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How To Start The Vegan Life

 

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Since you are here I assume you want to pursue the vegan lifestyle. So, I will not repeat the benefits of the vegan diet. You already know the health benefits and that you will no longer contribute to the suffering of any innocent animals while helping to protect our environment.

Attitude and Getting Along With Non-Vegans

This may come as a surprise to you (it did to me) but you are going to find that meat eaters are often hostile toward vegans. I can only guess at all the reasons but here are a few:
1. They think vegans feel superior
2. They think vegans are extremist
3. They feel vegans are judging them for their insensitivity to animals and the environment.
4. They feel guilt for their insensitivity etc., etc.
5. They have misguided/erroneous believes about the vegan lifestyle.

Here's a word of advice. With people you are not close to, it is better to just not mention your vegan beliefs. If necessary, just say I don't eat meat or dairy because I don't like them. If you discuss your vegan beliefs with non-vegans you are going to get into a lot of arguments. Who needs it? You can not change the rest of the world. Just do your part by living the vegan life and try to convert others only if they approach you and seek information.

The Plan - Step 1:

Do not tell everyone you know that you are starting a vegan diet! In addition to the preceding paragraph, here's another reason. When I first tried to quit smoking I proudly told everyone I had quit. Then like most smokers I faltered and started smoking again. I was too embarrassed over my failure to let anyone know I had started smoking again, so I spent weeks hiding and sneaking cigarettes. After a time others began to know of my failure (they could smell the cigarette odor on me) so I finally just told everyone I had started again. Looking back I know now it would have saved me a lot of stress had I not told everyone I was quitting.

The point of the story is this: changing your eating habits is difficult enough alone without the pressure of other people's approval. Remember, you are not going vegan to please other people. You are doing it for you and the innocent animals, not other people.

Those around you will quickly discover that you do not eat any animal products. When they question you...or if you do decide to announce it up front, just say, "I am trying to eat a plant based diet. It makes me feel better". That's it! If you slip and eat something you wish you had not...and most of us do sometime, it's not a big deal. After all, you only said you were trying to eat a plant based diet. Oh, by the way, I did quit smoking cigarettes.

Step 2:

One of my biggest obstacles to starting the vegan diet was the fact that I did not know what vegan food was, beyond fruits and vegetables. I was accustomed to meat loaf, steaks, pork chops, tacos and fried chicken. So how was I suppose to use broccoli and tofu to replace hamburger, chicken or ice cream?

As it turns out there are many plant based foods that will substitute for all these items. But some have strange names and are unfamiliar to new vegans. They certainly were unknown to me. Over time I learned the names and uses of most vegan ingredients so I've put together a list of common vegan recipes ingredients to help you get started. You can see it HERE. In addition to the veggies, today you can buy vegan cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt, hot dogs, hamburger, chicken and just about anything else you want...all without any animal products.

Unless you can afford it, do not feel like you need to buy everything on the list. Just slowly add things over time as you gradually switch to the vegan lifestyle. Here's a tip: buy vegetables, rice and several stir fry sauces. You can make a variety of meals out of this alone. Here's a small starter list:
* brown rice
* broccoli
* cabbage
* carrots
* bok choy or collard greens
* mushrooms
* onions
* celery
* soy sauce and stir fry sauce
* fine sea salt
* vegan sugar (brown rice sugar or agave syrup or maple syrup or stevia)

Cook some rice, chop up a variety of these vegetables and stir fry with a little soy sauce and/or stir fry sauce and you have a yummy, filling, healthy meal. And don't forget that steaming makes delicious vegetables with all the vitamins and minerals intact. And with all the meat substitute products available today you do not have to give up hamburgers, lasagna, chicken kung pao...all without any animal products. No meat, no dairy, no fish, no chicken.

Step 3:

There may be times when you eat something you know you should not. Or times when you have little choice. Do not agonize over this. Just do your best. Remember, it's not a contest. There are no winners or losers. Only winners...and that's always you, innocent animals and the environment every day you are able to live the vegan life.








Nothing on this website is intended for medical advice. Always consult a doctor for specific dietary needs.