This past April, I made a very quick and drastic decision: I became a temporary vegan.
It was only two days before the start of this new exciting venture that I woke up and decided that I wanted to change my entire way of eating. I often have these unexpected bursts of excitement that lead to me planning random things (I know; I am very odd). I had always been somewhat fascinated with the idea of veganism, and so I decided to quit animal products cold-turkey (pun fully intended) and become a vegan for 30 days. Here’s what I learned:
1. Being a vegan is a lot more difficult than it seems.
My first piece of advice to anyone considering becoming a vegan: prepare yourself. Most people often associate veganism with vegetarianism, assuming that vegans just don’t eat meat. Vegans do not consume ANY animal product – whether that means meat or anything that comes from those meaty beings (I now vow to never say “meaty beings” again; that is one of the weirdest phrases that I have ever come up with). I went in without any preparation or knowledge and was instantaneously lost – my very first day as a vegan began with panic because I had no clue how anyone ate breakfast without using milk or eggs in some way. There are A LOT of things made from milk or egg ingredients. Hopefully, you won’t have as much trouble finding edible items like I did (I have a bunch of food allergies, so my options were extra-limited). Just make sure you’re well-versed in veganism before going on this venture. Do not go in unprepared or unarmed. The odds will not be ever in your favor.
2. Soymilk is Earth’s worst creation.
If someone ever tells you that Soymilk is delicious, refrain from trusting them ever again. I was super excited at the idea of soymilk; I am a milk-lover (despite being lactose-intolerant) and I had this really strong feeling that soymilk was going to be my new bff. I was horribly mistaken. Soymilk is very acidic tasting – imagine someone soaking a battery in a glass of cold milk and handing it to you as a beverage. That’s soymilk.
The only way I was able to down this icy beverage was in any form that would mask the taste, ie: chocolate milk (Hershey’s chocolate syrup is vegan!) or fruit smoothies. I eventually came across rice milk and have stuck to that ever since; if you’re not allergic to tree-nuts, almond milk is another option. Whatever you do, just do not drink plain soymilk. You will regret it.
3. Not all vegans are aggressive.
During my month as a vegan, I had only encountered an angry vegan once. A pro-veganism Twitter account had commented on a conversation that I was having with one of my friends about my vegan experience – they sent graphic pictures of dead animals and accused me of being pro-slavery, pro-rape, and pro-murder because I was not fully dedicated to veganism. In response to their aggressive tweets, I sent this:
Although there are some vegans who are very passionate about their lifestyle, I have met just as many who are really relaxed about it. There are vegans who fully support the well-being of animals, but also fully-support the fact that others are entitled to choosing their own lifestyle. Do not think that by joining the #VeganParty, you also have to join PETA or spend all of your free-time boycotting against everyone else. Being a vegan can just mean making a change in your diet.
4. Oreos deserve a lot more credit.
The day I found out that Oreo cookies were vegan was the day I knew I could survive the month. I had figured that vegans could not treat themselves as often, since most desserts contain some type of milk, but I was extremely wrong. Oreos are EVERYTHING. These delectable cookies were the first step in me seeing that a vegan life could still be wonderful.
5. Food can actually taste delicious without any animal products.
By the end of my first week, I began to get creative. I am normally a picky-eater, but I knew that in order to survive the entire month without cheating, I would have to open my mind to trying different things. I ate so many new things as a vegan, from eggplants in garlic sauce to vegan sorbet, and all of it tasted magnificent.
That is, except for soymilk.
6. There is a way to feel full without feeling heavy and gross.
One of my favorite things about my vegan venture was the way I felt. Before, I would eat a meal and get instantaneously tired or feel really lethargic afterwards. When eating vegan-style, I could eat smaller portions while still feeling full but with tons of energy. The feeling I got after eating a vegan meal was equivalent to the same feelings I get after finishing a nice jog. The amount of energy and comfort that came with veganism pleasantly surprised me.
7. Cooking can actually be a lot of fun.
I am not one to hate cooking, but I am not one to love it either. I am usually very busy, and so I have always looked at cooking as a time-waster. When you’re a vegan, sometimes there are no other options than to cook up a good meal. Although it was not always convenient for me, whenever I had to sauté vegetables or cook some tofu, I found it to be amusing. Veganism will require a little more effort in domestication, but if I could do it, anyone can.
8. Hummus? Uhm, YES!
So this point is technically not what I learned about veganism as much as it is what I learned about hummus. Veganism taught me that hummus is one of the most delicious and simplest creations one could ever indulge in. It was most definitely love at first bite for this food. I will forever love hummus, and recommend it to anyone, vegan or not.
9. Despite a little teasing, veganism has a lot of support.
I was really shocked by how much positive support I received during this month. I figured that my temporary vegan declaration would go unnoticed, that my FaceBook status announcing my lifestyle change would go un-liked. However, so many of my peers, from my co-workers to my best friends and college classmates, were all very encouraging. Some even offered their own share of vegan advice, which I was grateful to have. I expected more people to look at me funny for making such a drastic change, and instead gained a ton of support. If you choose to go vegan, do not feel as though you’re isolating yourself. If you have the right people around you, they will be there to listen and help you along your journey, even if it is a journey completely in opposition to their own.
10. Having the willpower to give up animal products means you have the power to do anything!
The thing I was most proud of out of my entire vegan experience was the fact that I did not cheat. I wanted to get the full experience; it was tempting to give in to the intoxicating aromas of freshly cooked meat, or the smell of newly delivered pizza, but I held my ground and stayed strong. This experience taught me that I can stick to anything as long as I put my mind to it, and I definitely think that it is something everyone should attempt to do, even if it’s just for a day.
Overall, being a vegan for a month was a great learning opportunity. I learned more about food, more about health, and more about myself. Although I only went through it for a month, the experience will stick with me for a lifetime.
