7 Important Lessons From 7 Years of Being Vegan
If you told my 25-year-old self that I would be vegan someday, I wouldn’t have believed you.
I loved animals. But that wasn’t enough to make me vegan. After all, I used to think that veganism was extreme, unhealthy, hard, and tasteless.
Ten years later and my opinions have dramatically changed. Not only have I been vegan for seven of those ten years, but I love it too.
Here’s a list of seven lessons I learned after being vegan all this time.
1. It’s Easy — After the First Few Weeks
Before becoming vegan, the idea of being unable to eat meat, dairy, and eggs is very daunting. What else is there?
It’s hard to start because you must change several things to accommodate veganism. Society considers meat the norm, and for several cultures, the whole meal is planned around meat. So it’s not surprising that removing it from your plate makes for a challenge.
If you’re ready to face it, though, you’ll soon get the hang of it. Before diving into veganism, try reading about it. Inform yourself, and get recipes ready. Build a vegan-friendly pantry.
The first few weeks will be hard. So having those easy recipes at hand can make your life easier. You’ll have some meal ideas ready to go. And over time, you’ll start thinking differently about your meals. You might even become more adventurous in the kitchen.
And from there? It gets easier and easier. You’ll find what works for you, and your perspectives will change. You won’t have to think about it, it’ll become second nature.
2. It’s Cheap
Don’t get me wrong, being vegan can be very expensive. But it doesn’t need to be.
It is true, the “vegan tax” is real.
Okay, not really. There is no such thing as a vegan tax, but most products marketed as vegan are more expensive. That’s because demand for those products is still relatively small. And they’re usually considered luxury products, such as biscuits, mock meats, fancy chocolate and nut milks.
The good news is you can always go for “accidentally vegan” products. These are regular products that happen to be vegan. So you don’t have to pay anything extra. Think dark chocolate, most bread, hummus, falafels, and even some biscuits. And even things like Oreos, Skittles and Lotus spread.
Did you notice this list is all about processed foods?
Aha! This is one of the most significant discoveries after going vegan. Processed and convenience foods are more challenging to find and more expensive than their non-vegan counterparts.
However, most of your diet will consist of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. And guess what? They’re not very expensive.
For instance, a plate of rice and beans, with some greens of choice on the side and some steamed root vegetables, is a nutritionally complete meal that won’t break the bank.
Of course, you may want to buy a vegan ice cream sometimes, or add a vegan nugget or burger to your plate. But if that isn’t part of your daily diet, it will cost you little money. Also, processed alternatives aren’t as nutritious as fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, and seeds. So you’ll save money while preparing healthier meals.
You’ll discover that beans are way cheaper than meat. Even if plant milks are more expensive than dairy, you’ll spend less on balance.
Prepare to spend more on convenience food — frozen or processed foods, restaurants, and takeaways. But also prepare to eat cheaply if you buy fruits and veggies from your local grocery shop.
3. Most People Still Don’t Know What Vegan Means
I wasn’t prepared for this one before going vegan. I should’ve been. After all, I thought it was boring and extreme myself.
The truth is, most people don’t know what vegan means.
Prepare yourself to be offered the gluten-free option in restaurants, even when it’s not vegan. Get ready for people asking if fish is okay, or if a cake baked with just one little egg can be considered vegan.
People genuinely have no clue. They’re not trying to be mean or thoughtless. You’ll need to be patient and sure of yourself. Get ready to explain several times what vegan means and that, no, honey isn’t vegan either.
Don’t feel bad for saying “no, thank you” when offered non-vegan food. Most people will understand, even if they need some explanation.
When you’re vegan for a while, it’s easy to forget that veganism isn’t part of most people’s lives. Although being vegan is not so uncommon anymore, it’s still not mainstream, and it’s definitely far from the norm.
4. Vegan Food Is Delicious
I used to think vegan food would be tasteless. I could endure it for a few days or just one meal a day. But for life? Every single meal? I thought I couldn’t do it.
And I wouldn’t be able to, if that was true. Good news: I was wrong!
Vegan food is delicious.
Think of anything you love to eat. There’s a vegan version of that. And it’s probably a simple Google search away.
I’m not saying it’s always easy to make those recipes. There are some rather complicated ones. But there are easy enough options too.
I’m not an exceptional cook, so I always try and find simple recipes. And in my seven years of veganism, I have baked pies and cakes, and made all sorts of desserts, including ice creams, mousses, and cheesecakes. I cooked pasta dishes, bakes, stews, casseroles, curries, stir-fries, Sunday roasts, and even homemade mock meats.
Vegan food can be a simple salad and some steamed vegetables. But it doesn’t have to be.
Even if you’re aiming for a nutritious meal, remember that you have all the herbs, spices, nuts and seeds to help you get a burst of flavour from your food. You can use simple ingredients, simple cooking methods, no oil, no sugar, and still have a delicious dish.
You can use all the different grains to add variety to your diet. Think rice — red, wild, brown, long grain, basmati, jasmine, arborio, sushi —, oats, quinoa, millet, barley, buckwheat, bulgur wheat, couscous, rye, corn, amaranth.
Explore all the different legumes you can find: beans — red kidney, pinto, black, butter, cannellini, black-eye, lima, mung, adzuki —, lentils, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), soya, peas, and peanuts. Can you think of another legume I didn’t list?
And all these are just some grains and legumes. There are many others you can add to your diet. I don’t even dare make up a list of fruits and vegetables. If there’s something you’ve never eaten before on your supermarket shelf, try bringing that home and incorporating it into a recipe.
You can prepare your delicious vegetables in many ways: raw, steamed, boiled, roasted, or grilled.
That’s all without leaving the realm of nutritious foods. You can also get creative. For example, have you tried cashew nuts as the base for making homemade cheese? Before going vegan, I would never have thought of something like this, and now it’s a favourite in our house. And making pizzas, burgers, and everything else your heart desires isn’t hard.
Once you break free of the idea that a cake is made with flour, eggs and butter, the world opens up, and you can make anything vegan. Even if your cooking abilities, like mine, are limited.
You can reach several vegan recipes with a simple Google search. If you prefer books, many excellent, fully vegan cookbooks have also been published in the last few years.
You can check the post below for some vegan pancakes to get you started:
5. Plant-Based and Vegan Are Different Things
Plant-based and vegan foods are the same. What’s different is the motivation behind it.
“Veganism is a philosophy and a way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practicable — all forms of, and cruelty to, animals.” — definition of veganism by The Vegan Society.
Being vegan goes beyond what you eat. Of course, you eat plant-based foods, but you also act on an ethical belief that animals are sentient beings and don’t deserve to be exploited.
That means you’ll try and avoid anything derived from animal exploitation. Of course, food is part of that, but it also includes makeup, personal hygiene items, shoes, clothing, cleaning products, home decorations, and everything else.
It’s an all-encompassing philosophy.
But don’t let the complexity of being vegan stop you. Remember, it’s “as far as is possible and practicable”. So that does include your budget (vegan shoes can be costly and hard to find, for instance) and where you are on your journey.
Start with your food, if that’s the easiest, and work from there. That leads me to the next item on this list.
6. Not All Vegans Are the Same
If you’re vegan, you aim to protect animals. So in your daily life, you’ll try to avoid everything connected to animal cruelty and exploitation, as far as is possible and practicable.
But that is a broad definition, and the details are different for everyone. Your journey will be unique to you.
There are so many kind and understanding vegans. But, unfortunately, there are also militant vegans. And sometimes, even though they may be trying to do the right thing, an aggressive vegan can put others off.
Don’t let other people dictate your journey. Don’t let them tell you if you are vegan or not. You’re the only person who can decide that. You’re the only one who knows your life, limitations, and personal experience.
Believe me, there are many considerate vegans, and they’re the right people to seek for help and support.
A lot of people have extreme opinions, forceful even. And although they come from a good place, they can end up having detrimental effects on the movement, particularly on your journey. So if you decide to go vegan, do it at your own pace, and please, do not let other people put you down.
Finding vegan communities, such as online groups, is a great idea. You’ll find support, tips, and connections with like-minded people.
But, sometimes, these can also be places where people will find fault with your actions. Try and find a good balance, look for people that inspire you, that are caring and understanding. Aiming for perfection is the perfect recipe for failure.
I’ll give you a personal example from my own life. I’m thrilled McDonald’s and Burger King now have vegan options. I have tried their vegan burgers and am not against eating there.
But some vegans are. They consider both corporations too evil, and don’t want to give them their money. Their intentions are good, their motivations are correct, and I respect them. My problem starts when they want to tell me I’m not vegan for eating there. I don’t consider myself less vegan for going there, though.
I also do most of my shopping at a big supermarket chain. I can’t afford to buy food exclusively from farmers’ markets all the time, for financial and also convenience reasons. But, again, I don’t consider myself less vegan for doing that, either.
And that’s what I mean. Whatever feels right for you, that’s what you need to do.
You can strive to do better. Whenever possible, you should always strive to do better. But don’t let imperfection stop you. Being vegan is much better than being a perfect vegan.
If you need to go slowly, go slowly. If you want to eat your grandma’s cake, which she made especially for your birthday, eat it. That won’t make you less vegan.
7. You Learn To Assert Yourself
I couldn’t assert myself for the first few months of going vegan. I even ate fish because someone made it for me thinking it was okay. I didn’t have it in me to explain it better and decline the offer.
I felt bad for saying no to what people offered me. I felt guilty that I wouldn’t eat what someone cooked.
But after a few months, I learned to assert myself. And you know what? It’s brilliant. People do understand, and mostly, they’re not offended. On the contrary, they think it’s admirable that I can do this.
So nowadays, I tell people, “no, thank you”. If they need more explanation, I explain that I’m vegan; otherwise, I leave it at that.
You will find people that will take offence, though. Some might even say you’re forcing your views on them because you won’t eat their food. Even if you’re not talking about your beliefs, trying to change theirs, or even asking for something else to eat. That’s on them. They’re probably feeling guilty for eating animals. So be kind, respectful, and say “no, thank you”.
Vegan for Life
Being vegan is amazing. For some, it means more energy, feeling healthier, and eating more vegetables than ever.
For me, it means being in sync with what I believe. I love animals, treat them with respect, and don’t partake in cruelty to them. Veganism allowed me to connect my morals to my actions.
Being vegan can make you feel good about yourself and your impact on the world. It’s an act of kindness and love.
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