This was originally written for a vegan website whose owner was looking for guest writers/admins on their facebook page. I was give free range to post about anything, with it being under a "tip of the week topic". Long story short, this didn't quite fit what that owner was looking for it seems (I didn't stick to one tip, and I honestly have forgotten the other complaint) and I wasn't asked to write another post. I saved it just in case, and thought I might as well share it with you guys. Not only does it give some tips on how to get started, but it also gives insight into how I started on my cruelty free lifestyle. So... here ya go!
Vegan Tip of the Week: How to get started…?
My first step was kind of an accident. I was tired of the
small container of cows' milk expiring before I could finish it, and a friend
recommended soy milk. I wasn't a fan at first, but per her instructions I began
using the vanilla soy milk in my cereal and just like that I was hooked. Keep
in mind that at this point I had no idea that the word vegan even existed. Most
start by giving up some form of meat, like most of my vegan friends. One of
them, Michael, decided to give up veal and other young flesh back in the early
1980’s after learning about the horrific treatment they go through. Ten years
later he was vegetarian, but after learning the truth behind milk and egg
productions he realized going vegan was the only way to be intellectually
honest with himself and also at peace with his conscience. No matter what it is,
that first small step may be one of the biggest in your life.
Giving up dairy and eggs was my next step, but I was still
feeling not so great and was ready for more. Thanks to the great and wonderful internet, I
found some support and the most amazing book: Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and
Kim Barnouin. It’s a no nonsense book that tells you that if you don’t want to
feel like crap then stop eating it. Skinny Bitch in the Kitch was my
first vegan cookbook, and they have expanded their series. They even have Skinny
Bastard just for the guys. Another book I’m madly in love with is The
Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone (huge fan, love this woman!). It
includes 3 different steps to living a plant based life and she has created The Kind Life, a great online community
for support and information. I didn't know any vegans in person when I started
on this lifestyle, so this community really helped get personal tips instead of
online reviews on almost every and any aspect of life.
These books aren't it, either. There are so many more out
there, something for everyone. I can’t even begin to count the number of vegan
cookbooks on the market. This leads us to another important step: cooking.
Anyone can cook, no matter what you've been told. I still wouldn't say I’m a
great cook, but I am pretty darn good when it comes to some bbq tofu and sweet
carrots! Find a cookbook that fits your needs, and just follow the recipes. I
like to take my cookbooks grocery shopping with me and use them instead of making
out grocery lists for ingredients. Soon you will learn what you really need and
don’t need, what you really like and don’t like, and it will all become second
nature. This may take time, but it will happen. There are also books about
veganism (like Becoming
Vegan) that can help as a guide into a plant based lifestyle without
focusing on just cooking.
Need some real life interaction? Check out Meetup.com and search for a local vegetarian/vegan
group. They also have many groups for other things (gaming, yoga, even saw one
for board games and puzzles once) that will meet in person. No matter what the
interest is, I think it always helps you to grow as a person to be around
others that share that interest with you. Life is for learning, and learning
does help us grow no matter how old or young we are.
The main thing to remember is that living a cruelty free,
vegan, plant based, or whatever you call it lifestyle is also about being kind
to yourself. Do not expect things to change overnight. Just like anything else
in life this is a process and can take time. Making mistakes, having slip ups…
this happens even to some seasoned vegans. Accept it happened, learn from it
(and how to avoid it next time), and move on. If I can do this, I know that you
can.
