My experience of going vegan involved a lot of learning and experimenting, as well as some difficulties.
I went vegan a few weeks after school got out in the spring, so I haven’t been vegan for long. I initially went vegan for health reasons, like to lose weight. Although it has been very effective with other diet and lifestyle changes, it has also been difficult.
Deciding to go vegan, regardless of why, takes a lot of willpower, time and money to rebuild your fridge and pantry. Not all vegan options are great and not all recipes will work out. Instead of getting frustrated, you have to note what isn’t working, and what you could change if you make the recipe again.
Something you also have to be aware of is not going into recipes with insanely high expectations. Vegan cheese won’t taste like real cheese, vegan meat will not have the texture or taste of real meat. Some recipes will likely taste off. Although it will be hard to get over at first, you will find ways to enjoy these recipes after a time, and after your taste buds get used to them.
It can also be hard when going out with friends, not all restaurants are accommodating, leading to some “let down” meals. I remember one time over the summer, I had gone out to breakfast with a friend. I had to scour the menu, only to settle on “farmers hash” with the main toppings taken off. It ended as a plate of 10 tater tots and some diced onions.
I’m not saying each restaurant should have an extensive list of vegan dishes. A few options would help encourage more customers to come, knowing the restaurant is somewhat accommodating.
It can also be very challenging to come to campus as a first-year student with dietary restrictions. In my first-year student year, I was gluten-free, and although I was promised a nutritionist and many gluten-free options, the dietitian quit shortly after I came to campus. I had little to no options each day, and when I did eat in the dining hall I often got sick. I used my meal plan less than 30 times the whole year and still had to pay the full price.
If you find yourself in the same predicament, whether you are vegan, gluten-free, kosher, etc., I encourage you to advocate for yourself because nobody wants to have to buy groceries and attempt to cook in their dorm as I often found myself doing when they had purchased a very expensive dining hall pass for the year. It is as hard as it is unnecessary.
When you buy the meal plan, you should expect to have a few options and be able to eat there comfortably.
While going vegan was not fully based on the ethical side of it for me, it is something I am passionate about now. It helps me eat healthily by encouraging a plant-based lifestyle full of many colors and nutrients, as well as helping save animals and unethical practices. If you are vegan as well, I encourage you to try more recipes that may be outside your comfort zone because there are such a vast number of recipes out there, and so many things you can recreate.