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[exquisiteviolet]

hi guys!

i have been a vegetarian for around 3 years now, and have tried to make the transition to becoming vegan a couple of times (but failed), and now i am trying again, but i feel more determined this time and i really want to be able to do it. plus i just turned 21 last month, becoming vegan will mark another turning point in my life. i will

Comments

[killtheelite]

How long will you be eating the meals with your boyfriend's family? If you really want to go the complete vegan route, you are going to have to make your own meals. I would recommend cooking large batches of food and then just having to heat them up when everyone else eats.
I was picky when I became a vegan, and my tastes have changed SO much. I didnt hate all rice but I couldn't STAND white rice. Now I eat the heck out of it and my diet consists of a little more asian cuisine.

Is the strongest part of your reasons for wanting to go vegan to lessen the suffering of animals? If that is the case then just being aware of what you eat is a big deal. I guess it can be easier just to cut everything out at once. That's what I did, one day I just said I will not eat anymore eggs or dairy. For your situation though, you might want to wait to be in a better situation to go completely vegan. Others might disagree with me on this, but I think right now it might be easier for you to not completely turn down a food that may or not have been cooked in chicken broth. I'm just saying this though if the food would go to waste.
I know it's tough to turn down food someone has made and not seem rude. That just comes with the territory of being vegan. Taking it on a case by case basis is the way to go. :)

[exquisiteviolet]

thanks for your reply. that was very helpful. i have till i start college in about 3 weeks - so i can start cooking for myself (i love cooking, i am embarking on a vegan cheesecake this week). however, i am sure i will be eating with them again from time to time.

my reasons are to lessen the suffering of animals as well as to be less of a negative impact to the environment (being more green).

i like brown rice, or even fried white rice, but definitely not white rice - haven't liked it since i was born, my mum had to force feed me haha.

also, i forgot to post this in my entry, but when you eat out, are you very inquisitive about how the food is prepared etc? i definitely don't want my food to have bits of meat remnants on it, but i also feel like i would be making a scene..

[killtheelite]

I definitely ask a lot of questions in restaurants. You should expect to get food you like at a restaurant, and the servers and cooks should want you to enjoy your meal! For restaurant chains you can usually do a google search and find info on what's vegan and what's not. I sometimes get kind of embarassed when I ask questions at restaurants because a lot of people don't know what a vegan is, and they make all these silly suggestions for you. It's a lot nicer when I go out with my other vegan friends, because we can all relate, haha.
I sometimes just go to a restaurant and ask the server if they can make any suggestions for me as I am a "vegetarian and also don't eat and eggs or dairy." They might go talk to the chef and they will make a suggestion.
It can be tough eating out though, especially if you are picky. I typically just get some fries if I go to a restaurant with family. If it is just me and the boyfriend though, we will get something like thai food or go to an all veggie restaurant. Also, places like Tijuana Flats and Moe's are very vegan friendly, thats where my dad takes me so we can both get a meal we really enjoy. :)

good luck!

[catnip13]

When you eat out, call ahead. Use the Internet to check out menus, and plan what you are going to order. That way you don't wind up feeling put on the spot in front of others.

[dandelionboy]

the fact that you like cooking is going to make veganism so much more amazing, fun, and interesting. most people who end up failing and/or giving up actually don't cook themselves, so it makes being vegan a billion times harder.

definitely grab a couple or few vegan cook books to get you started.