Revisiting Veganism?

[wildr0se2]

Hi, so it’s been a while.

I have fallen off the wagon multiple times. Torn between my cravings/desires and sticking to my values.

I want to be vegan, I really believe in the idea and want to make the world and life for animals better. I’m just struggling because I don’t cook my own food and need to learn, I am stuck with old habits of consuming animal products (and don’t feel good mentally in the long term after that moment of pleasure), I feel pressured to conform to the people around me who eat animal products, and I also don’t have much of an irl community. This doesn’t justify my choices, and maybe I’m being too hard on myself. I just feel so conflicted because my heart says one thing but my brain says another. Maybe I’m not trying hard enough, and maybe I’m impulsive too. I think I’m just stressed out and this is weighing on me.

I also worry about my health because of how I can easily have issues if I am not eating properly (I wonder if I should revisit a nutritionist). I’ve also been told in the past that I need meat and how I need protein.

I hope I don’t trigger anyone by posting this. I just don’t want to be alone.

 

[Lou]

my advice.
Remember free advice is worth what you paid for it.

Don't stress over food choices. Stress is bad for your health.
Don't eat unhealthy food - that too is bad for your health.

Learn to cook.
However lots of good healthy vegan food is easy to prepare.

Feeling "pressure to conform" is normal. But how you react to it is up to you.
However it's easier to make those "difficult choices" if you are prepared.
When I prepare meals and snacks I usually make extra. They can be stored or frozen and used for "emergencies".

We certainly don't "need" meat. And most people overestimate the amount of protein they need.

Resources
Cheap Lazy Vegan
PETA
PETA2

Vegan no-cook recipes — Vegangela

A collection of no-cook vegan recipes - a collection of vegan recipes that require no baking and no stove or microwave cooking.

vegangela.com

Vegan No-Cook Recipes

These vegan no-cook recipes won't heat up your whole house on these hot summer days. They're fast and easy to make, too!

sweetpotatosoul.com

 

[PTree15]

What Lou said. Also, maybe try going vegan gradually, eliminating one thing at a time. While doing that, add something new. I found that exploring other cuisines really opened up the opportunities for tasty vegan meals.

 

[Emma JC]

keep it simple and enjoy the foods you love, if you love rice or pasta or potatoes, cook them and add some beans or lentils and some frozen veggies with fruit for dessert - if you can find an inexpensive meat alternative that you like (example Yves Chkn Tenders or equivalent) cook a few of them to go with your starch and veggies....... does what @Lou suggests and cook extra, keep some nuts around for snacking or even potato chips etc, just to take the edge off

I wish you all the best in your journey, many of us, myself included, fell of the wagon a number of times and, for me, it was listening to Dr McDougall on Coast to Coast AM in 2016, that allowed my brain to take the final step with the permission to be a Starchivore - I love my starches and to be allowed to eat as much as I like of them made all the difference and finally my heart and my brain were aligned and I haven't gone back in 9 years.

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

 

[Earthchild]

I've also been vegan several times over the years and slipped back into vegetarianism. Especially when my mental illness flared up and I lacked interest in healthy food. But now I've returned to veganism since last month.

I find that having a role model helps. I follow a blogger called Sophie (intentional view) and she writes about various inspiring topics like goal setting, finding your values, rising early in morning (it's 05:27 as I write), minimalism and she's vegan too. All the things I admire and am interested in and drawn to. So being drawn to veganism again I took the plunge again. She also introduced me to Dr Michael Greger and his book How Not to Die. So I ordered it and read it. I try to follow his Daily Dozen recommended foods. It's exciting to set goals for myself to eat certain foods every day.

I don't always tick all the boxes but the important thing is to try again; set goals.

Remember - if you slip, don't be too hard on yourself; just try again. Focus on how positive veganism makes you feel; also the reasons why you are vegan. And build up a collection of vegan meals you tried and enjoy.

 

[shyvas]

. Focus o also the reasons why you are vegan.

There is only one; for the animals.

 

[Blues]

Can you join a vegan cooking class.

 

[Lou]

Can you join a vegan cooking class.

That's a good idea. A local one would be best but if you can't find one locally they have a few on the internet.
there are also organizations that have vegetarian cooking classes.

and of course YouTube is full of vegan chefs. Sarah's Vegan Kitchen and SweetPotatoSoul are both wonderful teachers.
I am a big fan of Collen Patrick Boudreaux who lives near me and sometime gives classes locally. Her cook books and online stuff is very good.

 

[jalan]

Hi, so it’s been a while.

I have fallen off the wagon multiple times. Torn between my cravings/desires and sticking to my values.

I want to be vegan, I really believe in the idea and want to make the world and life for animals better. I’m just struggling because I don’t cook my own food and need to learn, I am stuck with old habits of consuming animal products (and don’t feel good mentally in the long term after that moment of pleasure), I feel pressured to conform to the people around me who eat animal products, and I also don’t have much of an irl community. This doesn’t justify my choices, and maybe I’m being too hard on myself. I just feel so conflicted because my heart says one thing but my brain says another. Maybe I’m not trying hard enough, and maybe I’m impulsive too. I think I’m just stressed out and this is weighing on me.

I also worry about my health because of how I can easily have issues if I am not eating properly (I wonder if I should revisit a nutritionist). I’ve also been told in the past that I need meat and how I need protein.

I hope I don’t trigger anyone by posting this. I just don’t want to be alone.

Hi, only just read your post and you are not alone. We are fed so much misinformation about protein etc. that most just follow along. Just look at all the most largest, powerful animals on earth and they are herbivores… Our own physiology is also herbivorous and that’s why we have to cook meat, as we don’t have the teeth or jaw to slice n dice raw flesh… I understand the psychology of our species, being gregarious and wanting to belong etc., but how about trying to just eat more veg n fruit and minimise animal products… just a thought