Are you interested in trying vegan but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Veganism can be daunting at first, but it’s a lot easier than you think.
“I would go vegan, but…” is a sentence we hear often here at Veganuary. We’re here to make trying vegan simple, delicious and enjoyable!
Although any lifestyle change can feel like a huge challenge at first, we promise that once you get stuck in you’ll wonder why you were so worried.
Here, we offer our response to the most common “I would go vegan, but…” scenarios we hear.
“…it’s too high maintenance”
Being vegan on the go has never been easier. Most of the UK’s leading supermarkets, high street cafés and restaurants offer great vegan options, so it’s unlikely you’ll be stuck with just a fruit pot for lunch.
And if venturing out of your front door is too much like hard work, check out the vegan options on delivery sites and you may be pleasantly surprised!
There’s also an abundance of accidentally vegan foods available and plenty of convenience products which means being vegan is often no more taxing than switching like for like.
Overseas holidays might require some planning ahead depending on where you go, though there are vegan restaurants in just about every city worldwide (check out Happy Cow). But most people say it is easier than they thought!
“…I don’t want to throw my leather shoes away”
Very few people go completely vegan overnight. It’s a journey and you’ll get there in your own time.
But surely it is better to do what you can now than to wait until you can do it all perfectly. (Those who seek perfection could be waiting a long time!)
If it takes a while to use up your make-up, leather attire and cleaning products, that’s absolutely fine. When they run out or wear out, look for the vegan-friendly options that are available.
“…I don’t have the willpower”
It may seem like vegans are making a huge sacrifice by avoiding animal products and that it requires lots of effort to maintain this every day. But after the initial adjustment period, that’s (usually) not the case at all.
Exploiting animals is cruel and unnecessary and there are also many environmental and health benefits of veganism. Find out more about these aspects by watching vegan documentaries or reading books and you’ll feel empowered to make this positive change.
Yes, you might occasionally be tempted by non-vegan foods and you’ll make mistakes – we have all been there – but that’s part of the journey.
Make it your mission to find amazing vegan foods that you absolutely love, whether these are shop-bought items or incredible recipes you make at home.
And once you fall in love with eating this way, knowing all the good it is doing in the world at the same time, there will be no need for willpower as it will feel like the most natural and normal way to live your life.
“…I can’t give up cheese”
The first thing people think about when considering going vegan is the foods they will miss, and cheese is almost always top of that list!
But there are so many vegan cheeses available now in supermarkets, health food shops and from artisan makers online. Some are made from soya or coconut, others from cashew nuts, and they come in a range of flavours, textures and types, from feta-style to cream cheese to Camembert.
Not everyone likes every type of cheese but isn’t that true of dairy cheeses, too? Just give them a go and see which ones work for you.
Check out our no-nonsense guide to quitting cheese.
“…I don’t know where to start!”
Reaching a stage where you’re thinking about veganism is a massive step in itself, so well done! There’s a lot to take in, but there are plenty of resources to help you. Here’s our three-step guide!
1. Start with a little planning to make sure you have some delicious vegan food in your cupboards.
2. Sign up for the free Veganuary pledge to receive daily tips and recipes, and all the support and encouragement you could ever need.
3. Jump right in!
