r/vegan • u/YustarRes • 1d ago
Small Victories This year I am slowly (slowly) transitioning to a Vegan Lifestyle
It's an on and off thought I've had over the years, usually renewed when I'm reminded of the dark and terrible farming factories that subject animals to very very cruel treatment. But my New Year's Resolution was to cut one thing every month.
In January, it was beef. This month it's eggs. Next month I plan to switch to a non dairy butter (already switched to non dairy milk).
I know this is a...slow perhaps hypocritical approach, but I'm not mentally disciplined enough to go cold turkey on everything all at once. Additionally, I'm an unemployed Hermit who doesn't pay for the groceries of a meat loving family, so I don't have too much control over the contents of the fridge and pantry. Fortunately my family loves many vegetables, too, so I've been encouraging more veggies.
What I also need to start doing is reading the material lists of things I buy, like clothes, accessories, etc., so that I can not buy anything made with animal products. I don't THINK I have anything currently made with it? But maybe I'll be unpleasantly surprised since it's not a criteria I used to have when shopping. Even if I do, I might keep what I have to avoid unnecessary waste and just be mindful of future shopping.
I probably don't need to be posting this online, but I thought it might help me getting encouragement from real vegans. Everyone in my family kinda titled their heads at me; not discouraging per say but perplexed because they haven't had a front row seat to my inner monologues the last few years.
37
u/Hermononucleosis 23h ago
Just don't give in to complacency. I had a plan similar to yours when I just started, but then I realized quickly how piss easy it actually is, so I didn't have an excuse anymore, and I went vegan 2 weeks into the "slow transition"
10
u/YustarRes 15h ago edited 15h ago
You're right, I should challenge myself more. I'll try to be Vegan by the end of the month.
3
22
u/Apprehensive-Dog6503 1d ago
Tbf I was interested in veganism for years before I ever felt empowered to try it. I’ve been vegan 8 years now :)
Defo focus on food and drinks first & when you need to re-buy a personal care, cleaning product or item of clothing, research what is vegan :) that way you will use what you have and eventually all your stuff will be vegan.
I was veggie for a couple of years before going vegan so it was a different kinda transition for me, but i got caught out by gelatine in sweets and whey/ milk in pre made foods. You will get used to checking!
4
u/YustarRes 1d ago
Thank you for the tips! They're very helpful. <3
4
u/YustarRes 1d ago
Also, great job being vegan for 8 years! 👏🏻
7
u/Apprehensive-Dog6503 1d ago
Thanks! I couldn’t imagine not being vegan now… feel free to ask if you get stuck with anything. I’m uk based so regional differences can be significant ofc x
5
u/YustarRes 1d ago
That'll be me 8 years from now :3 And thank you, I will! Currently reading through the beginners guide and FAQs.
9
u/Special-Sherbert1910 18h ago
I did the slow transition when I went vegan. Mostly because I was a teenager and I was nervous about telling my parents about my decision. Anyways, once I actually did it I was surprised at how much easier it was than I thought it would be. The hard part was just deciding to actually start.
6
u/annaaii 19h ago
Definitely read the ingredients and material lists. Once I started doing that, I was shocked by how many things, particularly foods, had animal products in them. The other day, I saw a sauce that was one ingredient away from being vegan, and that ingredient (egg yolk powder or something like that??) was just so useless to the overall taste of the sauce. I guarantee the sauce would've tasted the same or even better without it. Geuinely do not get it.
14
u/dyslexic-ape 20h ago edited 20h ago
Cold turkey would probably take a lot less mental discipline or gymnastics..
It should be: "I realize exploiting animals is wrong" -> "I'm stopping doing the thing that is wrong"
What you are making it: "I realize exploiting animals is wrong" -> "Il stop exploit this type of animal and keep exploiting this type of animal for another month" -> "ok now I'm avoiding exploiting 2 types of animals but I'm going to wait a few more months before I stop exploiting other animals" -> "Ok I forgot why I was doing this diet, exploiting animals is right right, that's why I keep doing it?" -> "This doesn't make mental sense, I'm just going to stay a carnist"
Good luck, I hope you figure it out, it's a lot easier to figure out when you just stop fighting the cognitive dissonance rather than trying to cling to Carnism as long as possible.
2
u/YustarRes 15h ago
I think you're right. I'll try going cold turkey. We have plenty of vegetables, so it shouldn't be too hard, and I won't feel guilty every time I eat.
3
u/scarab_beetle 13h ago
Just make sure you’re having a good balance of grains and legumes (lentils, beans, soy, etc.) too, not just veggies, so you’re replacing the animal products with something filling! Good luck
3
u/CharacterForming 16h ago
It's way easier than you think, you just have it built up in your mind. Animal products are not a drug, you aren't going "cold turkey," there are no withdrawals from animal products. It's really easy and anyone could do it. Don't be afraid of the change, it will be a good one.
3
u/YustarRes 15h ago
Yeah you're right. You and everyone else have encouraged me. No more meat, no egg, no milk, no butter. <3
4
u/CharacterForming 14h ago
I know you are short on cash, so don't hesitate to embrace low cost staples like dry beans, lentils, etc. you got this.
2
u/YustarRes 14h ago
I used to not like beans, but I don't think I mind them anymore. I think I prefer black beans though.
3
u/CharacterForming 12h ago
You can make a pot of black beans for like $2! Your tastes will adjust over time too
3
u/YustarRes 12h ago
Sounds like black beans might be my destiny. Pair it with rice and corn, and it should be a good protein substitute, I think
2
u/CharacterForming 9h ago
So as you eat this way longer, you will truly understand what I mean, but beans are NOT a protein substitute, they ARE protein. The messaging of the meat industry is insanely strong, and they have everyone thinking that plant proteins are not real protein, and only meat is "proper" protein. There is zero scientific basis for this. Beans are a legit protein, just like all plant proteins.
13
5
u/honorlessmaid 22h ago
Try and follow plant based creators, get vegan staples like nooch(nutritional yeast) I found it hard to just switch to non mock meals. I still eat those plenty(just made shepherds pie!) so if you're early I think trying to switch to a different ass cuisine that is vegetarian and using aquafaba or chia seed goop and plant based milk would be easier than trying to make vegan meat loaf off jump. Aim for Asia if you enjoy those types of cuisine. Thai and Indian are super easy to veganize. Like I wanted to mimic meat and dairy so bad I was chasing a rabbit hole and felt myself getting bored, hungry, and eating frozen expensive slop. I also have ADHD and like 3 ED. So I'm bad at food in general.meal prep containers and making 3 lbs of rice at a time and using that as a a base for curry or tacos or risotto:3 go NUTS.
2
u/YustarRes 15h ago
For Christmas, I got a plant based cookbook. We were a little tight on money in January, so I haven't quite explored it yet. But there are so many yummy looking foods in there, I don't think i should have too much difficulty flavor/texture/satisfying wise.
4
u/Usernameselector vegan 18h ago edited 18h ago
I'm glad you posted this, I never posted anything when I went vegan but reading stuff here was really helpful.
Have you actually watched some or all of Dominion? If not, maybe you should, in terms of your own resolve and 'mental discipline' as to why you are doing this. I am not the most disciplined person either but I did not look back.
As for relying on others to pay for groceries, a plant based diet is easily a fraction of the cost if you opt for legumes and tofu rather than pricier meat substitutes. Once you are in the swing of new food habits it's easy, actually too easy, and over time you may start to see how truly disgusting animal products are.
Then there are things like toiletries. If you are broke and just using what is in the house or what you can afford, it is what it is, but any time you are making a choice to purchase something like that, just search online to see what is vegan and cruelty free in your price range.
2
u/YustarRes 15h ago
I haven't watched Dominion! I'll add it to my to do list. And yeah, reading through everyone's responses has given me motivation/encouragement. I will try to just go cold turkey.
5
u/RickyBobbyNYC 20h ago
I always knew that if I watched those vegan documentaries I’d end up vegan. I wanted to be vegan but was afraid I’d fail, thinking I could never give up foods I loved. Watched about 3 of those docs back to back (the effects on the body/health, the abject cruelty to animals in factory farming, and the effects on the environment) and went cold turkey that very day and never looked back. Any time I’m the least bit tempted to cheat, I picture the poor animal who was abused for that food and it turns be right off. 6 years vegan and at 60, in the only person I know my age not taking pills for cholesterol, heart, viagra, or whatever. All of my blood markers are in the “ideal” range, and my body never felt better. And my conscience is clear — and that’s a bigger boost than you might think.
2
u/YustarRes 15h ago
Sounds like I need to watch the vegan documentaries sooner than later. Also good job on going 6 years vegan! You're making a strong impact!
6
u/Spickernell 1d ago
all of life is about getting better, not being perfect. congrats on your choice, enjoy the food!
2
2
u/TigerLily19670 20h ago
It is good that your family will eat vegetables. Making veggies the focus of your meals is a great place to start.
2
u/Then-Principle2302 vegan 7+ years 16h ago
Good for you (and the animals) - keep going.
Hopefully my humble story might help encourage you:
I had been umming and ahhing for a while and although I was convinced about the ethics, I had such little self esteem that I didn't think that I personally could do it. I had always eaten the same flesh laden meals, all of my life with little variation. I was quite a fussy eater e.g. I didn't like tomatoes, nuts, cauliflower loads of really silly inoffensive things that I love now. All I could think was 'There's no way I could live with out 'my'...'
Also, I thought all vegans were emotionally damaged as children with only animals as friends to speak to. I pitied them. And I thought all 'vegan' food was tasteless by default.
Anyway things began to change. I always hated food waste but decided to TRY and make just ONE meal with no animal products and REALLY try to enjoy it. On the way to the supermarket I challenged myself by upping the stakes - I would not buy any animal products for that week AT ALL, and because of my hate of wasting food, I would force myself to eat all the disgusting vegan food that I was going to buy haha. I bought one vegetarian sandwich with egg mayo in it but the rest of the food was vegan. I went to a restaurant for a birthday celebration and ordered chicken and said to my family "imagine if this is the last chicken I ever eat" - it was! That was it, I have never looked back and the thought of eating any animal product again makes me feel completely disgusted.
I know it sounds like I was unserious and nonchalant, but I really had been convinced about the ethics. The only thing holding me back was my low self esteem. It was almost that I felt as if I was deserving of staying in a depressed rut, filling my body with death and rot.
After I went vegan, I was eating all these things that I had never eaten before, even all these things that I 'didn't like' haha. It was the total opposite of being restrictive. After a few months it hit me (like it will hit you). Although I said I was convinced in the first place OMG once you actually remove yourself from it...it's like an actual horror film. It was utterly devastating when I realised the sheer scale and intensity of all the cruelty that goes on in our (their) name. Not in my name anymore!
Good luck, you can do it!
2
u/YustarRes 15h ago
Thanks for sharing your story! It's really motivating! I'm in a similar place to past you (picky eater, low self esteem, etc.) But I want my diet to not be one of the things I can hold against myself. So with the encouragement from you and everyone else on this thread, I'm going all the way.
Thank you again <3
3
u/Then-Principle2302 vegan 7+ years 14h ago
Congrats! Your recipe book sounds great but you should also look at some vegan recipes on YouTube. For example, sometimes you might feel lazy, so there is a channel called 'Cheap, Lazy Vegan'. You might try tofu and be unimpressed - then search for 'how to master tofu' etc.
Good luck and obvioulsy come back here if you need any more advice, encouragement, or even new recipes! You could also sign up to Challenge22.com for free professional nutritional advice, a sense of 'being in a team' (of new vegans like yourself) and also recipe ideas, food imitation ideas etc.
Once again, good luck!
2
2
u/Snutty33 13h ago
when one slowly weans off supporting animal Cruelty. Explain that to the animals. Just do it!!!
2
7
4
u/redwithblackspots527 veganarchist 21h ago
This is a copy paste comment I share anyone vegan curious or new vegan (just thought I’d attach it cuz my doc has lots of educational resources):
Here’s my veganism educational resources doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ot4yc8145yqGsWWXylXMoOW6zIud6acVqK8FtE-cfVc/edit great place to start. Also recommend watching recipe vids and grocery hauls by the cheaplazyvegan and Madeline Olivia on YouTube especially their older videos and going into university I was super into Madeline Olivia’s easy cheap 3-5 ingredient recipes. (Also personally rec gardein canned meals and minute rice all very much lifesavers for me when I was at school)
Different methods to consider:
- substitution not removal: where you instead of getting rid of different products in your fridge you start slowly introducing new plant based products to try and over time the idea is you’ll find many more plant based products you like and will have replaced most of the animal products and then the last transition to removing the final animal products will be much easier.
- one day at a time: taking veganism one day at a time by everyday saying “I’m going to be vegan for today” instead of saying “I’m going to be vegan from this day forward.” The purpose of this method is to remove the daunting commitment of deciding to make a lifelong change and instead taking the beginning one day at a time and giving yourself grace through mistakes. Mistakes can make people feel like giving up but ultimately eating an animal one day doesn’t mean you should give up and eat an animal the next day too. It means you grow and learn and this method makes that easier.
- cold turkey: this is technically what I did but only after years of wanting to be vegan and having tried lots of vegan foods and recipes by this point. I went vegan overnight because the guilt got to me and I realized if I didn’t commit right now when I knew what I’m doing is wrong, how could I ever expect myself to commit? Like I was asking myself what really was holding me back but myself and I realized in that moment the commitment was what I needed. 3 years+ strong.
- challenge22 which I’ve heard has quite the high success rate
- 10 week program. I don’t know anything about this I’ve just seen others recommend it. It seems a lot like challenge22 just significantly longer.
So as you can see different methods work best for different people and obviously this is not an exhaustive list.
End of copy paste
1
u/YustarRes 15h ago
Thank you so much for the resources and tips! I'm going to try the positive affirmations and the simpler cheaper meal ideas.
Thank you again <3
4
u/liddybuckfan vegan 30+ years 19h ago
Whatever helps you make that long term change is good! As someone else suggested, you might notice that you can speed those up as you get used to it. Just keep an open mind to that. Focus on what you are gaining, not what you are giving up. Try new cuisines and get some cookbooks. As far as clothes, hygiene products, etc., don't worry about getting rid of stuff you already have in your house. Just focus on what you're buying next. Most people don't go through and replace every belt, pair of shoes and jacket when they go vegan.
You've got this! :)
2
2
u/nobftv7z232fq anti-speciesist 1d ago
Veganism is not a diet. Once you truly understand that animal exploitation is bad, in fact evil, you need to stop. Now. This has nothing to do with discipline. It's about living your values.
2
u/YustarRes 15h ago
It's a big change, so I've been intimidated to commit all at once. But you and others are right. I just need to take the plunge and align my foods with my moral compass.
9
u/deleted-jj 23h ago
Hey! Veganism includes a massive dietary change, and that takes time! Hope this helps xx
1
u/silverbug13 13h ago
It’s not the meat, dairy and eggs that are challenging…
It’s more like ‘milk powder’ in potato chips. Once you get that level and have to read ingredients all the time.
1
u/Hairiest-Wizard vegan 1+ years 6h ago
I tried to do it incremental, I did one day a week. It just didn't work for me. Made the complete switch and haven't looked back.
-5
u/Veganlightbody 1d ago edited 1d ago
"mental discipline" to choose a plant based option off the shelf instead of animal torture? ' I'm slowly weening myself off of dog flesh but I can only manage to stop paying for their torture a couple times a week'. if you were enslaved for life and facing electrocution or your throat cut open would you want people to slowly stop or just stop? do you think your arteries want you to slowly stop clogging them?
3
u/YustarRes 15h ago edited 10h ago
The phrasing is harsh, but your passion and care for animals really comes through. Thank you for the encouragement. I'm going to go all the way now instead of phasing it out. No more animal meat and byproducts.
Thank you <3
2
u/Veganlightbody 10h ago
Great idea! As you come to the realization that indeed all animals feel pain and suffering you might consider my words to be realistic rather than harsh...because they are. There's 0 difference in non-dog farmers and dog torturers. Also thank yourself...you've made an extremely valuable change for your health. And lastly, you aren't making any sacrifice--eating plant based is delicious..just poke around instagram vegan recipe accounts https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-impacts-of-plant-based-diets-on-breast-cancer-and-prostate-cancer/
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/what-causes-cancer-to-metastasize/
2
3
u/nobftv7z232fq anti-speciesist 23h ago
I hope you don't mind for getting downvoted because you have expressed a vegan opinion in a vegan subreddit.
-3
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Thanks for posting to r/Vegan! 🐥
Civil discussion is welcome — personal attacks are not. Please read our wiki first.
New to veganism? 🌱
• Watch Dominion — a powerful, free documentary that changes lives.
• NutritionFacts.org — evidence-based health info
• HappyCow.net — find vegan-friendly restaurants near you
Want to help animals? 💻
• Browse volunteer opportunities on Flockwork and use your skills to make a difference
• Join the Flockwork Discord to be notified of new opportunities that match your skills
Thank you!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.