I am fairly new to veganism, almost 3 years now, but it took me awhile for the transition. Some can do this immediately, but I am a little older than most of you, so I had many years of omnivorous eating to overcome.
I was a pescetarian for most of my adult life, and then one day after reading Kathy Freston’s ‘Quantum Wellness’, I decided to give veganism a try. My husband would still have his meat & potato dinners, but I would be fixing my own meals from now on. I started with her 21-day cleanse and I only made it to 14 the first time. But from that point on, I continued to veganize myself. There were many bumps in the road... dinners out, dinners at friends’ houses, and items bought that I wasn’t aware had animal products in them, but I gradually changed my ways and eliminated animal products. Most big changes don’t happen the first time, I think it took me almost a year before I could officially say I was a vegan. Now I love it and don’t miss any of the foods I used to crave in the carnivore category. Be a scientist. Just try the new habit to see what it will be like, and to see how you feel. Start small, make little changes at first, one change at a time. There are tons of meat substitutes that are great for transitions. And many many vegan cookbooks out for you to use. After awhile you won’t even know the difference, or you may even like the new taste better than the old. It took me quite a few months to overcome my need for cheese, but now I think I like the texture and taste of the ‘cheeze’ better. You know the old saying ‘you have to acquire a taste for it’, well that’s what this is about, acquiring new taste buds and healthy ones at that. Of course, vegetables and fruits are always something we can partake in without guilt, and so many creative ways to prepare them. I used to consider them a side dish, but now I try to make it the main part of the meal: 1/2 of my plate goes to fruits and veggies, 1/4 to whole-grains, and 1/4 to legumes. And this fills me up considerably so I am not craving more food. Just don’t strive for perfection and you will do fine. Focus on the habits that are important and minimize those that aren’t. If you don’t succeed one day, just know tomorrow it will be better.
Since my vegan adventure began, my husband has joined my plant-based diet and has lowered his blood sugar, lowered his cholesterol and lost weight. My two daughters have also been trying to incorporate some vegan eating into their own lives, albeit more difficult with families. So hang in there ‘Veganeophytes’. It gets easier as time passes, honest!
