1) It's not as hard as you think. Cooking vegan or gluten-free doesn't have to be time consuming. Some dishes are easier than others, just like with regular cooking. Yes, I can whip up something in 15 minutes, but also, some of the recipes I make can take 3 hours. It was the same thing when I wasn't vegan. I really haven't noticed a difference at all. Just more meal planning/prepping time.
2) READ FOOD LABELS. I did this before I went vegan (because of the the gluten issue) and I do it even more now. Not everything that is vegan is labeled "vegan" and things that you would think would be "vegan" aren't. I check and recheck everything, because some things like Casein and Vitamin D-3 are animal products. Most "enriched" or "fortified" cereals, pastas and rice have at least one non-vegan by-product. Your reason for going vegan is up to you, and is your personal choice, so I can't tell you what to do. This is how I am: Casein I don't do, but I do take vitamin D (the non-vegan kind), I do not feel bad about this. I know their is non-animal derived vitamin D, AKA D2, but I haven't run out of my old vitamin D and until I do, I'm not changing. Also, I am a honey-eater. I do not think bees are treated inhumanely and also, I am allergic to bees, so if those little jerks can kill me, I'm okay with taking their honey from them. Bees can go sting themselves.
3) Going out to eat will suck, at first. Let's face it, there are only so many times you can go to a restaurant and order a salad, with oil and vinegar. I have been there, and I have more restrictions then just being vegan, I also can't have gluten, so I am a vegan that has a problem dining in VEGAN restaurants. Don't worry it will get better. While you may not be able to go out last minute and find a place, there are Apps (happy cow, yelp) that can help you find a place to eat. Yes, I know this takes work. Yes, I know it sucks if I want to go out last minute. I get it! I plan going out to eat now, which honestly has only made my dining experiences better. I look forward to going out to eat now because it isn't the easiest option for me, I research the restaurants, look at reviews, there is more effort involved in this, but I don't want to have to eat another salad against my will, again.
4) Always have a snack. This is a life-saver. Since you are only eating plant-based foods, they are easier to digest, and you WILL get hungry. You WILL want to eat whatever you can get into your hands/mouth the fastest. I ALWAYS have at least 1 fruit and some kind of nuts with me at all times. I eat more now, as a vegan, then I ever ate before.
5) You will crave things, weird things, that you may have never wanted. Example: I used to despise spicy things, I dated a guy whose family was all Hispanic and they loved the heat. I hated it so everything I made had to be milder than anything they would even consider eating. Now, I put hot sauce, siracha, peppers, whatever, on almost everything. I don't know when this happened or how, but I now crave spicy foods, for the first time, in my life, EVER. Salt is another thing I crave, there is salt on everything I eat now. I used to only use salt if I had to, well not anymore. Your tastes will change, some people really get into things like saurkraut, pickles and miso. I however, always enjoyed these things.
6) You might smell, (from either the farting, or eating too much garlic, ginger, whatever spice) this happens. When you no longer eat animal products you will used a lot of different herbs and spices to add flavor into your food, this will go through your body and some, like garlic make you smell like garlic. I eat a lot of garlic, and I probably smell a bit like garlic at all times. I'm okay with that. I have proper hygiene, but whenever I sweat (like after working out) I smell like garlic, or ginger, or curry.... yes I am one of those people. Sorry! It will also happen to you.
7) Other things: Since you are eating non-animal based products as your food, you will pass gas more (blame the beans if you want). You will also notice that you go to the bathroom more (more roughage, more fiber, more poop). Honestly, if you have to poop all the time for the first month or so, relax, you aren't going to die. It's just your body getting used to not having to work as hard to digest your food. I know this is weird, you will get through it, just accept that it's normal and move on.
8)Have a good reason WHY. This is vital, and pretty much determines whether you make it or break it being vegan. Animal rights reasons, earth reasons, health reasons, whatever, HAVE A REASON! This will allow you to have something consistent to strive for and when you want to cheat, remember that reason!
I will give you my reason. For the past, lets say 10 years (its been longer, I apparently have had Celiac disease all my life and never knew), something has been wrong. I went from having endless amounts of energy, having fun, going out, being personable, and just flat out enjoying life. At one point I was working 3 jobs and going to 2 schools with full courseloads. I was go-go-go. Then I started having horrible migraines, was always tired, slept a lot, started to withdraw and just took a backseat in my own life. I went from Dr to Dr, specialist after specialist. My health took its toll on everyone and everything, my job, my friends, my family, and other things that were (are) important to me. I couldn't take it anymore. I was miserable. Over the years I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Lupus, a rare Migraine disorder and finally, last December, Celiac's. To me that was HUGE, it explained so much and once I started going gluten-free I started getting better. Then, I went vegan about 6 months ago. This by far, has made a huge difference in the way I feel and what I get done. Yes, I still have problems with my medical conditions, but they aren't as bad as they used to be. I used to have a flare-up and be put in the hospital on chemo patient type steroids for a few days to get better. I have not been to the hospital since then, and I am so thankful for that.
8)Have a good reason WHY. This is vital, and pretty much determines whether you make it or break it being vegan. Animal rights reasons, earth reasons, health reasons, whatever, HAVE A REASON! This will allow you to have something consistent to strive for and when you want to cheat, remember that reason!
I will give you my reason. For the past, lets say 10 years (its been longer, I apparently have had Celiac disease all my life and never knew), something has been wrong. I went from having endless amounts of energy, having fun, going out, being personable, and just flat out enjoying life. At one point I was working 3 jobs and going to 2 schools with full courseloads. I was go-go-go. Then I started having horrible migraines, was always tired, slept a lot, started to withdraw and just took a backseat in my own life. I went from Dr to Dr, specialist after specialist. My health took its toll on everyone and everything, my job, my friends, my family, and other things that were (are) important to me. I couldn't take it anymore. I was miserable. Over the years I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Lupus, a rare Migraine disorder and finally, last December, Celiac's. To me that was HUGE, it explained so much and once I started going gluten-free I started getting better. Then, I went vegan about 6 months ago. This by far, has made a huge difference in the way I feel and what I get done. Yes, I still have problems with my medical conditions, but they aren't as bad as they used to be. I used to have a flare-up and be put in the hospital on chemo patient type steroids for a few days to get better. I have not been to the hospital since then, and I am so thankful for that.
I can't really think of anything else right now, but I'm open to questions and I will try my best to answer them. Hope this helps!
Also, thanks to Coby Linder, who is a great friend, fellow vegan, and weight loss guru, for #8, that was all his idea. You can check out all the amazing things he does here-------> Lean with Linder
Also, thanks to Coby Linder, who is a great friend, fellow vegan, and weight loss guru, for #8, that was all his idea. You can check out all the amazing things he does here-------> Lean with Linder
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