I give a ton of credit to all of you vegans in this world. It is NOT easy! Especially when you have family and friends who are meat and potato lovers. Personally, I could care less for meat. I never crave meat and don’t even love it when I eat it (unless it is prepared by my husband who is an exceptional cook). Dairy is a little more of a challenge for me. I don’t think I could ever cut the occasional ice cream out of my life, nor do I want to. I rarely have it but when I do, it is always worth it. Besides for that though, it is not common for me to eat dairy. Going out to eat isn’t the easiest but it is absolutley manageable as a vegan. You can always get a salad with nuts or protobello mushrooms on top if they don’t have a tastier vegan option. The most challenging aspect for me is dinner at home. I don’t want to alter my husbands diet and really do truly enjoy the food he cooks. I had to come up with a way to not feel like I was forcing a lifestyle on him and also for me to not feel deprived while he was cooking up these delicious protein packed meals. However, I want to feel good about what I am putting in my body and feel like my healthiest self. I made a promise to myself that I would seriously cut back on meat and dairy and came up with the best way for me. I decided the easiest way to do this is to take baby steps. It started with only eating vegan before dinner everyday. That was VERY easy. I then decided, in addition to eating vegan before dinner, I also have 2 days a week where I only eat vegan all day long. Once I started with this, I realized that there are many more days where I eat completely vegan and don’t even realize it. This change has really made me feel so much better. I have MUCH more energy all day long! It also has made me more adventurous in the kitchen. I have been whipping up some great vegan dishes with veggies and seeds that I have never experimented with in the past. Everyone has to find the diet that works best for them. For me, incorporating a few different eating habits based off of several diets have worked best for me. The occasional vegan has been the best habit I have adopted yet.
Leave me a comment with what works best for you and if anyone else is an occasional vegan.
I guess now I am the occasional vegan too haha I am a vegetarian that is transitioning vegan 🙂 I ate vegan twice a week and plan on increasing this until I can cut out all animal byproducts. The hardest for me is cottage cheese and greek yogurt!
That’s awesome! I had such a hard time cutting out greek yogurt too but haven’t had it for about 6 months. Can’t say I don’t miss it though haha Good luck on your transition!
Dear Ocassional Vegan:
I cannot eat another portobello mushroom!
Otherwise…I guess that makes me the “perpetual meat eater”. Living with the “occasional vegan” isn’t always easy but I think it is important to be open to new ideas and other lifestyles. I think one of the things that works for us is that I am the primary cook in the house. A few nights off a week is really nice and I am usually pleasantly surprised. Lindsey will also make me a side dish of wonderful flesh if she is worried about a new dish. In a worst case pizza is always a phone call away. With open minds, honesty and negotiation it works for us. Any other couples out there trying to satisfy two diets? What works for you?
Thank you for supporting me husband Chris. I love you and will make you a meat meal soon. I promise, no more portobello’s for you haha