Reason People Don't Stay Vegan #3

You can't get enough protein.

Really?

This is a question that I get asked by lots of non-vegans.  "How do you get your protein?"  I think that because of the association between muscle and protein, people assume that it only comes from eating meat.  In another great article by Reed Mangels, titled Protein In The Vegan Diet, we look at how much we need and where to get it.  

Protein comes from many, many vegan sources.  Most plants and vegetables have it.  A balanced diet will cover your needs for the day.  Mangels article has a great table of many vegan staple food items and how much protein they have.  It also has some formulas to figure out how much protein you need on a daily basis.

Here's how I look at it - When I'm planning my day in the morning and I know I'm going out for dinner or have a long day at work, I'll stack my protein in at breakfast.  If I'm going to be doing something that won't allow me to balance my diet for the day I eat a protein shake in the morning along with my multivitamin.  Here's an article on how to make a vegan protein shake. Snack on peanuts during the day instead of chips, or have a glass of soy milk with your lunch.  It isn't brain surgery, it's balance.

With some simple planning and eating a balanced diet, meeting your protein needs for the day is a breeze!  

See also, B12 in the Vegan Diet

Stay Vegan!

Reason People Don't Stay Vegan #3

View blog reactions

Reason People Don't Stay Vegan #2

I couldn't live without [fill in animal product here]!

Yeah you could.

This is a perfect example of mind over matter.  Like we've said in previous posts, staying vegan isn't difficult, it's different.  A major change like this takes a paradigm shift in your head.  

Figure out for yourself the real reason you want to abstain from animal products, and weigh whatever your cravings are against your reason.  I know why I'm vegan and I still get urges for pepperoni pizza.  I stop what I'm doing and ask myself if indulging in meat and cheese means more to me than my veganism.  The answer is always no, so I stay vegan and feel stronger after the craving is passed.

There are great alternatives to most meat and dairy products out there.  It can't be expected that these products are going to perfectly replicate the taste and texture of the real thing.  They do allow you to indulge while staying vegan.  Just keep an open mind while trying these out and you will find great ways to cook with them.

Have a crystal clear understanding of why you are vegan and use that to boost your willpower. If your reason is more important than a pepperoni pizza (or whatever it might be) you'll stay vegan every time!

Reason People Don't Stay Vegan #2

View blog reactions

Reason People Don't Stay Vegan #1

It's too hard!

The first few weeks/months of veganism are a challenge.  Keep in mind that it's not difficult, it's different from what your are familiar with.  As soon as you acclimate yourself to reading labels, asking questions and doing some research it becomes second nature.  

It is easier to go through the drive-thru of your local fast food joint than it is to buy fresh ingredients and cook at home.  Cooking at home is an event!  It provides a great deal of satisfaction when you turn a few raw ingredients into a delicious, healthy meal.  A meal is a reason to invite friends or family over, a time to stop and reflect on the day, and a time to laugh and have fun.

Reading labels may seem like a laborious task at first.  Having to skim through all of those scientific words and try to decipher if they're animal or not can be a pain.  There are two things you may notice after doing this for a while - 1)  You start to eat more "natural" foods.  These foods tend to have less total ingredients in them, saving you reading time on the aisle.  And 2) Your eyes become a radar for animal ingredients.  Instead of deciphering each and every ingredient, your brain will be trained to pick up on the animal ones.  This will, again, save a ton of time.  Practice makes perfect, and if you slip up a few times the Vegan Police won't come knocking on your door.  Knowing what goes into your food is the crux to staying vegan.

If you don't know, ask!  There is a Russian proverb that says, "There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out."  If you don't know what something is made of, or if it is made with shady practices, ASK!  If you are eating at a restaurant and aren't sure about something on the menu, ASK!  If you can't tell if that belt you really want is synthetic or leather, ASK!  Is this beer filtered with bone char, ASK!  Do some research beforehand.  I think you see where this is going.  Remember, the shame lies in not finding out.

This is a basic primer to overcoming one of the challenges to staying vegan.  I could devote an entire book just to this subject.  Just keep in mind that knowledge is power and no one is going to look down on you for a few slip-ups.  It's happened to us too!

Additional resources-

Vegan Eating Out - A great site that lists what vegans can and can't eat in restaurants.

Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet - A great book for beginning vegans.

How To Eat Out As A Vegan - A how-to on what to watch for when eating in restaurants.

Reason People Don't Stay Vegan #1

View blog reactions