I’ve been vegetarian for a few years, and it’s not really that difficult. But going completely vegan seems next to impossible. I’ve tried it a few times – and never managed to follow through (you absolutely cannot eat out – anywhere). I’ve started transitioning a little bit, but it’s going to be a long process. I’ll be happy if I accomplish this sometime within the next 5 years.
Lots and lots of restaurants will do great vegan food. Anything from the far east is a good bet as cuisine is less dairy-dependant. There are also some great guidebooks about that will help you locate vegan places all over the world- in the UK, there’s Vegetarian London for example.
Macrobiotic places will almost always be vegan apart from the odd fish dish- but you can easily spot which ones have fish in ‘em!
I was veggie for ages but what got me to go vegan was realising that there’s actually a direct correlation between me drinking milk and a calf somewhere being imprisoned for life in a veal crate, then ending up on someone’s fork. When I looked at it like that a little personal inconvenience didn’t seem like a big deal. And it turns out I’m 100% happier in my body like this.
Good luck!
I was vegetarian for 4 years before I went vegan, but slowly transitioned to it almost right away. I’ve been vegan since October and, really, it hasn’t been all that hard. If you educate yourself, do some reading, and have a firm reason why you’re doing it, you’ll find it’s not a big deal.
Eating out may be hard in some areas, and there’s always the “visiting family” thing, but if you are willing to cook at home more, these occasional difficulties will work themselves out.
I have a vegan friend… she’s been that way for six years and she’s doing great. She does expect that once she has kids, though, that things will have to change. It’s very expensive, so be warned. Going to camps, people’s homes, etc. meaning bringing all your own food and the food costs more, too.
I’m only vegitarian, but I have SO much respect for vegans, let me tell you. Just being vegitarian, I don’t eat gelatin and I drink less milk/eat less eggs, anyway. It’s healthier to be vegan, too. In fact, my friend couldn’t donate blood because she had too little colesterol and the blood was just pumping so fast!
Don’t you like honey? It’s soooo good
But… I could live without it if I had to. Anyway, honey’s not really high up on my vegan to-do list. Compared to the typical farm animal, bees aren’t really oppressed that much (although I’m sure some hardcore vegans could put up a good argument against that).
So I guess I consider giving up honey more of a technicality than a practical step toward becoming vegan. I’ll have to wait and see what happens.
You can avoid this risk by consuming more oil and protein—I think I read that Robert Pirello, a huge Macrobiotic follower, developed it despite his ultra-healthy lifestyle.
