Veggywood

Okay, so you’re been hearing about this vegan thing for awhile now. Maybe you know me, maybe you don’t, but you’ve read this blog, you’ve seen the PETA ads, you’re heard the list of vegan celebrities, maybe you’ve researched cruelty at factory farms and understand why the production of milk is as cruel as that of veal…

And you decide to take the vegan plunge. This is a very important decision that should not be glossed over, but what the hell do you do after making it? Immediately a variety of questions will arise, mainly:

1. What the f— will I eat now?
2. How will I get protein, calcium, etc.
3. Will I ever be able to eat at a restaurant again?
4. What will my friends think?

and probably the most important:

5. What about ice cream and chocolate?????

First of all, don’t panic. You can still eat ice cream and chocolate! Phew, I mean, REALLY, I’m not sure I could be involved if all this if it was not. Chocolate, after all, was originally a plant. I once got into a long argument about this with someone, but trust me, it is true.

Anyway, the best first step is heading over to your local book store or local amazon.com site, and typing in “vegan cookbooks.” You will be shocked, amazed, and RELIEVED at how many titles you can find. This should initially calm you down, and perhaps appease husbands, wifes and small children convinced they will never eat again.

Then, get thee some facts! Check out “Becoming Vegan” by Brenda Davis or the infamous “Skinny Bitch” by Rory Freedman. And don’t forget the Vegan bible, John Robbins’ tome “Diet for a New America.” Despite the first version being written 21 years ago, sadly not much has changed in terms of the condition of factory farms.

And despite their somewhat hair-brained propaganda campaigns, PETA does have a great website packed with great info. Especially check out http://goveg.org or http://www.vegcooking.com/makingthetransition.asp

Armed with all your new info, you will be able to address friends and families concerns and sometimes misguided beliefs. Don’t be afraid to throw in some fun vegan facts like “Hey did you know Natalie Portman is vegan?” or “Did you know that eating meat contributes to global warming?”

But, if you are still panicked and unsure, make a list. On one side, put your reasons for wanting to try being vegan, and on the other your fears about making the changes. Then go over each one and think about it’s value to you. If you get really stuck “No more Monterey Jack Cheese” then perhaps you are not ready yet. However, you may be ready to forgo eggs and drinkable milk to start.

Being vegan is a personal choice. Maybe it will help you to know that no one can be 100% vegan. Animal biproducts, really no matter how hard we try to eliminate them, are in things we can’t help but use everyday, like tires for one!

While some people find this frustrating, I have always found it made my thinking about veganism much more pliable. As a life-long perfectionist, the idea that I was dedicating a portion of my life to something that I could never achieve fully was extremely liberating.

I know vegans who eat fish, wear vintage leather or eat the occasional piece of brie. This is not as important as the fact that they call themselves vegans because they believe in the reasons behind it. Basically, you will learn to follow the tenets of veganism as you feel is appropriate for you. Take your time and enjoy it, it shouldn’t be a chore or something that you feel forced or guilt-tripped into. Instead, it should be celebrated! You should be proud to call yourself vegan. I am.

And I’m proud that you are even thinking about it….

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