I hear ya, sista, but lump it. It’s just something you have to do, like brushing your teeth and looking both ways before you cross the street.
I want to try (insert new diet fad plan here).
Diets are for suckers. Lifestyle change is the new diet.
Whether you choose being vegan for ethical reasons, or if you want to get more whole grains into your diet, any reason that brings you to a place where you are thinking about what you’re putting into your body is a good thing.
We saturate ourselves regularly with poison (junk food, pop, white sugar, white flour) so when we make a step towards a better lifestyle, whether it be veganism or simply cutting out the white sugar, it’s win-win all around.
I’m not healthy being vegan.
You alone are responsible for your health, and being vegan isn’t the magic key to good health and nutrition. It’s a great start, but you can also eat a lot of vegan cake and make yourself sick.
I also don’t believe that everyone can be vegan, but vegan or not, it’s your responsibility to arm yourself with knowledge. Learn what it means to have a healthy balanced meal. I highly recommend the book Becoming Vegan by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis; chock full of nutritional information, you cannot read this book and walk away not knowing your stuff.
Knowledge is power. Food is fuel. If you can learn what makes your body healthy, and arm yourself with the power to make it strong – there will be no stopping you.
My friends say I’m not vegan enough.
It’s human nature to compare yourself to other people. My advice on this is to pay attention to your own life. It doesn’t matter what other people think as long as you’re happy with the boundaries and lines that you draw. It’s your life, so make up your own rules and enjoy yourself.
I can’t find good vegan shoes/belts/bags.
Have you been to MooShoes.com or VeganMart.com lately? Cuz they have vegan shoes aplenty.
I hate having to defend myself. I’m tired of being smacked down by other people.
If your veganism has you isolated and alone in a sea of meat eaters, and you’re feeling beat down by fighting with other people about your beliefs – relax. You can still have conversations with those who have a different viewpoints. Maybe they’ll even share a salad with you when you start talking about the meat that’s rotting in their colon.
You can agree to disagree – it doesn’t always have to be a fight or a tug-of-war. It can simply be a conversation.
My partner/lover/family isn’t supportive.
Have you told them you don’t like it when they badger you? Have you told them you need them to be supportive of your choices? Have you asked them to stop ragging on you about your lifestyle choice?
You don’t get what you want unless you ask for it. If they can’t do what you need to feel comfortable, then what kind of a relationship is that? Now you have a whole kettle of tofu to talk about, don’t ya? Time to call a therapist.
I’m too lazy to be vegan.
Good luck with that.
WHEN YOU ARE CLEAR ON WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR …
Nothing is difficult. It’s just your life.
For some, being vegan means arming themselves with facts and figures. For some, it means knowing everything there is to know about protein, calcium, and iron. Some are vegan for health reasons, some for compassionate reasons.
For me, it’s all these reasons and more. For me, veganism is about thinking outside of your own needs, seeing a world beyond yourself and opening your heart up to compassion, empathy, and understanding.
I am confident in my choices. This is a lifestyle choice that I made for myself – not so I’d be cool, or fit in. It’s a compassionate lifestyle choice that I made to feel comfortable being myself.
I will not apologize for my opinions. I will not be a shrinking violet in the face of adversity. I will do everything I can to be the best vegan I can be. Every day is a new opportunity to make a difference. Whether it is a small or large contribution, it all adds up.
My desire with How It All Vegan!, The Garden of Vegan, and now La Dolce Vegan! has been to make veganism fun, accessible, tasty – and effortless. I hope these books help make your vegan life a little easier.
I really believe that small changes can have a huge impact. Even one drop in a bucket will make that bucket wet. Imagine what it would be like if it rained.
“The only thing I’ll ever need is the truth. The truth and what it means to me. The only source of strength I’ll ever need.” – TRIAL
Over the years, I’ve gleaned many little kitchen tricks to make cooking easier. Take some time to sit down and read all these tips before you head back into the kitchen. You might find some of them handy!
TIME MANAGEMENT
CLEAN AS YOU COOK While your dish is cooking away on the stove or in the oven: wipe down the counters, and wash utensils and other cookware used while preparing your recipe.
DO IT NOW . . . NOT LATER
Wipe up spills as they happen, so you don’t end up with a sticky or hard-to-clean mess. If you have a spill that’s hardened, leave a damp cloth over it and let sit for 15-30 minutes before wiping.
TAKE NOTES Have a notepad handy and keep a running grocery list so when you hit the stores, you’re not racking your brain for what it was you needed for dinner.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED Read your recipe all the way through and check to see you have all your ingredients BEFORE you start cooking. There is nothing worse then the pained look on your husband’s face when you send him off to the store for that one crucial ingredient.
HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS When having friends over for dinner, write out a menu and make a schedule. Prepare in advance as many dishes and ingredients as possible so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute trying to get everything all done.
CLEANING
MOTHER THANKS YOU There are all sorts of eco-friendly cleansers on the market now and Momma Nature thanks you for spending the extra bucks so she can breathe easier. But if you don’t have access to them where you live, don’t fret. There are easy ways to keep your kitchen and house sparkling clean without hurting your Momma.
ALL-PURPOSE ALL THE TIME All-purpose cleaner can be easily made by combining 2 tablespoons of baking soda,
CINDERWELLA CINDERWELLA It’s time to mop. You hate it. I hate it. But it has to be done.
BURNED YOUR BOTTOM? If you have a bad burn on