At the start of my second semester of college, I decided to go vegetarian. Initially, I was a pescetarian; however, I stopped eating fish a few months later. Today, I rarely eat dairy or eggs and have a diet full of plant-based foods. I have found that in the past year (almost year and a half) of eating a vegetarian/mostly vegan diet I have more energy, I have expanded my food pallet, and I have found a new love for animals.
While I try not to force a plant-based lifestyle on anyone, I do think that those interested should have the right tools and connections for transitioning to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Especially in college, a lot of people think that living a plant-based life or, at the very least, eating a diet with fewer animal products, is ridiculous. Thankfully, we now have numerous options to learn about and live this lifestyle properly, even as college students; some resources can be found online and others can be purchased and used in everyday life. While most of the options below are intended with special attention for vegans, vegetarians may partake in certain aspects of each section with ease.
Websites
For starters, vegan.com is one of the best websites for people who just want some questions answered. It has easy guides, such as a dairy-free guide, a nutrition guide, and being vegan in college. Even if you are not interested in going vegan, vegan.com is a good resource for those interested in being vegetarian. Another great website is veganoutreach.com. For those who are interested in going vegetarian or vegan but don’t know anyone that you can talk to, their mentor program is outstanding! After filling out a short survey, they will pair you up with someone who has been vegetarian or vegan for a number of years. Once paired, you can ask any questions you may have regarding the diet or lifestyle of your choice. They can answer questions like “What to do when I go home for break or Thanksgiving?” or “What are some quick and easy snacks for on-the-go people?”
Clothing and Accessories
Herbivore Clothing Company has some great products, ranging from hats, stickers, clothing, and more. Their stickers are super cheap and great to put on items like your laptop, planner, or notebooks! Buttons are also an easy addition to any backpack or tote bag! Wearing t-shirts around your campus will help encourage you to remember why you’re living this lifestyle of your choice — and it will get people to ask you about you about being plant-based! Peta also has some great options for clothing and accessories, and Peta2 is a great spot for young adults to learn more about plant-based lifestyles. Compassion Company has great designs for all people! They even have a mystery grab bag. You pick the size and they pick two shirts for you (with free shipping)!
Books
Reading books and blogs are great ways to learn more about living a plant-based lifestyle. Sarah Taylor’s "Vegetarian to Vegan" tells what happens on dairy farms, egg farms, and even how honey is made (and why it is not vegan to eat honey). It also gives information on replacements in food (like applesauce for eggs) and other award-winning vegetarian or vegan authors. "Vegan for Her" is about how a plant-based lifestyle affects a woman’s body, both as a young adult and as she ages. Cookbooks like "Thug Kitchen" and "I Could Never Go Vegan" offer recipes for anything from pancakes to chili to cakes. Thug Kitchen also has a blog that goes along with their cookbook! It's full of recipes that you won't be able to find in their original cookbook or their party cookbook, which is full of appetizers and treats suitable for your omnivore friends and family!
These are all simply a handful of resources for those interested in transitioning to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. There are numerous other sources of information online and in stores for you to pick and choose from! Eating a plant-based diet does not mean that all you will eat are heads of lettuce and carrots. You can eat amazing foods and even have your omnivore friends like them, too!
I do want to enforce the idea that this is not simply a diet; it becomes a lifestyle. Yes, everyone says that about being a vegan or a vegetarian but it is so true. If you decide to transition to a more plant-based and plant-friendly eating habits, you will need to know the best sources of protein, iron, and B12 — all of which can be found in plants. You will need to know what restaurants are veg-friendly and which ones are not. You will need to know how to attend social gatherings where you are not preparing the food. The resources listed above are intended to help you through the transitioning process, especially, but also through the rest of your life, whether you are interested in becoming a vegetarian or even a vegan.
Recently, I had a relative ask me that if ham was sitting on my plate, would I eat it. When I responded with "no," she asked me "why, exactly, would I not?" The reason is that I have made the connection that that slice of ham was once a pig; a living, breathing being. Once that connection was made, it is very hard to let go. Ham doesn't look good to eat. Bacon doesn't look tasty like it once did. I choose not to watch food videos online that involve raw or even cooked meat because now I find it disgusting when, just a short time ago, I was eating that for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am proud to be a vegetarian for my health, for the environment, and for the animals — you should consider it, too.
