Hi all. For a long time I've wanted to take the leap because of the animal cruelty issue. I felt bad having a meal and that's not right. I've taken the leap finally but my husband is getting "titchy" because I won't eat an average meal. Even shopping today brought tension. He cooks every second day, the other I eat alone so that's no problem. How have other members got on fitting in? I know people will say "if he loves you he'll accept you for the person you are" and that's true but I don't want to cause rifts. I wasn't vegan when he married me. I just want to live with my conscience AND not be a major pain in the rear end. Advice please? Thanks, Jules.
Your choice will cause rifts. I'm not married nor have a partner but it's a common theme I've read and I can say that just with friends I see on occasion it has caused some minor rifts. People have all kinds of reasons in their head for eating animal products and many of them are tied to what they think is necessary for basic upkeep of their health. As a vegan, you don't have to say a word, just your choice in and of itself will be a challenge to him.
I notice you mentioned him cooking every second day. I suggest you make your own food instead of dictating to him what you can and can't eat. If he's getting "titchy" just shopping or on what you eat, he's likely to get even more annoyed at having to cater to you. Just take that annoyance away by preparing your own meals every day.
Remember this is YOUR body, and YOUR choice. In order to keep it yours, stand your ground, and also, don't dictate to him. He's got to make his own choices.
In the first month, life long habits of mind and body will be at work in you. Depending on how many/how often you indulged in eating animal products, you will be wrestling with habits of mind, but you will also be
wrestling greedy flesh eating bacteria in your gut who aren't getting their fix. This isn't something made up, it's part of flesh eater's microbiome.
That said, going half way isn't going to get rid of them and if you eat to please him and not do what's right for you, even on occasion, you will be perpetually in a transition phase, and you'll crave animal products. The only way to stop craving them completely is to stop eating them completely, and fill yourself up with lots of whole foods, starchy whole foods and lots of fiber as well as beans, nuts and seeds (soak them first overnight). This feeds the good bacteria and the flesh eaters will gradually die off/leave.
Always eat enough, until you are satisfied. All the side dishes of potatoes/veggies etc will by necessity have to get bigger. Never let yourself go hungry.