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

 

[Ahimsa24/7]

My biggest "give up" when I became vegetarian was bacon. Whenever I encountered bacon after that, I just recalled the footage of a pig hanging upside down by one hoof, screaming in agony, and having her throat slit so she bled to death while still trying to get free. No more desire to eat bacon.

 

[deadknight]

My biggest "give up" when I became vegetarian was bacon. Whenever I encountered bacon after that, I just recalled the footage of a pig hanging upside down by one hoof, screaming in agony, and having her throat slit so she bled to death while still trying to get free. No more desire to eat bacon.

Not surprising at all! If you think about where that bacon comes from, no wonder you lose your desire to eat it. A slice of a dead pig's stomach, no thanks.

I wonder if it's appropriate to quote the vegan version of the legendary song "Paranoid"? Feels very actual to your post. Original by Ozzy Osbourne, veganized by Vegan Sidekick. Iommi riffs and solos forever!

"Finished with my bacon cos my conscience told me it's not right
People think I'm insane because I'm not killing all the time

All day long I explain things but they still try to justify
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to change their minds

Can you help me
Understand their brains?

I need someone to show me how killing billions can be fine,
I can't see how killing can bring happiness - I must be blind

Bacon joke and I will sigh and you will laugh as animals die
Empathy you cannot feel, your 'love' to me feels so unreal

Even if you hear these words, you'll still have corpses on your plate
I tell you to respect life - I wish you would, but it's too late"​

 

[deadknight]

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?

I remember having the same cravings when I went vegetarian first (a long way to veganism, yes). It's completely natural to be still used to your old habits, especially if your whole environment eats animal products.
Very good that your brain reminds you of your vegan principles. Others' brains tend to trick them into finding excuses for "having to give up" veganism, so I believe your brain to be a very sensible one.

Certainly, I can not be sure if this works for you, but exploring the veganized versions of my old favourites has proven to be useful.
If you like hot dogs, there does exist a plant-based version of it; for hamburgers, you can use slices of fried aubergine; for stews and boeuf bourguignon, Portobello mushrooms do a great job; for spaghetti sauce, you can use granulated soya or Mock Meat... anything and everything eaten by meaters - can be veganized.

 

[Ahimsa24/7]

Not surprising at all! If you think about where that bacon comes from, no wonder you lose your desire to eat it. A slice of a dead pig's stomach, no thanks.

I wonder if it's appropriate to quote the vegan version of the legendary song "Paranoid"? Feels very actual to your post. Original by Ozzy Osbourne, veganized by Vegan Sidekick. Iommi riffs and solos forever!

"Finished with my bacon cos my conscience told me it's not right
People think I'm insane because I'm not killing all the time

All day long I explain things but they still try to justify
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to change their minds

Can you help me
Understand their brains?

I need someone to show me how killing billions can be fine,
I can't see how killing can bring happiness - I must be blind

Bacon joke and I will sigh and you will laugh as animals die
Empathy you cannot feel, your 'love' to me feels so unreal

Even if you hear these words, you'll still have corpses on your plate
I tell you to respect life - I wish you would, but it's too late"​

Thanks, those lyrics are awesome!

I have co-opted a number of songs that really have nothing to do with being vegan and just see them through a different lens to apply them to my vegan experience.

"Property of Jesus" by Bob Dylan

"Go ahead and talk about him, because he makes you doubt.
Because he has denied himself, the things that you can't live without.
Laugh at him behind his back, just like the others do,
Remind him of what he used to be, when he comes passing through."

"Hot Dogs and Hamburgers" by John Mellencamp

"Now everyone has got the choice, between hot dogs and hamburgers.
Every one of us has got to choose between right and wrong,
and giving up, or holding on.

When the sun comes up, we go our different ways."

"The Fool on the Hill" by The Beatles (Lennon/McCartney)

"Day after day
Alone on a hill
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him
They can see that he's just a fool
And he never gives an answer
But the fool on the hill sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head see the world spinning 'round

He never listens to them
He knows that they're the fools
They don't like him."

 

[deadknight]

Thanks, those lyrics are awesome!

I have co-opted a number of songs that really have nothing to do with being vegan and just see them through a different lens to apply them to my vegan experience.

"Property of Jesus" by Bob Dylan

"Go ahead and talk about him, because he makes you doubt.
Because he has denied himself, the things that you can't live without.
Laugh at him behind his back, just like the others do,
Remind him of what he used to be, when he comes passing through."

"Hot Dogs and Hamburgers" by John Mellencamp

"Now everyone has got the choice, between hot dogs and hamburgers.
Every one of us has got to choose between right and wrong,
and giving up, or holding on.

When the sun comes up, we go our different ways."

"The Fool on the Hill" by The Beatles (Lennon/McCartney)

"Day after day
Alone on a hill
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him
They can see that he's just a fool
And he never gives an answer
But the fool on the hill sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head see the world spinning 'round

He never listens to them
He knows that they're the fools
They don't like him."

Glad you like it!

That's a fabulous collection of lyrics that could be about veganism. Thank you for putting them into perspective!
I especially like The Fool On The Hill - knew the song from my childhood, my Pa would listen to The Beatles all the time so I know each and every Beatles song that has ever been published. This one is no exception - but now as I think of the message, it could be about how a vegan feels every day. (BTW, Paul has been a vegetarian for decades AFAIK. And he opposes animal testing too, did a boycott on Gillette products if I remember well.)

 

[Ahimsa24/7]

Glad you like it!

That's a fabulous collection of lyrics that could be about veganism. Thank you for putting them into perspective!
I especially like The Fool On The Hill - knew the song from my childhood, my Pa would listen to The Beatles all the time so I know each and every Beatles song that has ever been published. This one is no exception - but now as I think of the message, it could be about how a vegan feels every day. (BTW, Paul has been a vegetarian for decades AFAIK. And he opposes animal testing too, did a boycott on Gillette products if I remember well.)

Yes, Paul is a vegetarian and often been a PETA spokesperson. Check out “Looking For Changes” and “Long Leather Coat” for animal rights songs of his. Linda McCartney’s “Cow” is clunky and awkward but it still brings a tear to me eye.

 

[wildr0se2]

Thank you everyone for your advice!!

Not surprising at all! If you think about where that bacon comes from, no wonder you lose your desire to eat it. A slice of a dead pig's stomach, no thanks.

I wonder if it's appropriate to quote the vegan version of the legendary song "Paranoid"? Feels very actual to your post. Original by Ozzy Osbourne, veganized by Vegan Sidekick. Iommi riffs and solos forever!

"Finished with my bacon cos my conscience told me it's not right
People think I'm insane because I'm not killing all the time

All day long I explain things but they still try to justify
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to change their minds

Can you help me
Understand their brains?

I need someone to show me how killing billions can be fine,
I can't see how killing can bring happiness - I must be blind

Bacon joke and I will sigh and you will laugh as animals die
Empathy you cannot feel, your 'love' to me feels so unreal

Even if you hear these words, you'll still have corpses on your plate
I tell you to respect life - I wish you would, but it's too late"​

I dislike Ozzy Osbourne because of his animal stunts, but this puts things into perspective when veganized. Link to the song?

 

[wildr0se2]

I remember having the same cravings when I went vegetarian first (a long way to veganism, yes). It's completely natural to be still used to your old habits, especially if your whole environment eats animal products.
Very good that your brain reminds you of your vegan principles. Others' brains tend to trick them into finding excuses for "having to give up" veganism, so I believe your brain to be a very sensible one.

Certainly, I can not be sure if this works for you, but exploring the veganized versions of my old favourites has proven to be useful.
If you like hot dogs, there does exist a plant-based version of it; for hamburgers, you can use slices of fried aubergine; for stews and boeuf bourguignon, Portobello mushrooms do a great job; for spaghetti sauce, you can use granulated soya or Mock Meat... anything and everything eaten by meaters - can be veganized.

Yeah, I used to say that I'd go vegetarian if it weren't for bacon and chicken tenders. Now, I haven't touched either in a few months!

Good to know about the aubergine! I also like Gardein's chicken nuggets and have been craving those lately.

And yeah, it feels like mind over matter sometimes when exposed to foods I used to eat.

 

[wildr0se2]

My biggest "give up" when I became vegetarian was bacon. Whenever I encountered bacon after that, I just recalled the footage of a pig hanging upside down by one hoof, screaming in agony, and having her throat slit so she bled to death while still trying to get free. No more desire to eat bacon.

I feel similar. Can't look at meat the same now.

 

[deadknight]

Thank you everyone for your advice!!

I dislike Ozzy Osbourne because of his animal stunts, but this puts things into perspective when veganized. Link to the song?

He has done and said a few unacceptable things, that's true. But lately, he stood up against trophy hunting, so he obviously has a heart.

The original song is acually one of the essential classics of rock music, thus can be found at many sites - both on YT and Spotify - but this veganized version has never been played, the idea came from a vegan activist - vegansidekick.com - a few years ago.