How To Vegan

Charlotte Deverill
Feb 14, 2019
8 min read

If you're thinking of going vegan - R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Find out what it means to me! Whilst you may expect this post to be full of vegan propaganda, I urge you not to continue reading unless you are already considering making the change and just want to know a little about my experience. You will not find reasons below about why I think, you too, should become vegan.

There is a lot of controversy online and in the media about becoming a vegan. In my opinion, the term "vegan" is loosely thrown around and behind the word is much more than just what food you eat.

Being vegan is a lifestyle. Much like a type of religion; it's similar characteristics include following a set of values and principles that you believe are important and you believe make the world a better place.

For me recycling properly, researching clothes you are buying and looking into companies that sell your toiletries and beauty products. It's not buying a product from a particular place because you've researched it's parent company - who are far from vegan. It's about taking care of the human species as well as the animal population, the environment and most importantly, it's not remaining ignorant about the fact you may be harming something by using/buying a product just because everybody else does.

Are you truly vegan if you only eat a plant-based diet purely for health and not for ethical reasons, whilst still shopping for leather shoes and visiting Sea World on your holidays? Probably not. It's great you eat a plant-based diet, and I'm sure not kicking anybody for it that's for sure, but veganism, for me, is not just about giving up meat and other animal produce. It is about ensuring you do your bit for the planet, by whatever means. On the other hand, if as a non-vegan, for you doing your bit means having "no meat Monday's", riding your bike to work instead of driving or not buying products that have been tested on animals then good for you! Every effort counts and making the effort to start the movement in your own life may seem insignificant... but what if everyone did? The difference would be massive!

Yes, I used to eat meat and other animal products. Yes, I use paper. Yes, I've worn clothes that were probably produced in a poor sweatshop somewhere. Yes, I've used products that may have hidden non-vegan ingredients. Yes I've eaten foods as a vegan that, whilst technically 'vegan', have been proven to be just as bad for the planet as well as for my health. I've actually even been to Sea World! Although all of these things seem like they happened a life-time ago I'm sure there are things I do today that a level 1000 vegan would frown upon and I accept that, but I truly do my best.

The point is, to refrain from it once you learn about the true nature of that thing you use/consume. Learning is all part and parcel of becoming vegan and it's taking each step as it comes.

Whilst there is a lot of devastation on this planet we call home, there are many ways in which we can help to prevent this. After all, we are living the revolution right now. People are becoming more aware about what they eat, what they throw away, what they wear and what they use in terms of cosmetics - and I don't just mean animal testing. It may not have been tested on animals, but unless it carries the 'vegan' label, who's to say if it is or not?

Now, I am far from perfect when it comes to my eco-footprint, there are many things I'd like to change still and every day I'm getting there. For me it began by not eating animal products and I still called myself a vegan even though I made half the effort then than I do today. My message here is to convey the journey I've taken so far in the hopes of explaining, for some people it may not be as easy as it is for others- but it sure is worth it!

Make A Steady Transition

If you're thinking veganism might be the right move for you, that's really really great! If you're unsure, I wouldn't suggest taking the leap from, I'd assume, meat-eater straight into veganism. I went from vegetarian to vegan by elimination after actually failing the first time when I went completely cold turkey. It wasn't an easy ride. Even when I finally got there it was, at times lethargic, nauseous and frustrating to get the right balance of supplements, nutrients, exercise and sleep to give me a steady flow of energy throughout the day. That's just me, it's not the case for everyone.

Some people may disagree with me here, but I'd say making a steady transition will not only give your body enough time to adjust but also your mind. If anything - your brain should be vegan before your body, if that means reading one article or watching one documentary, so be it. If it means reading 100 articles and watching 100 documentaries, then that's what it is. In my opinion, gradually eliminating whilst educating myself was definitely the best way for me. Also this way, even though I "really loved cheese", once I started making the transition, it really didn't taste so great after learning where it came from and what was in it, to the point where I no longer got any joy from eating it. Things actually started eliminating themselves in the end and it didn't end up taking that long.

Remember that giving up anything at all is going to have an affect in your body, just be sure it'll balance itself out in the end. Some people do it overnight, some take a while. It's important to have the end goal in mind however you choose. There are many approaches you can take; to cut out meat one day a week, then two, then three and moving onto other products is one way. Swapping out products one at a time (such as cow's milk for a dairy alternative) is another way. Regardless of what 'level vegan' you are, I think it's the ethical intentions behind the label that count the most and have the most impact.

Have A Strong 'Why'

What I mean here is, that you should be sure this is right for you, that you're not doing it to fit in with a certain crowd, to go along with a trend or a cause you don't fully understand or believe in, then really understand your reasoning behind your decision. Know about the fact and figures and hold strong your beliefs. If you have any doubts, I suggest doing some real, serious research. A strong understanding of 'why' you're vegan will truly keep you a vegan. What made you become a vegan? Animals are there for our consumption don't you think? Why are you vegan? Humans are designed to eat meat, why don't you? Where do you get your protein? (People become very concerned about your protein intake once you go vegan!) Answering these questions will come in very handy when twinned with the point below...

Expect To Feel Ridiculed

Veganism is still a fairly new concept , it's only been recognised since the 40's-50's and to proudly be vegan in a predominantly meat-eating world takes bravery. People have a tendency to ridicule those who do things differently to them. I like to think of it as a type of school-yard bullying. It doesn't seem bad to anyone around except the person at the centre of the controversy, who usually hasn't done anything wrong than be different.

I was a meat-eater a few years ago and possessed my fair share of ignorance when it came to trying to understand the reason people were vegan or vegetarian. I genuinely believed I could not live without meat (until I looked further into it) and was conditioned to accept this as a staple part of my life. I wasn't like them so I couldn't possibly get it. I think this has probably been true for many of us? This is all you need to remember about those you feel judged by. You can't fully know until you know. This doesn't just go for veganism, but as I said before, if you have a strong enough 'why' in regards to anything, it's enough to bring arguments about your life choices to a halt.

Notice the title here is not "Expect to BE ridiculed". This section isn't to point out that meat-eaters are wrong and vegans are right, it's simply to outline what I experienced when taking the plunge. It was exhausting at times because I just felt like I was arguing my new found "righteousness" which led to arguments and upset. I'm now so used to these questions that my responses are second nature. In turn, knowing my 'why' inside and out tends to make the whole interaction more peaceful, even informative rather than hostile and negative. I can calmly explain to another person why I am vegan I am without becoming defensive. I now realise for the most part, people are genuinely just interested in the 'why'. It actually now makes for quite good conversation with the open-minded people, vegan or non-vegan.

Remind Yourself Of Your 'Why'

Like with anything, it's very easy to slip back into old habits. It's important on your journey to remind yourself why you do the things you do as it's likely some days you'll be much stronger than others. You might even miss the taste of some of the foods you used to eat and that's okay. So long as you're easily able to remember the cause for your decision in the first place. As I mentioned before, having a strong 'why' in the first instance is crucial to this point. It means you can refer back to it if you feel yourself slipping. I found a great reminder of my 'why' was to join a bunch of vegan pages on social media. It was really helpful to me to surround myself in my online world with my own reasoning. It doesn't mean you need to be an advocate, it just means you're less likely to weaken your desire to be vegan or forget the reasons behind your initial decision.

Be Prepared For Failure (Intentional Or Not)

In my experience, a large part of making the transition was about failing. When you first become vegan, you will probably fail and maybe not even realise it. Especially in the early days. You will do your best to remain within the boundaries of veganism and somehow you realise the meal you just ate in a street café labelled 'vegan' was cooked using chicken broth...But hopefully that's just me! Some ingredients in products are also labelled differently to what they really are so watch out for this! (For example palm oil - technically not the produce of an animal, however the deforestation that's caused by producing it amounts to a range of destructions in the rain forest, destroying the habitats of living creatures - is commonly labelled on products as 'vegetable oil') Though for the most part, it's about learning to ask the right questions if you're unsure, ask someone or ask google! This may not happen to you but if it does it's extremely important not to let it get you down.

Learn From Your Mistakes

This point should go without saying, once you're prepared to fail you should learn from your mistakes. In any case in life. Just know that you're doing your best and the more you educate yourself on the facts and learn, the easier it will become.

This is in reference to not just accidentally eating or using something non-vegan, but also in your approach to veganism. As I mentioned before, I used to be very defensive when talking about my 'why's and I needn't have been. I've also bought things I'd thought were vegan and later turned out to have some bizarre animal ingredient in I'd never heard of before. Embarrassingly, I've also not bought something because it has locust bean gum in it and later realised, in front of a large group of people and friends, that locust bean gum is from a plant not a locust. Dummy!

But, Hey! Life goes on.... The point is not to be perfect, it's about the way in which we can preserve our home, the planet we live on.