Tips for Vegan AIP Success

Practical strategies to help you thrive on your vegan AIP journey.

Before You Start

1. Stock Your Pantry

Having the right ingredients on hand prevents desperate moments. Essential items:

Flours & Starches

• Cassava flour
• Tigernut flour
• Coconut flour
• Arrowroot powder
• Tapioca starch

Fats & Oils

• Coconut oil (refined and unrefined)
• Avocado oil
• Extra virgin olive oil

Pantry Staples

• Coconut milk (full-fat, canned)
• Coconut cream
• Coconut aminos
• Apple cider vinegar
• Maple syrup
• Sea salt

Dried Herbs & Spices

• Oregano, thyme, basil, dill, rosemary
• Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon
• Onion powder, garlic powder

2. Plan Your First Week

Don’t wing it. Plan 5-7 days of meals before you begin. Include:

• 2-3 batch-cook recipes (soups, curries, casseroles)
• Snack options (vegetable sticks, cassava crackers)
• Quick breakfast ideas
• At least one treat or dessert

3. Clear Out Temptations

Remove or relocate non-AIP foods. When you’re tired and hungry, willpower alone won’t protect you from the crackers in the cabinet. Make compliance the path of least resistance.

4. Tell Your Support System

Let family and close friends know what you’re doing and why. You don’t need everyone to understand, but having a few people who support you makes a big difference.

During the Elimination Phase

5. Batch Cook Weekly

Spend 2-3 hours on Sunday preparing:

• A big pot of soup or curry
• Pre-cut vegetables for quick meals
• A sauce or dressing
• A batch of something sweet

This gives you ready-to-eat options when you’re too tired to cook.

6. Eat Enough

One of the biggest mistakes: not eating enough. Without grains, legumes, and concentrated proteins, you need to eat larger volumes of food. If you’re hungry all the time, increase portions significantly.

7. Embrace Repetition

You don’t need a new recipe every day. Find 4-5 meals you love and rotate them. This reduces decision fatigue and makes shopping easier. Add variety gradually as you find more recipes you enjoy.

8. Always Have a Backup

Keep emergency foods available:

• Frozen banana “ice cream” ingredients
• Canned coconut milk for quick curries
• Pre-made sauces in the fridge
• Simple vegetable soup on hand
• Compliant snacks for desperate moments

9. Track How You Feel

Keep a simple journal noting:

• Energy levels (1-10)
• Digestive comfort
• Sleep quality
• Mood
• Any symptoms

This helps you see progress (which can be gradual) and identify patterns. On hard days, looking back at improvements provides motivation.

10. Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water. When you eliminate many processed foods, you may need to add more salt to your food and drink more water than usual.

Social Situations

11. Eat Before Events

Never arrive at a party hungry. Eat a satisfying meal beforehand so you can participate socially without stress about food. Bring something to nibble if the event will be long.

12. Bring Your Own Food

For gatherings, offer to bring a dish. This guarantees you’ll have something to eat and often introduces others to delicious AIP options. Many AIP dishes are crowd-pleasers.

13. Keep Explanations Simple

You don’t owe anyone a medical history. Responses for different situations:

• Casual acquaintance: “I’m doing an elimination diet for health reasons.”
• Pushy relative: “My doctor/nutritionist recommended it for my condition.”
• Supportive friend: Share as much as you’re comfortable with.

14. Plan for Travel

Research restaurants in advance. Pack snacks. Consider booking accommodations with a kitchen for longer trips. Many people find road trips easier than flying because they can bring more food.

When It Gets Hard

15. Remember Your Why

Write down why you started AIP and post it somewhere visible. On hard days, this reminder helps. Include:

• What symptoms you’re trying to address
• What improvements you’re hoping for
• Why this matters to you

16. Connect with Others

Join online communities of people doing AIP (or vegan AIP specifically). Shared experiences and tips make a huge difference. Knowing others understand your struggles provides real comfort.

17. Celebrate Non-Food Wins

Notice improvements in:

• Energy levels
• Sleep quality
• Skin clarity
• Digestive comfort
• Joint pain
• Mental clarity

These victories matter more than any food you’re missing. Keep track of them.

18. It’s Not Forever

The elimination phase is temporary. You’re gathering information about your body. After 30-90 days, you’ll begin reintroducing foods and may find you tolerate many things well. This is a process, not a permanent sentence.

19. Handle Slip-Ups Gracefully

If you eat something non-compliant:

1. Don’t spiral into guilt or give up entirely
2. Note how you feel over the next 24-72 hours
3. Learn from what led to the slip
4. Return to AIP at your next meal

One slip doesn’t erase your progress. The overall pattern matters more than any single moment.

Long-Term Success

20. Create New Traditions

Find AIP foods that become your new comfort foods. Maybe it’s:

• The curry you make on cold nights
• The cookies that satisfy your sweet tooth
• The Sunday batch-cooking ritual

New positive associations take time but are worth building.

21. Stay Curious

Keep trying new recipes and ingredients. Your preferences may change as your palate adapts. Something you didn’t like in week two might become a favorite in month two.

22. Be Kind to Yourself

This is hard. Acknowledge that. You’re making a significant change to support your health, and that takes real effort. Treat yourself with the same compassion you’d offer a friend in your situation.

Explore more:

• Browse All Recipes - Find your new favorites
• AIP Ingredient Guide - Learn about specialty ingredients
• What to Expect - Understand flavors and textures
• Back to Getting Started