Writing a guest post for a highly respected blog is an amazing opportunity I wanted to share with my non-vegan friends. I asked what they would like to know about and was surprised to hear a lot of really interesting questions. One that came up several times was how does a person stay vegan when they feel cravings for foods they enjoyed for many, many years?
Good question. There certainly isn’t one answer and if you Google it, there are over 44 million results. I decided not to read a single one of them and instead will write about what worked for me, and provide hints and suggestions that might help anyone trying to make the transition.
Read and Learn
There is so much free information on the Internet. Start exploring and reading articles. There are blogs, personal stories and references. Learn how unhealthy meat and dairy products are for you, and how animals are senselessly harmed in the process. It changed my attitude forever. Research books and borrow them from the library for free. They are a wonderful resource for this topic.
Go to a Super Salad Bar
I’m a little jealous of people who live near a Whole Foods store. They have the most incredible salad and prepared food bar. It’s the easiest way to taste new, unusual, and seasonal produce. If you want to re-create a recipe you really like – once again, look on the Web and YouTube. For those not close to a big city, salad bars on a smaller scale are great (Wegman’s in the northeast is my favorite).
Experiment with Substitutions
For foods you feel you simply can’t live without, there are vegan versions. They won’t be exactly the same but may well provide the texture, sweetness, or saltiness you’re craving. Add a sauce or spice to turn up the volume. Ice cream, for instance, can be hard to give up. I discovered frozen bananas in a blender or food processor with a little almond milk and a combination of fruit, cinnamon, agave or maple syrup replaced the creaminess I desired, and it tastes amazing.
Cheese is something else people tend to miss. Instead of shredded dairy cheese, use Daiya, a plant-based cheese, and drizzle sweet, hot chili sauce on top (Red’s brand is delicious). The Daiya cheese melts, is salty, and makes an easy replacement. These are just a couple of examples of easy veg alternatives; I can’t even begin to scratch the surface. Step outside of your comfort zone, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Be Inspired
Choose someone who does vegan well and have them be your inspiration. If they are a friend, let them know and they will be glad to answer your questions and help. For famous people, it’s even easier to follow their story and think of them when you need encouragement. Get involved and meet new people online or in local groups. Sign up for a coaching session. The more you look, the more you will find to be successful.
Go For It
Do this last. Too many people fail at being vegan. They’re turned off when they taste a poorly prepared vegetable or one of the poorer “fake meats” (Tofurky, Gardein, and Beyond Meat are really good). It’s easy to get discouraged and quit. For me, it was an evolution. The more I learned and experimented, the more progress I made. I figured out what worked, stuck with it, and my life changed for the better in so many ways. Try some of my suggestions. If they don’t resonate, there are 44 million other options. The secret is to determine what works for you and make the change at a pace you feel comfortable with.
Lynne Agnew, VLCE obtained her Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator certification at the inaugural MSV Academy. Since then, she left the corporate world to pursue her passions of travel, writing, private coaching and being an entrepreneur. She is also a small business counselor and member of the Marketing/Client engagement committee for the greater Binghamton chapter of SCORE. When not on the road, you might find her at home in Upstate New York creating decadent vegan desserts in the kitchen or in the garden tending to hundreds of flowers and herbs.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Lynne. I am often almost taken aback when people say something like “I admire your resolve” or “I really admire and respect those who can be vegan”. While I can understand what they saying it seems almost foreign to me because, as an ethical choice, there’s simply no other way now for me. So I guess what I’m saying is that for me it’s about truly respecting animals and their choice to live, so eating them isn’t even an option or desire. Which comes back to your first tip – become knowledgable!