Veganism – How to live as a vegan

Congratulations! You have just made one of the most positive decisions you can ever make: for animals, for the environment, and for your own health. “Taking the first step is always the hardest part”, but becoming a vegan has never been easier than now. Read Lesleigh’s guide to starting a vegan diet.

What can vegans eat?

The day I became a vegan, life wasn’t as difficult as I expected it to be when I first came up with the idea. The meat was easily thrown to the side, I found the taste and texture absolutely repulsive.

Milk, eggs and fish were something else though, as I had little knowledge of what vegans can eat. My vegetarian friends and I felt that removing such “crucial ingredients” from our diets would limit our food choices to a head of lettuce and a carrot or two. Little did we know that there were vast amounts of new and replacement foods that our taste buds had yet to experience.

Of course, I converted to veganism the hard way. I was unaware of animal friendly alternatives and suffered needlessly in the name of animal rights. As I became more aware of “what’s in what,” I quickly realized that there are plenty of meat substitutes, dairy-free milks, cheeses, cakes, and ice cream. Fat-free has become the friend of vegans, with milk and egg-free mayonnaise, margarine and baked goods now so readily available that no one needs to ‘suffer’ without animal products in their diet.

Going vegan offers the opportunity to expand your culinary options, but you don’t have to if you’d rather not. A meat eater could still have his (fake) meat and 3 vegetables. every night without the guilt or immorality associated with a real meat-based diet.

There are plenty of websites that can help with the transition to vegan from carnivore or vegetarian, with tips on what to eat, where you can buy things to eat, and restaurants to take your friends to. There are also many other resources (for example, books and stores) that can help with the transition stage.

Here are some tips and advice on how to ‘succeed’ as a compassionate consumer:

Substitutes for food products

There are many alternatives to “used to” products or substitutes. Although most of them won’t actually taste exactly like the real thing, over time you will find many substitutes that you will thoroughly enjoy. Often just switching brands makes a big difference in taste.

Most of the everyday ingredients we consume as carnivores have a plant substitute, whether it’s the vitamins found in vegetables and nuts, or artificial meats and cheeses. Milk in cereals, in coffee, tea, breakfast, and cooking is easily replaced with the many non-dairy types that can be found in health food stores, such as rice, oat, and soy milks. There are egg, meat and cheese substitutes that ensure you don’t miss out on any traditional comfort food.

Wear or throw away?

Many who decide to convert to an exclusively plant-based vegan diet decide to keep their already purchased leather, wool, and silk garments until they are old and worn. Often these people argue that this is because they feel an animal had to die and suffer in the production of the product and therefore should not have died in vain. Others decide that it is icky to use products from dead animals and can no longer bear the sight of the product.

Ultimately, the choice to wear or throw away is up to each individual. However, over time, most vegans will eventually ditch all their ignorant or carefree purchases. It comforts them to know that they no longer support or condone these meaningless and cruel industries.

How to tolerate small talk

Being vegan can be very challenging, especially when it comes to the thoughts of other non-vegan friends, family, and co-workers. Unless you’re lucky enough to be surrounded by enlightened vegans, you’ll most likely be ridiculed and told that you’ll get sick, that man was designed to eat animals, or that you’re just plain weird. Some people you know may be in shock and won’t understand your decision. My own sister tells people I’m allergic to meat; How is it possible for someone to decide not to eat meat?!

The trick is to be prepared…

I find that people lash out because they have met a self-righteous vegan or because they somehow got into their heads the concept that all vegans are preachers, or because they feel guilty and don’t want to confront the reality of their own dietary choice. and the consequences to which it leads. As a vegan, you need to know how to respond to his taunts:

• If they say that we were designed to eat meat, you could mention that if we were designed to eat meat, surely we would not need to cook it or that our canines are not like those of other carnivores, which are usually much longer and shorter.
• If they say there is no iron in vegan diets, you could mention that green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds have iron.
• If you are told that you will get osteoporosis from not eating dairy, you might mention that seeds, grains, and nuts contain calcium and that we are the only animal species on this planet that drinks another animal’s milk.

I always say that I don’t care if people eat meat, as long as it’s happy meat, meat from a liberated animal that leads a normal and natural life, and has had the opportunity to comply with its natural behaviors. But not caged or sick animals that suffer at the hands of speculators. This goes down well, especially if they thought you were another preacher.

These are just a few suggestions. All new vegans will eventually find their own answers that they feel comfortable relating to and that work for them. But try to avoid being adversarial, as this can offend others and hurt the cause of veganism. Whenever possible, it’s best to take an engaging and positive approach to vegan advocacy.

Important Foods for Vegans

As a vegan, you will need to consume certain foods to ensure optimal health. It is recommended that vegans consume in a day: 6-11 servings of grains, 2 servings of fruit, 3 or more servings of vegetables, 2-3 servings of beans or bean alternatives, 6-8 servings of fortified soy milk or alternatives, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

However, this can take a bit of time and you may want to use it as a guide only. However, it is essential to ensure that you have enough protein, calcium, iron and vitamin B12 in your diet. It is best to get these nutrients from food, however there are also vitamin supplements available in most health food stores.

stay the course

Whatever your personal reasons for becoming a vegan, we’d like to thank you for making the right choice. Making the transition may seem daring to some people, but don’t despair; you are not alone. There are more like-minded vegans in South Africa than you can imagine, and our number is growing as more people realize the benefits of being vegan.

“A problem shared is a problem halved”, so why not get involved in one of the many South African vegan communities online?

If it is your health that you are concerned about, you should consider making an appointment with a dietitian to allay your concerns. There are also many books, societies, and other websites that provide valuable information on nutrition, products, and recipes.

We trust that you have found reading this article useful and we hope that you have a rewarding and enjoyable journey towards a life of veganism.