegan score—you’re choosing to align your actions with your values as much as possible.

When you mess up (and you will), learn from it and move on. The animals, the planet, and your health benefit from your 90% effort way more than they suffer from your occasional slip-ups.

The Real Talk: You’ve Got This

Look, transitioning to veganism isn’t always smooth sailing. You’ll have moments of doubt, times when you miss certain foods, and days when meal planning feels overwhelming. That’s totally normal.

But here’s what I know after five years of this journey: every challenge has a solution, every craving passes, and every day gets a little easier. You’ll develop new favorite recipes, discover amazing restaurants, and find your rhythm.

The mistakes I made taught me valuable lessons that made me a more confident, relaxed vegan. Your mistakes will do the same for you. Embrace the learning process, be patient with yourself, and remember why you started this journey in the first place.

Whether you’re motivated by animal welfare, environmental concerns, or health benefits, those reasons will sustain you through any temporary challenges. And honestly? IMO, the benefits—increased energy, clearer skin, better sleep, and knowing you’re making a positive impact—make every stumble along the way totally worth it.

Welcome to the plant-powered life. You’re going to love it here.