“Being vegan is my truth, and when you live your truth, words almost minimize the magic behind it. ”

I was never an aspiring vegan and really, I didn’t even know what the word vegan meant for most of my life. I was familiar with what a vegetarian diet was, but veganism felt like a totally different ball game.

When I learned that being vegan referred to a diet of no animal products at all, I couldn’t help but see everything vegans were living without; cheese pizza, chicken, ice cream, even most gummy bears! There’s an intimidatingly long list of can’t-haves.

Veganism felt a bit extreme, rooted in ethics that were over my head and downright restrictive. And restriction isn’t my thing. I am more of a go with the flow, live in the moment, follow your intuition type of person. I couldn’t help but think, what kind of discipline do vegans have? How many rules do vegans need to follow? Did vegans even enjoy life? It felt anything but normal to me and I saw this way of living unattainable. I grew up loving fast food, chicken anything and unhealthy classics. I didn’t live near any vegan restaurants or businesses, so my exposure was pretty much non-existent. Bottom line- going vegan just seemed way too hard.

Becoming Vegan Curious

When I started to take a closer look at my life, I realized that maybe there were small signs of a vegan in the making. After watching the movie Babe when I was 10 years old, I began to think more deeply about what I was eating. I made the connection that it could be a sweet pig on my plate and I became the fourth grader who wouldn’t eat ham sandwiches or pork chops.

By the time I was 18, I had stopped eating all meat except for chicken and turkey. I wasn’t ready or even interested in giving meat up completely so I declared that I would eat only “white meat”.

Then on my 21st birthday, I was looking over the menu at a restaurant and unexpectedly blurted out “I can’t eat animals today”. All of the dishes that used to genuinely excite me, turned me off completely. From that day forward I made the conscious decision that my days of eating meat were over. I labeled myself a vegetarian and I never had meat again.

Going Vegetarian to Vegan

I found that being a vegetarian was easy and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t need to change too much, even eating out at restaurants was easy and there was only one clear rule I had to follow: don’t eat meat.

A couple of years later, one day changed everything. I woke up and felt like visiting the book store. While browsing the aisles I came across the book “Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World” by Bob and Jenna Torress. As I sat down and read the book, it resonated with me on every level. I felt this intense inner knowledge that if I was being honest with myself, I was a vegan at heart. There was no turning back now.

I figured that since I was already a vegetarian successfully for awhile, I didn’t need to slowly transition. I was going all in and that was that. It’s been about 9 years now and choosing to go vegan has been one of the best decisions of my life.

Let’s be honest, being vegan isn’t for everyone. But being vegan feels right for me. Every single day I connect to my decision of living a heart-based life which is beneficial to myself, animals and the planet I live on. Being vegan is my truth, and when you live your truth, words almost minimize the magic behind it.

If you want to become vegan and stick with it long-term or if you’re struggling to stay vegan, here are some helpful suggestions to doing it successfully and happily.

Learn What’s Vegan And What’s Not

If you’ve never researched what’s not vegan, you may find yourself experiencing a little bit of shock in the beginning. Many products that you assume are vegan, actually aren’t, you’ll have to find replacements. I have found that replacements are usually better, it’s just a matter of discovering them. And it turns out milk is an ingredient in more things than most people realize. Once you know as much as possible about what you can and can’t eat, making vegan food choices becomes second nature.

Be Prepared To Let Go Of Long Time Favorites

When I started thinking of my diet, there were probably 20+ things that I could never have again. I figured that change would be difficult, but it’s just the name of the game. Yes, it was a little tricky at first, but sooner then I imagined, I wasn’t phased at all. Luckily there are more and more vegan options coming out all the time. Beyond the proliferation of vegan foods and products, you’ll find that you can replicate some vegan version of any food you really miss. As long as you continually seek out new ideas, you’ll remain happy to stick with eating vegan.

Don’t Go Entirely Vegan Until You Feel Ready

I knew I was ready to go vegan when I did, because I couldn’t bring myself to order one last pizza at my favorite place. If you have an event coming up or you’re dying to have a certain meal or you just don’t feel ready to “take the leap”, don’t do it. Wait until you know that you are completely ready and until then consider being vegan-ish. This approach can feel more comfortable and help lay the groundwork that enables you to someday become fully vegan.

Know That Your Cravings Will Shift

Cravings do change! Don’t worry, you won’t yearn for a cheeseburger or chicken parm forever. A lot of people can’t imagine living without cheese but you’ll see that once you stop eating it, intense cravings will eventually disappear. And if you miss meat, there are many substitutes that really do come very close to the real thing.

Don’t Be Shy About Your Decision

Sharing that you’re now vegan isn’t something to be embarrassed or shy about it. You never know who you’ll inspire to be healthier or what will come of letting someone know about it. At first you may experience some negative opinions or eye rolls but I found over time that all stopped. When you make the decision to go vegan, it’ll be much easier if you’re fully confident about it.

Shop Online

Sometimes local stores don’t carry a lot of vegan options but online stores do. Depending on where you live, shopping online may be your saving grace.

Familiarize Yourself With Vegan Recipes

The amount of creative and high-quality vegan recipes online never ceases to amaze me. There is something for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced cook, you’ll easily find many recipes that you can make.

Learn The Restaurants In Your Area

The toughest obstacle when you go vegan may be regarding where to go out to eat. Vegan restaurants are a gold mine but if you don’t live close to any, you could find going out to eat a serious struggle. Even though many restaurants have come a long way and offer options, not all of them do. Make sure to read menus online before you go and check around to see which places in your area offer vegan food.

Get Excited About The Journey

Change is almost always a good thing. If you’ve made the decision to go vegan, be excited about it! Shift any negative thoughts to genuine excitement for what’s to come. A vegan diet can affect more than just the way you feel physically, it’s emotionally and spiritually fulfilling as well. Be patient with the process and remain eager for the journey ahead.

If you’re thinking about going vegan or looking for the motivation to stay vegan, hopefully these ideas are exactly the inspiration you need!