The Challenge of Going Vegan

[veganlush]

2. I stopped eating meat

in 1987, raised two kids without it, (one is now vegan , the other still lacto-ovo vegetarian) and since 2006 I've been vegan (no animal products). One thing I missed sometimes was a good mayonnaise, but I found a great substitute called "veganaise" which really is good. the social aspects of it are the most challenging I would say, and my kids have experienced it too of course.

Some people are so compartmentalized in their minds about these things, when you tell them you're vegan some people just don't know what you mean, it just doesn't not compute, even self-proclaimed animal lovers sometimes can't understand how you could have a problem taking out a contract to torture and kill a pig for your bacon.

Others just feel so threatened by it, even if you only discuss it out of necessity (public eating) that it seeps into any conversation you may have with them. Those people that feel threaten have decided that you are proclaiming superiority to them, because you choose not to be part of the demand that necessitates a supply derived from the suffering of animals.

As for substitutes, if you feel the need for any, as mentioned Veganaise is great, as is EarthBalance as a margarine/butter substitute. One thing I have found having been a meat eater at one time, and a vegan now is that vegans eat a much more varied diet. Sometimes people will say to me, upon finding out my choice, "what do you eat now, grass?" they think that if you don't eat meat, there's just nothing left to choose from! I have found that I enjoy many things that I never even heard of before I made the switch, such as Swiss chard and kale.

The bottom line is that a vegan can eat all the same things as anybody else if you choose to use substitutes and if not, you can explore tons of new recipes made from a huge variety of vegetables and fruits, grains, nuts and seeds.