Struggling with idea of full Veganism

[Jenny3315]

Hi everybody, I'm new here and I was so glad to find this place.

I am a vegetarian but have become very aware of how harmful ingesting eggs and dairy is for animals and am struggling to feel good about where I am at - I'm basically going against my beliefs every time I eat eggs and dairy. I have greatly reduced the eggs and dairy I eat and I use no animal products for clothes, beauty etc. I still feel like this isn't good enough.

However, there are a few reasons I am hesitant to try to go completely vegan. The first is a three decade history of eating disorders. Restricting for any reason is a huge trigger for me in regards to anorexia/bulimia. The second is my anxious 12 year old daughter who is also vegetarian. She loves cheese and ice cream but I know that if I go vegan she will feel she has to as well. She has OCD and I'm concerned about the impact this would have on her mental health - there is no way she will not become obsessive. I also worry about her developing an eating disorder like I did at that age. She has always been my number one and I don't know how I could do this while doing what is best for her. She also won't eat beans, lentils etc and cheese is a major protein source fo her. And lastly the third, ever since my daughter was three we have gotten ice cream out once a week. It is a precious tradition. I know there are dairy free alternatives at home but none of the places we go have them.

I am trying to make peace with being 'mostly vegan' but I have a very all or nothing attitude and feel like I am just making excuses. Any helpful/kind words would be appreciated.

 

[Emma JC]

welcome to the forum - I don't have time today to write you a long encouraging note and if no one else has done so, I will try to over the next couple of days - doing your best for your health, the animals and the planet is all that can asked of us all and as @Lou often quotes "Veganism is a lifestyle that seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty. It's about doing what you can, rather than achieving perfection. To make it sustainable, you can focus on building plant-based habits, stocking essentials, and utilizing local resources."

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

 

[silva]

Obsessing is such a road block to progress. I used to suffer and honestly, if I didn't change I would have blocked any thought of dairy and would eat cheese every day! I'll never forget pacing up and down aisles of a drugstore, going out and sitting in my car---all because I had discovered algae DHA made a noticeable improvement and the store had a BOGO on large bottles that was crazy cheap. And they were in gelatin capsules. I was so anxious knowing how much more the vegan ones cost and how stretched my money was. I went back in and bought them. I never looked back.
I think many people feel they'd slip and the guilt would be so bad. It's better to do better than wait until you can be perfect, because perfect doesn't come.
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. You need to do what keeps you and your child moving forward, and if that means being 'mostly' vegan, that's better than letting your mental health suffer. The more you discover new ways to make food the less animal based things you'll use.

Do you like to cook? It's amazing how many things you can transform with beans and lentils. Salted edamame pods, red lentils cooked in pasta sauces, crunchy bean snacks.....
I've always seen Columbus as having so many more vegan options than Cleveland--where I'm near. I've been wanting to make a trip and go to Seitans Realm
I'm about to make a copycat Dole pineapple whip. I think I'm gonna just go with blending the frozen pineapple with almond milk I need to use. Most recipes call for coconut milk