Motivation Help

[Jenny3315]

Hi again everybody,

I'm gradually moving towards veganism from vegetarianism and have cut out the biggies - milk, cheese, ice cream, whey protein, basically anything where milk or eggs are one of the first ingredients.

My next step is cutting out when they are a smaller part of the product such as a lot of baked goods, snacks etc. I don't have the aim of perfection/purity- but I feel like I want to not eat products I know have eggs or dairy in them. The problem is I'm having trouble with motivation. It's relatively easy to not eat the obvious stuff - the thought of eating it makes me feel somewhat ill even - and I can clearly see where boycotting it would help the animals. It's harder with a product that has a tiny amount and the link isn't as clear.

Does anybody have any tips on how to approach this?

 

[PTree15]

I don't really have any advice, other than to do what you're comfortable with. I wouldn't let this derail your efforts to date, though, because any reduction in animal products consumption is a win, IMHO.

For me, I don't really differentiate whether the ingredients are main or lower on the list. If I see milk, eggs, whey, etc., on the list, I avoid that product. I initially went vegetarian for health reasons back in the day, but as I learned about the horrors of factory farming in general, I went vegan for the animals, and the animals remain my primary motivation.

 

[Ahimsa24/7]

Hi again everybody,

I'm gradually moving towards veganism from vegetarianism and have cut out the biggies - milk, cheese, ice cream, whey protein, basically anything where milk or eggs are one of the first ingredients.

My next step is cutting out when they are a smaller part of the product such as a lot of baked goods, snacks etc. I don't have the aim of perfection/purity- but I feel like I want to not eat products I know have eggs or dairy in them. The problem is I'm having trouble with motivation. It's relatively easy to not eat the obvious stuff - the thought of eating it makes me feel somewhat ill even - and I can clearly see where boycotting it would help the animals. It's harder with a product that has a tiny amount and the link isn't as clear.

Does anybody have any tips on how to approach this?

It may not be the warm and fuzziest advice, but for whatever animal product you are about to ingest, picture that animal suffering. Picture the conditions she/he lives in. Watch a video each time if you need to.

 

[Emma JC]

maybe spend a bit of time online and find alternatives to the foods you are struggling with as many are accidentally vegan - eg some cookies etc

we still eat potato chips and cookies and I just make sure they are vegan - I won't eat sour cream and onion chips and will eat BBQ - I used to eat Dad's oatmeal cookies, as they are vegan and now I found a Canadian brand that is also vegan so eat those instead - we don't eat a lot of baked goods however there is one local store that has vegan strudels and so when they are on sale then I will buy one package for a treat - limiting processed foods is a good plan whether you are vegan or vegetarian and we have now added dried prunes to our daily intake and that cuts back on the desire for cookies and improves the gut biome

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Jenny3315]

I don't really have any advice, other than to do what you're comfortable with. I wouldn't let this derail your efforts to date, though, because any reduction in animal products consumption is a win, IMHO.

For me, I don't really differentiate whether the ingredients are main or lower on the list. If I see milk, eggs, whey, etc., on the list, I avoid that product. I initially went vegetarian for health reasons back in the day, but as I learned about the horrors of factory farming in general, I went vegan for the animals, and the animals remain my primary motivation.

My main motivation is also animals for sure and I want to avoid it regardless of place on the ingredient list - but I really appreciate the fact that you acknowledge that any reduction is a win - sometimes I feel like if I am still eating the occasional baked good with milk I am a complete failure - which I know is so counterproductive.

 

[Jenny3315]

It may not be the warm and fuzziest advice, but for whatever animal product you are about to ingest, picture that animal suffering. Picture the conditions she/he lives in. Watch a video each time if you need to.

That the kind of advice I need - no warm and fuzzies in this situation are a good thing. As much as it sickens me to ever look at them I could definitely save a few of the pics I've seen to my phone for weak moments

 

[Jenny3315]

maybe spend a bit of time online and find alternatives to the foods you are struggling with as many are accidentally vegan - eg some cookies etc

we still eat potato chips and cookies and I just make sure they are vegan - I won't eat sour cream and onion chips and will eat BBQ - I used to eat Dad's oatmeal cookies, as they are vegan and now I found a Canadian brand that is also vegan so eat those instead - we don't eat a lot of baked goods however there is one local store that has vegan strudels and so when they are on sale then I will buy one package for a treat - limiting processed foods is a good plan whether you are vegan or vegetarian and we have now added dried prunes to our daily intake and that cuts back on the desire for cookies and improves the gut biome

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

I guess I just feel like the difference I am making by avoiding some teensy tiny amount of milk/egg is negligible. Like maybe it isn't worth stoking my ocd/eating disorder in order to achieve it. Then I feel awful for thinking such a thing.

 

[Lou]

Sometimes I'll buy bakery items that are not vegan. Mostly because they are cheaper or tastier than their vegan counterparts. Also the amount of eggs, or milk, or butter aren't the main ingredients. I tell myself that it's not about purity. its not about sacrifice,
I have been accused of "not being vegan enough". but I think I'm a pretty good vegan and that is all that matters (to me).
And it fits withy my personal philosophy. "Don't sweat the small stuff".

 

[Jenny3315]

Sometimes I'll buy bakery items that are not vegan. Mostly because they are cheaper or tastier than their vegan counterparts. Also the amount of eggs, or milk, or butter aren't the main ingredients. I tell myself that it's not about purity. its not about sacrifice,
I have been accused of "not being vegan enough". but I think I'm a pretty good vegan and that is all that matters (to me).
And it fits withy my personal philosophy. "Don't sweat the small stuff".

That is really helpful to. hear and I really want to avoid getting bogged down in details/quest for purity also. I can easily see myself becoming obsessive and forgetting what all this is really about in the first place. I tend to struggle with all or nothing thinking so a part of me really wants to just ban everything and aim for 'perfection' but another part of me (a bigger part I think) wants to make every choice for a reason and to feel like each choice is because of the animals and not because I feel I have to in order to be a good vegan. I want to make this sustainable. I'm trying to be patient with myself as this is all still very new to me and hopefully in time I will find the path that works best for me. My fear is that if I allow any exceptions I'll end up getting more and more lenient and end up nowhere near close to vegan.

 

[1956]

That is really helpful to. hear and I really want to avoid getting bogged down in details/quest for purity also. I can easily see myself becoming obsessive and forgetting what all this is really about in the first place. I tend to struggle with all or nothing thinking so a part of me really wants to just ban everything and aim for 'perfection' but another part of me (a bigger part I think) wants to make every choice for a reason and to feel like each choice is because of the animals and not because I feel I have to in order to be a good vegan. I want to make this sustainable. I'm trying to be patient with myself as this is all still very new to me and hopefully in time I will find the path that works best for me. My fear is that if I allow any exceptions I'll end up getting more and more lenient and end up nowhere near close to vegan.

Hey there @Jenny3315
When I first read the phrase “Nothing tastes as good as being Vegan feels” that became my moto
Most all “prepared” foods aren’t really Healthy - for me that is also something that I Always remember
There are Always plenty of “Treats” that are Vegan
Also I prefer to spend a little bit more and eat something that is both Vegan and tasty