Sundays are For Starters: The Very Beginning

So while my blog will be available to veterans and newbies alike, I would like a place for transitioning vegans (or just people pondering the possibilities), to go and feel comfortable to learn. Sometimes as a long time vegan, you forget that not everyone knows the difference between vegetarian and vegan or what a good milk substitute is. We'll start here, from the very beginning.

So you're thinking about becoming vegan.

Where does one even begin? I started with a documentary. Netflix has such an influx of new documentaries coming in, one more informative than the other. I also think there are two different ways to approach this. Some people like to get themselves grossed out first. Really get to know what they're eating. Some people are more empowered by the facts. Facts about the environmental impact, the emotional impact on the animals, and the health/nutritional impact it has on humans. I will give resources for both! You can skip the gory details if you'd like. I don't think it's imperative to your journey, but if you think it will open your eyes a bit more clearly, by all means view. The videos are a concise way of learning what veganism really is. When people are dairy free, sometimes it's easy to forget that that is BUTTER too. But did you also know you can eat OREOS?? These documentaries will help clear up some of your questions but also make your questions clearer is what you would really like to know about moving forward.

The very first documentary I watched was Vegucated (2011).

https://www.netflix.com/search?q=veducate&jbv=70245084&jbp=0&jbr=0

Vegucated is a documentary where three dedicated meat and dairy eaters go vegan for six weeks. You follow them through their journey of ups and downs and the things that they learn along the way. While it is not my favorite documentary, I think it is a great stepping stone. It is more of an educational movie but does have some facts about animal cruelty in it so just a warning for those who are effected.

And just a side note about being too grossed out to watch those moments of torture. While I don't find it vital to your journey (my boyfriend had watched videos of torture before and that was not his turning point to becoming vegan so by all means can you become vegan without them), BUT- when people ask me if I miss meat, or if I ever smell a burger and want it, it's hard to explain to them that EVERY time I see meat, or think of someone eating meat- I see those clips in my head. They are so burned into my head, and no they don't effect my daily life but I did subconsciously use them as a tool when transitioning to vegetarian and even dairy free. One of the biggest arguments is that dairy cows are alive so there's no torture. Well- we will definitely get into that in a further post.

Vegucated made me feel like I could do it. A seed was planted with the idea that I'd really like to go vegan. Vegucated watered that seed for me. It let that idea grow. At first I used the video as an inspiration. SIX WEEKS. I'll try it for six weeks and if I can do it, then that's that. I figured even if I hated it, I could stick to anything for six weeks. Well- one week in and I knew I was committed. I felt confident in my decision and I absolutely loved the food I was creating (And I didn't even know the world of vegan recipes yet).

Here are some other documentaries to dive into that are my favorite. Very educational and they'll keep you interested the entire time!

Fat, Sick, an Nearly Dead (2010)

Cowspiracy(2014)

Forks Over Knives (2011)

What The Health (2017)

My first rule of thumb: DON'T THINK YOU'LL JUST PULL VEGAN RECIPES OUT OF YOUR ASS AND THEY WILL BE GREAT.

Cooking vegan is DIFFERENT. It's not what you're used to. We are used to throwing cheese on literally everything and calling it good. Everything is disguised by salt, butter, and meat stock. When you take out meat and dairy, people have this false idea that all that is left is iceburg lettuce. PUT THE LETTUCE DOWN. It's 2018- we have the internet. Pinterest in a wonderful way of finding new and exciting recipes. I have cooked wonderful meals on those days where I just don't feel like thinking. Don't worry, creating meals will come easier to you once you learn the new flavor pallets and fun new ingredients to use instead. Use fun resources available to you LIKE ME! There are plenty of vegan blogs out there THAT WANT TO HELP YOU! You are not alone. They want to make your transition and journey easier for you. There's nothing heroic about going through this alone. A big part of veganism is COMMUNITY. Build each other up. Share recipes. One of the most exciting parts of when I first became vegan was finding friends that were already vegan and I had no idea and through my journey, finding out people were deciding to become vegan. Go on lunch dates, send them links to blogs, help one another.

COOKBOOKS are also very very helpful. My holy grail of a cook book is Oh She Glows by Angela Liddon. I trust every recipe in this book to be absolutely delicious. This is the first cookbook I bought and it is still my go-to if I want to impress a guest! It's perfect for having friends over who may be skeptical of vegan food. Wow them with any one of these recipes and I'm sure you'll have their mind changed in no time! She also has a wonderful website to use as a resource as well! http://ohsheglows.com/

For almost every favorite omni dish of yours, I can almost bet that there is a recipe that does a fun vegan spin on it. You don't have to say goodbye to scrambles in the morning, or penne ala vodka for dinner- There's a substitute for it all.

LOOK AROUND. There may be more vegan restaurants around you than you realized. One thing I found really helpful was joining a vegan facebook group where people were constantly posting about amazing restaurants that they recently have tried (the only downfall about google searching nearby vegan restaurants, it sometimes they are not advertised online properly). Create a list of go to places for when you aren't in the mood to cook and need a quick fix or a nice date. The Friends of Animals created a really amazing vegan restaurant guide to eating in New York City which includes Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Sometimes, you aren't as lucky to have anywhere vegan near by and there are a few options. One is to find nearby cities that do have options and save those for days where you have time and don't mind making a mini trip. Another option is traveling to your nearby restaurants and talking to someone who works there and see if they are willing to work with you on modifying dishes (ex: cooking without butter, tofu substitute, separate fryers). Restaurants can be more accommodating than you would imagine.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF. Mistakes will happen. Starbucks baristas can't always be perfect. There may be a dish that you had no idea had fish sauce in it, or butter. Don't beat yourself up and don't become discouraged. I can almost bet you 100% that there is not one vegan out there who hasn't made a mistake, or trusted someone else who made a mistake. Your heart is in the right place and you're on the path of a beautiful journey of cleansing your conscience and your body. Now is definitely not the time for self doubt. The most amazing resource I've had throughout my journey IS MYSELF. I have never looked back once or doubted myself and that has made my experience that much easier. You can do it! Anddddd, if you are having self doubt, that's the beautiful part about building an online community. We are here for you and support you.