New to Being Vegan? Yeah, Me Too.

My previous interpretation of vegans?  Weird skinny hippies that didn't get enough protein.

My Experience? Hardly any.

I'm actually noob to this whole vegan thing.  I’d like to coin the term Veginner.  Spread the word.  In fact, only a couple of people I'm close to even know that I have made a change, so if you're considering becoming vegan, let me tell you, with a fresh memory, what the beginning has been like.

There are a few things so far that I’ve found challenging and liberating. Going out to eat is a bit difficult, as it seems most restaurants either include dairy or use animal byproducts to cook their food, but there are options out there, especially if you live in a larger city. I’m not the biggest fan of cooking, so I’ve had to be more open to doing so, but these changes have saved me quite a bit of money already.  Something that is both frustrating and exhilarating is the need to make sure that I am eating enough.  I’ve never had a problem with that before.  It’s not that I’m starving, in fact, I feel better than ever. However, since I’m still learning what nutrients are in what dishes, I have to be careful not to create a deficiency in my diet, which means keeping track of what I’m eating.

My home is not yet cleansed of animal products, because I’d rather not spend the money on replacing everything in my fridge and cabinets all in one trip.  Instead, I’m using the products until they are gone or expired, and will switch to vegan products one by one.  This also makes it easier to search for the best priced and best tasting alternatives.

Why did I switch?

I recently watched a couple of very interesting documentaries: Food Matters and Hungry For Change. Both were extremely compelling and offered some great perspectives regarding raw food diets versus processed.  This new information already had me leaning toward a vegan diet.  For me, it was a weighty realization.  I had grown up thinking that vegans were weird, skinny hippies who didn't get enough protein. Suddenly, the idea of a vegan diet didn't seem so crazy. On the contrary it sounded like a great opportunity for health.  

Previously, I had the "it's natural to eat meat" mentality, and I still think so, but I had heard neither a compelling argument concerning morality, nor any negative health information regarding a meat diet. I gained some new perspectives, and after realizing that in this Western society, a healthy life is completely possible and quite reasonable without meat or dairy, I couldn’t ignore this alternative.  What finally persuaded me to go ahead with it was one ten-minute video.  It's called What Came Before. I highly recommend that you watch it, but to those of you who have even a slight sentimentality for animals, it is graphic. It appealed to my emotions, which had previously never had a strong enough effect on me.  However, as I had already been considering a vegan diet for health reasons, I could no longer rationalize my meat diet with, “It’s just the way the world is.”

A few days into the switch, I watched Vegucated, which I'd heard good things about.  Those things were spot on.  It was an honest, yet persuasive documentary about people who had never experienced a vegan diet.  It addresses the issues people have with making what seems such a momentous change (i.e. no more steak), so it is relatable to someone who is just starting out or is considering it.  It also includes graphic footage from factory farms, which is very compelling on its own, and addresses the issue of environmental sustainability that has arisen with the increase in demand for meat within the last few decades. 

Zealotry is not my thing.

I do not presume or ever plan to be perfect.  Since I started the whole vegan thing, I’ve had my “slip-ups.”  My mom brought me her leftover chicken tacos, which I gave to my husband, I mean, after I ate a few bites. I’ve gone out to eat couple of times where I made an adjustment to vegetarian: once for cheese fries and a second for chips & queso.  Oh, and coffee creamer on a day I didn’t have my soy creamer with me.

Do I feel guilty?  A little. 

Do I think I deserve to?  No.  

Why?  As I said, I do not presume or ever plan to be perfect. 

The whole point of this endeavor is to be healthier and attempt to decrease unnecessary suffering by boycotting the meat and dairy industry.  Here’s some math for you:

•          8 ounces of meat per day = 1,460 pounds per year.
•          2 ounces of cheese per day = 91.25 pounds per year.   

When you cut these and other forms of animal byproduct from your diet, even by a small amount, you are still making a huge difference as an individual.  If you happen to inspire others to do the same, well, I think the numbers speak for themselves.  This is a personal choice.  There may be those who try to make you feel like an awful person for giving in to temptation, but you just keep doing your best.  The world won’t change overnight.

Suggestions from a Veginner:

•           Do your research
•           Find apps and reading material to help you
•           Find a vegan and ask questions
•           Don’t be afraid to try new things
•           Be patient with yourself
•          Don’t live with guilt - this should be a positive experience