Does the idea of a vegan diet interest you, but you’re not sure how to start? If you want, you could plunge right in and cut out all poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy at once. Or, take a more gradual approach and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat at each meal.

If removing all animal products from your diet feels overwhelming, try a less strict approach. Some diets focus on plants, but still leave wiggle room for other types of foods:

1. Pescatarian: no meat and poultry, but you can still eat fish
2. Lacto-ovo vegetarian: plant-based diet, plus dairy and eggs
3. Flexitarian: plant-based diet that on occasion includes animal products.

Your doctor or a dietitian can help you choose the right diet foods as you start a vegan diet. It’s very important to get help from an expert if you have a long-term condition or you’re pregnant, to make sure you get the right mix of nutrients in your new eating plan.