It’s been nearly two weeks since I started eating plant-based diet, and it’s now become part of my daily routine.
Along with no longer craving foods like chocolate and cheese, I no longer want them when I see them.
Whilst picking up some food and ingredients in Sainsbury’s last week, I couldn’t help but notice the mass of chocolate and sweets adorning the cash register and queue area, and for once I didn’t want ANY of it. Before I would have stocked-piled in such circumstances. My desire for chocolate buttons and Smarties was completely gone.
I have tried to eat out during the past week, which I know can be a challenge for Vegans.
I went out for lunch with a friend for his birthday, and he kindly chose Wagamama’s as he believed it was Vegan friendly.
When I looked at the menu I really struggled to find a Vegan option. I asked the waitress if she had any Vegan options and she told me that only the manager could take my order, but kindly fetched a more detailed menu which clearly stated what Vegan options they offered.
I was quite surprised at how attentive the wait staff were to my ‘dietary requirements’. They were very helpful and didn’t once make me feel like an inconvenience, which was my concern before eating out as a Vegan.
After my meal I kind of wished that the Vegan options were as common occurence on the menu as vegetarian options are. Though I got a delicious dairy-free, meat-free meal it was hardly effortless and ordering a Vegan meal required a certain degree of assertiveness.
Since going Vegan, I have been asked the same questions over and over again. I don’t mind answering them since most people are genuinely interested. It’s when people try to catch you out that it bothers me.
I have done my research thoroughly and I believe I am eating healthier than ever before, yet I am being lectured about nutrition by people who favour McDonalds? Something doesn’t quite add up here…
For those who really ARE interested, here are some FAQs I’ve encountered over the past two weeks:
Do you not miss meat?
Nope. I was vegetarian for a while and never really craved meat very much anyway. Giving it up wasn’t hard for me.
Do you not miss cheese?
I thought this would be the hard part, but I’ve hardly even given cheese a second thought. It can feel like there’s cheese on everything so you have to really actively avoid it, but that’s already become second nature to me.
How do you get protein?
Okay, so there are different types of proteins. The proteins everyone freaks out about that Vegans will miss are complete proteins, which are usually found in meat. Chickpeas, beans and quinoa are great ways to get complete proteins in your diet, and so easy too. Just add chickpeas to salad an tah-dah! Protein!
How do you get calcium?
Again, everyone thinks you can only get calcium from milk and other dairy products. Wrong! Nuts, spinach and breakfast cereals have calcium. I love spinach and have it with at least one meal a day. It provides loads of calcium.
What do you eat?
Everyone thinks that being Vegan means having to live off lettuce. If anything, this experience has introduced me to a whole new range of foods and inspired me to be more creative. There are so many delicious Vegan recipes and dairy-free/meat-free substitutes that you can pick from. Vegans have never been more spoilt for choice! The difficulty is eating out, that involves a bit more savviness.
Have you noticed a difference?
My energy levels have gone up immensely. I also find it easier to get up in the morning and my blood sugar levels remain consistent throughout the day as I’m not stuffing myself with sweet, milky treats. I’ve also become more aware of my nutrition and what I put in my body and concern myself with what is actually in my food.
Have you lost weight?
Though this wasn’t my goal from the challenge, I have lost a bit of weight. Funnily enough I’ve noticed a minor shrinkage of my ‘difficult’ areas, such as my thighs.
Will you carry on being Vegan after the challenge?
I have not put pressure on myself to stay Vegan, but after educating myself on the lifestyle and discovering how good I feel (and how surprisingly easy it was) I will probably try and stay Vegan after the challenge.
Fancy going Vegan? Find out more with PETA's Vegan starter kit