When I first decided to go vegan a few years ago, my friends
and family repeatedly questioned the choice. Many were concerned for my health,
and questioned how I could get by without ever eating my favorite foods again. Although
I was already vegetarian, dairy and eggs were a big part of my diet, and people
wondered how I could be willing to stop eating all the foods that I loved. However,
after I found out about the cruelty cows and chickens faced in factory farms in
order to produce milk and eggs, I knew I could never really enjoy eating animal
products again. For me, going vegan felt like the right thing to do, but in the
beginning it was not an easy transition. Here are some recommendations for
those new to the vegan diet, or those who have struggled and are looking for
some tips.
My first recommendation for those planning to go vegan is do
a lot of research on what vegans should eat. I believe my lack of research is
what made me an unhealthy vegan in the beginning, and it hurt my chance of
convincing those around me to join the cause. I just tried to take out dairy
and eggs from the foods I already ate. This lead to just plain spaghetti, lots
of dull salads, and veggie burgers on the regular. I did not really enjoy this
food, and those around me could tell and felt sorry for me. One of the most important
things for a vegan is to enjoy the food you eat! If those around you see you enjoying
your meals, and can see how healthy you are, they are more likely to want to
eat vegan.
Finally, after getting unbearably bored with my bland vegan
diet, I started to do research on vegan cooking. There are many cookbooks
available, but I mostly used the internet. The online recipe resource Foodgawker
has a vegan category with thousands of inspirational dishes. I now enjoy a wide
range of delicious meals, such as curries, stir fries, hearty soups and more. I
also now know more about vegan protein substitutes, such as tempeh, seitan and
tofu.
Another recommendation is to stay calm and positive when
people ask you about your diet. And trust me, this conversation will happen all
the time, so you should be prepared to explain it well. When I first started to
respond to people about my diet, I turned into a deranged preacher who started to
get very emotional about the animal abuse and the injustice, to the point I
just scared people away. One tip is when someone first asks you why you are
vegan, before preaching, ask them how much they know about veganism. This is a
good starting point for you to understand their mindset, and find out what
makes sense to them.
Remember to keep it simple. When someone asks why you are
vegan, they are usually just pointing out it is not normal, not looking for a
20 minute lecture. I always say I am vegan for the animals, for the planet and
for my health. And then if they seem open to it, I go into more detail about
the lifestyle. Always remember to never get angry at people when talking about
veganism, you cannot change everyone.
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