So, you’ve decided to start living a vegan lifestyle. Yeah, me too. Welcome to our little club! After doing months of research, I decided to transition to a vegan lifestyle for the health benefits and to contribute my small part to protect the earth. Here is an infographic that gives a snapshot of the vegan lifestyle. Note the environment stuff on the bottom – greenhouse gas emissions for raising livestock outweigh all of the automobile exhaust in the world. Forget going hybrid, go vegan! Thanks for the infographic, Ha! Tea ‘n’ Danger.
Whether you’ve come to this decision to prevent animal cruelty, for health reasons, to protect the environment, or your own personal preferences, it can be challenging to transition from a traditional diet to a vegan lifestyle.
I remember walking around the grocery store (my Super Target) every day for weeks after I decided to go mostly-vegan. It was so frustrating to try to find actual food (not “food products” most products in supermarkets are just junk!) that were vegan and not owned by a questionable parent corporation. (More about supporting ethical companies at the end…)
A great place to start the transition is with your staple items in your diet: milk, butter, eggs. Now, our family has tried many different types of non-dairy milk with varying success. We have concluded that 8th Generation brand soy or any organic coconut milk taste the best in cereal and coffee (instead of creamer). 8th Generation pledges to use non-GMO soy – a HUGE win in our book, however we’re slowly switching over to So Delicious brand because their parent company is more transparent and reputable.
IMPORTANT: Your soy/almond/coconut milk will never taste like cow milk. Ever. Sorry, it’s not going to happen. It is its own product and will taste different.
Mmmmm, butter. No, margarine does not qualify as a butter substitute. First of all, margarine is a horrible concoction full of terrible things (sure it tastes good, but yuck..), and you can’t cook with it very well. After much trial and error, I suggest Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread. It is as firm as butter in the fridge, can be used in baking, on toast, etc. I prefer to use organic coconut oil (great price at your Super Target, better deal than at Whole Foods, at least in our neck of the woods) for from-scratch pie crusts, cookies, sautee-ing vegetables, etc.
I am fortunate to have a little backyard on which I am raising two hens to lay eggs for my family. Since I am not eating factory eggs because I don’t want to support the abusive egg industry, I will be able to eat the eggs that my girls start laying as early as next week (fingers crossed). We haven’t had much of a need for eggs since going vegan. There are recipes that require eggs, but in most cases (unless it’s an egg dish) the egg can be substituted with water, applesauce, or a number of things.
“Okay, that’s all find and dandy, but what the heck do you EAT for goodness’ sake?!”
One of my favorite places to find inspiration is a blog called Oh She Glows. This blogger has fantastic recipes, amazing food photography, and a really great perspective: vegan food is healthy, but it should taste good too. Good good, not “good for vegan” good. Sometimes her budget is super steep for me, but she helps me to realize that beautiful delicious things can be vegan. You’ll find that you have more money in your budget to spend on fancy ingredients when you’re not buying meat all of the time.
Another great one is Lunch Box Bunch. This blogger also started Finding Vegan, two great resources.
Three things I’ve learned:
- I slip up. That’s okay. If the kids want a non-vegan icecream cone while we’re out, why the heck not? If I want to eat a bag of M&Ms, I will. There is no force on earth that can keep that pound of M&Ms from being eaten. Yes, a pound. It wasn’t pretty…
- Most people, once being off of dairy for a few weeks, get an upset stomach when dairy is consumed thereafter. That’s okay, just prepare yourself. Your body is not supposed to consume milk after the age of two (when humans are supposed to wean), so your body will stop being able to process it once it is out of practice.
- The first few weeks are the most difficult, just like every change in your life. However, once you get over the “hump”, you will see how easy it is.
- Okay, one more: You will never find a vegan burger that tastes like a normal cheeseburger. Or vegan bacon that tastes like real bacon. Sorry, but someone has to tell it to you straight or you will be disappointed. You DO get to explore new tastes that are lighter, fresher, more interesting, and will enable you to live a longer and healthier life. Start by doing “meatless mondays” at your house, with non-dairy milk, coconut spread and substitute eggs. Build on it and be a food adventurer!
Now for that bit about supporting ethical companies. Obviously, it would be great if all of us could grow our own food, remember to water said food and when to pick it, canned/preserved it… frankly, who has the time? I am very proud of the garden I have out back, but realistically, I’m going to need to take a week off of work just to preserve everything when it’s ready for harvest! What I don’t grow at home, I choose to buy organic at farmer’s markets from local farmers (only). Cheap cheap cheap!
When at the grocery store, I scan items with my Buycott ap (for Android and iPhone) to see if its parent company is questionable. Sadly, many companies that produce vegan or vegetarian options are owned by parent companies who have histories of: opposing GMO labeling, of supporting GMO companies, of using unsustainable production methods, of trashing the environment…..etc. My money is hard-earned. I don’t want to spend it on companies who do not work with the same amount of integrity as I do. Since I have the memory of a goldfish (or gnat, I’ve been told), I love the Buycott ap because it keeps a history of what I’ve scanned and whether it’s “flagged”.
What are your biggest struggles with going vegan, vegetarian, or dairy free? What are your greatest successes and tips? Favorite companies to buy from? I’d love to learn more, hope this gets you started on the right foot.
Lavish Photography & Lifestyle 