As you start your journey towards a vegan lifestyle, you will face several obstacles that could potentially derail your efforts. Some of these obstacles are real, but others are just imagined or perceived. To be successful in this transition, you need the strength and strategy to overcome these daily obstacles.
Where am I going to get my protein if I cannot eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy?
This one is clearly in your head as there is, in reality, no basis for the question or concern. Our planet’s strongest animals, such as gorillas, elephants, rhinos, and horses all eat plants. Let that sink in. They do not need to eat other animals to get the protein they need, instead they get it from plants.
But you will hear that question come up a lot. Friends, family, co-workers, and even doctors will ask the question or tell you that you need meat. They mean well, but they are misinformed. And that is too bad because they are perpetuating this falsehood.
I cannot go out to eat anymore at restaurants.
Why? Because there are no vegan options? Baloney! Vegan baloney that is!
I have not stopped going to restaurants and I have yet to ever go to a vegan restaurant. I have always been able to find a vegan dish, but when I have been unable to find one on the menu, I simply ask the waiter if the chef could make a vegan dish for me. That has never been an issue. More times that not the chef will be thrilled to accommodate my request because it is something new and different for them (they keep cooking the same meals over and over…this is a nice break and an opportunity to be creative). If it is a little more costly, just consider it the vegan tax.
As a word of caution. If you order a veggie burger, ask that the bun not be buttered, or cheese put on the veggie burger. I have had to send back my vegan option more than once because of the butter or cheese. French fries are vegan, but a side salad or black beans would make a better option (but sometimes I just want fries and make no apologies about it).
Dinner time is such a hassle because the rest of my family won’t eat vegan.
That is the world I live in. I am the family cook and make two meals almost every night. One for them and one for me. Is it a hassle? Yes, if I do not plan accordingly. But if I make the effort to plan, it is no hassle at all.
Batch cooking on a Sunday night makes life so much easier. I may make my grains for the week that I use as the basis for a lot of my meals. Make brown rice, quinoa, farro, and bulger wheat and store it in the refrigerator. They all keep for at least a week and heat easily in the microwave.
Chop your veggies and store them in air-tight containers. Prepare overnight oats for the week in Mason Jars. Make a batch of chili or some type of curry. Both keep well in the refrigerator.
Trust me, it will be worth the effort!
Every holiday is celebrated with a huge meal with a roast, ham, or turkey.
Yup. That likely will never change. It is so customary for our holiday feasts to have some type of meat as the centerpiece of the meal. But you can bring and/or provide some vegan alternatives that even meat eaters can enjoy, such as a sweet potato curry, blistered cumin potatoes, quinoa stuffed acorn squash, roasted root vegetables with a chimichurri sauce…get the picture?
Accept that you may be doing this alone. Rather than bowing to what everyone else may be doing, feel good about yourself for having the strength to stick to your convictions. Afterwards when everyone else is complaining about the weight they have put on from the holidays, you will have the sense of pride that you gorged yourself on good things that improved your health.
My friends and family think I am crazy for wanting to be vegan.
There have been times in my life that I decided not to respond to criticism and questioning of my actions. I often feel that actions and results speak louder than defending criticism. My mantra is, with time comes clarity and understanding.
And honestly, it takes time because the changes from this lifestyle are not overnight. You will not instantly lose weight or reverse chronic illness. Factory farms will continue to wreak havoc on animals and our environment. But it starts with one person, one day, one meal. Then your influence will create change for three people, and their change will impact nine people, and so on.
Delayed response to criticism and the compound effect of your actions will work in your favor…and in favor of the animals and our planet.
I am weak. I had a cheeseburger. I am so disappointed in myself!
If this were easy, everyone could transition without needing the help of Easy Smart Vegan (you like that shameless plug?)!
But seriously, this is a journey. Do you give up on your children the first time they disappoint you or fail to live up to your expectation? Never! Do not do that to yourself.
I am not perfect and have experienced the guilt of going back to past behaviors. What I have learned is to forgive myself. You can do the same. But do not abandon your goal and objective. Pick up where you left off with the next meal.
Are you ready to do this and overcome the obstacles?
Of course, you are ready! Refer to my blog post on connecting with your WHY. There will always be a lot of excuses why you can’t, or at least what you tell yourself. But you have the power and conviction to change that narrative.
I would really like to hear from you the challenges you are experiencing in the adoption of this lifestyle. If you are experiencing it, I know many others are as well. We are in this together! Please leave a comment and I will try to address it in either my blog or my soon-to-be-launched podcast!
Wishing you the best of health and success!
Stephen
