A request for some help

[korolyeva525]

Hi, my name is Kells and I'm a strict vegetarian with aspirations of going entirely vegan. I'm doing great with the vegetarianism, and have been since November. But I keep getting caught up on a few things that keep me from thinking of myself as a vegan with a clear conscience

Comments

[therainbowqueen]

The fact you're doing something is better than nothing. Perhaps you could look at it as a gradual process. I went vegan from omni last September and while I've not had any major problems, I was still wearing some leather (not that I own much) and I think I have some feather pillows, and surely some of my cosmetic items are tested on animals, but I decided to concentrate on my diet first and foremost, and continue to use up the non-vegan non-dietary products I own, and not buy any more. Obviously leather takes a long time to wear out. Long enough for me to now be at the stage where I do want to give my leather stuff away after all, and slowly but surely all my household products and body products are becoming rapidly animal and environmentally friendly... I see it as a gradual thing. And I think you're far from alone in missing real cheese from what I can tell. I am very surprised I've not yet fallen off the wagon where cheese in concerned...

[korolyeva525]

Thank you for your advice.

[sheisinsatiable]

It took me a while to transition into veganism. I was a lacto-veg for nearly seven years and then veganism just happened... slowly.

Try to phase out the dishes/products that are not vegan over time. You can try some new vegan foods at the same time as phasing out non-vegan food, so you won't feel like you are missing out... but rather trading in for something new. Just remember how long it took you to become accustomed or "addicted" to these products/foods, it can talk a while to move out of your comfort zone. Also, try cooking at home more often. Veganism feels a lot less "restrictive" when your kitchen holds so many possibilities!

[korolyeva525]

Thank you for your help!! I'll try to think of it as more of a process.

I've been experimenting with Thai and Mexican foods, and really enjoying it. I'm still learning how to cook with spelt & stevia... It's a learning process, but I guess sometimes I get frustrated.

[sheisinsatiable]

Just remember to have fun with veganism.
It can be challenging, but just keep in mind how rewarding it is.
Good luck with your vegan culinary adventure!

[jmpovrthemoon23]

I am having this exact same problem as we speak. I really want to go vegan and I decided to do it slowly and in sections. First I gave up/replaced milk and eggs because I did not care much about them to begin with. My big struggle right now is cheese. I love it, and I can't seem to get away from it because it's on everything!! I have yet to find a vegan version of cheese that I really like. Most of them I can stomach, but I don't particularly like them. Also, it's sometimes really hard to eat out and eat vegan and that presents a difficulty because when I am out with friends or family I usually choose to just deal with the fact that I won't be eating vegan that night since I can't find anything meat and dairy free and I hate to make a big deal about it in front of my family because that just prooves (to them anyway) that their theories are right and that being vegan is stupid and too difficult.

Once I get past cheese I plan to move on to the smaller things like the tace ingredients, but I gotta get past this cheese thing first.

[korolyeva525]

Strangely enough the vegetarian part was easy!! I'm a recently converted Orthodox, and we abstain from meat and cheese and dairy and eggs during Lent (one before Christmas - Advent, and one before Easter). So I did this Lenten Diet, felt fantastic, and swore off meat and dairy. Since then, I've been buying animal friendly clothes and hygeine products and such, and it hasn't been a huge struggle towards veganism... except for my pizza and cookie cravings

[cinder_andsmoke]

my family was against me in the beginning... but then i started taking them to vegan restaurants and cooking for them. they now eat all my groceries and go out to eat at my favorite restaurants without inviting me. sometimes your family being against you is a blessing in disguise. ;) haha.

[jmpovrthemoon23]

Yeah, it's tough. I think I am beginning to win them over a little though. They see that I have not dropped down dead from being a vegetarian and so I think they are a little more comfortable with me going vegan although my mom still tries to blame all of my illnessesd on my lack of meat eating. lol. I've gotten some of them to stop eating certain kinds of seafood and to stop buying products that test on animals, so that's progress I suppose? :)

[pinxie]

Like everyone else has said, you're doing something, much more than a lot of people, and you should feel proud of yourself for having such high standards. We all struggle, I'm sure, it's a tough world. What I would suggest, is that if you're feeling the urge to have something eggy/dairyish, shop at places that use organic and free-range products.

Also, Vegan Gourmet is the best fake cheese I've found, one of the few that melts (you just gotta nuke it to liquify it), great for pizza n' stuff. Another are Tofutti slices, but they are really only good for grilled cheez, IMHO. It's out there, you just gotta experiment. When I first started out as vegan, there wasn't half the stuff out there that there is now. It's wonderful how the market's opened up because of the demand.

[korolyeva525]

Thank you. I will look for Vegan Gourmet brand :)

[rockstarbob]

Tofutti mozzarella slices are good and melty also! I can't recommend any other flavor, sadly. They are all not so tasty or melty.

[fractuality]

Ask the tea bar if they could carry vegan cookies, and if not ask if they would mind if you brought your own, since you'd still be a loyal customer as far as beverages go. =) Good luck, and I do agree w/everyone, taking baby steps is perfectly fine and that's the way I have been working at it. It's especially difficult transitioning both to vegetarian and then to vegan when you have to eat college dorm food 7 meals a week... I do my best but I'm still getting there. Baked goods really are hard to resist! Just remember that you can make your own delicious vegan equivalents.

[korolyeva525]

I cannot imagine trying to be vegan on dorm food! Wow - kudos to you.

There's a few vegans that work at this tea bar - all their food is vegetarian, but only about 50% of it is vegan. I'll ask about the cookies - they might be pretty open to the idea. And yah, at 5-10 bubble teas a week, I'm very much a loyal customer :)