According to a recent report from the Top Trends in Prepared Foods, 6 percent of people in the U.S. identify as vegan. This is a 5 percent rise form 2014.

That's a drastic increase.

It is undeniable that veganism is on the rise. With new plant-based products being launched onto the market everyday, it is becoming easier for Americans to cut out dairy and meat products from their diets.

During the summer after my freshman year of college, I stumbled upon a video advocating veganism. Little did I know, this video would open my eyes to the entrenched ideology that I had believed all of my life.

I was never conscientious about where my food came from, or my environmental footprint. I was busy and naive.

But after viewing this video, a presentation from the Animal Rights Foundation in Florida, my life changed.

I have been fully vegan for almost a year and a half. I even went abroad to Europe this summer and managed to navigate my vegan lifestyle successfully.

I am not here to push my ideas on anyone, nor shame people for the way the choose to live. However, I want to put out beneficial information about veganism. Veganism is what works best for me, and below are five pieces of advice to finally ditch the animal products, even if you are a financially struggling college student.

1. Get Smart

This is the most important tip because when you really believe in something, you will almost always commit.

Obviously being vegan isn't easy, but if I find myself wanting to give into old habits, all I have to do is remind myself why I choose to live this way—the eye-opening realities.

To begin with, my childhood best friend, a vegetarian, would always attempt to convince me to cut meat out of my diet. After watching PETA’s videos of animal factories, nothing was ever enough to alter the way I was living. But after conducting research into what it means to be vegan, I found numerous documentaries and eye-opening facts. Some must-watch documentaries are “Cowspiracy," "What The Health?" and “Vegucated." (All of these you can find on Netflix.)

If these films do not change your opinion on the American meat and dairy industry, get smart on the facts. Today, many hard-working organizations exist that provide detailed findings on the meat and dairy industry, and the vegan diet. All it takes is a quick search on the internet, and you will find endless options.

2. Cold turkey

It sounds terrible, cutting out multiple food groups from your diet all at once; but this is really an effective strategy.

I went from eating meat and dairy one day, to fully cutting it out the next.

The first weeks were surprisingly not hard - and that was due to my new knowledge on the corruption of the meat and dairy industry.

I certainly was not perfect, eating foods such as fruit snacks and marshmallows that I didn't realize had gelatin in them. But for the most part, this strategy was fool-proof.

Your health will also feel the benefits from a balanced vegan diet. After a few weeks, I noticed I had an abundance of energy. Working out became something I wanted to do, instead of a chore. My skin cleared up quickly, and I ended up losing weight after the first couple of months.

3. Understand that it won't break the bank

People think that veganism is not an option because of the price. In reality, eating a balanced vegan diet does not have to break the bank.

Last year, I was on a tight budget, doing my own grocery shopping. I bought my groceries at stores like ALDI and Target. I had the normal college student empty-pantry issues, but overall I ate a healthy and balanced vegan diet.

The cost of rice, tofu, pasta, and frozen veggies run much cheaper than meats like beef and chicken.

Check out this PETA article that compares the price of a vegan diet with a omnivorous diet.

4. Find a friend

I was not alone during my first month of veganism. My mother and I started it together. We began by setting a goal of 30 days.

Grab a friend that would want to try veganism with you!

Having a support system to rely on when that piece of pizza or burger looks way too appetizing is sure to help you stay committed.

5. Realize what you can eat

A couple of weeks ago, I was eating peanut butter and someone asked me, "Is that vegan?"

My response was obviously yes. There is an abundance of products that are certified vegan that you probably eat every day. Junk food lovers rejoice!

When you alter to a vegan diet, you also include a plethora of new interesting fruits and vegetables that you might never have tried if you stuck with a non-vegan diet. Foods like avocados, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash are versatile and can produce many delicious creations.

Surprising things such as Oreos, cake mix, and bacon bits are all vegan-friendly.

There is a stereotype that all vegans are miserable, stuck eating kale with a killer protein deficiency. This statement is ludicrous, and all it takes is some short research to find all of the delicious foods vegans can eat.

Check out this accidentally vegan list from PETA.

Going vegan has provided me with more energy, smarter choices, and tools that improve not only my own health, but also that of other beings, whether that be other animals or the environment. I encourage everyone to conduct their own research on what they are purchasing and putting into their bodies - it might inspire you to make some big changes in your life.