Feeling isolated

[wildr0se2]

The majority of my family members are omnivores, so it's hard when I see them eating normally and I can't have what they're eating. It's not even that I WANT to consume animal products again. I just haven't outgrown cravings, so it's like my body says one thing but my brain reminds me of my vegan principles. Any advice?

 

[PTree15]

The majority of my family members are omnivores, so it's hard when I see them eating normally and I can't have what they're eating. It's not even that I WANT to consume animal products again. I just haven't outgrown cravings, so it's like my body says one thing but my brain reminds me of my vegan principles. Any advice?

Try to focus on what you CAN eat rather than what you are "giving up." My food world opened up to all sorts of cuisines once I ditched dead flesh and dairy. Maybe follow some vegan YouTubers, who are always posting videos on interesting dishes and tips to stay vegan. A few I follow include Cheap Lazy Vegan (lots of tasty Asian cuisine in her videos), the Edgy Veg, Merle O'Neal and the Plant-based Bistro (the last one is more tailored to healthy eating, but they still offer some good vegan eats).

It's not uncommon to have cravings, especially when you have to watch others eat dead flesh and dairy. I just keep thinking of the animals, and how by not eating those things, I am not harming them simply to placate my tastebuds, not to mention their having to die for that. It's not easy when you have to swim against the tide, but you are doing a wonderful thing for the animals and the planet by going/staying vegan.

Also, if you can withstand them, there are lots of videos and some films that explore the cruelty and death of animals inherent in food production. I can never get through them because they just overwhelm me with sadness. But watching them might reinforce your principles. Earthlings comes to mind, as does Cowspiracy. Some health-oriented ones include Forks Over Knives and What the Health.

 

[silva]

I agree, going vegan does open up a world of food you never thought of before--but--not right off!
I kinda think going vegan was like other addictions-I stayed away from food get togethers for awhile, which included alcohol!
In the beginning I also gave myself some leeway, putting limitations on the foods I found hardest. Mine was allowing pizza at gatherings.
I would say it was about 6 months in before I felt like vegan was really natural. There was a learning curve I had to figure out before I found the right textures and tastes that were truly appealing. I also started with being all healthy, and faux meats other than ones I was used to did not appeal

Everyone's tastes and ways of eating vegan differ. Vegan is about ethics, so anything from junk foods to wfpb is vegan. Saying vegan doesn't imply health or lack of.

So many products are now labeled with the leaping bunny or Peta stamps. I now even color my hair with one of a few that are cheap! I find hair care products I like at Dollar Tree with Petas blessing. Cleaning products-i've always used things like vinegar, oil, and natural products anyway

What are your taste preferences? Where can you shop?

 

[Emma JC]

If you make your own really tasty food to bring and have enough to share you will find that they will be jealous of what you're eating... I have found this a few times at catered lunches where we ordered the vegan option, in advance, and others wished they had done so also.

One of the easiest meals to make and share is pasta - a really nice fusili pasta with either some lentils "meat" sauce or some faux ground meat in it with some veggies is so simple and I have found that no one even knows that it isn't meat sauce in the pasta.

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