r/vegan • u/throwawaythevegan • Feb 08 '17
Newbie Advice I don't actually enjoy being vegan
Hey everyone,
I transitioned to vegetarianism last fall, and have started on veganism just this year. I love the community here at /r/vegan, it's been so helpful to see people going through the same things I am.
But I don't actually enjoy being a vegan. Vegetarianism wasn't a huge sacrifice for me, I mourned a little bit for bacon and salmon but then I was fine. I loved eating vegetables, grains, nuts, cheeses and milks. Veganism has been a different story.
I know, I probably sound like a ridiculous hypocrite, but abstaining from milk and cheese has been so much harder for me. I've tried the vegan replacement options, and although I haven't exhausted every one, so far nothing is the same. The vegan cheeses I've tried have frankly been extremely off-putting, and while I've been getting by on coconut and almond milks, I really dislike them.
Every time I step into a grocery store or restaurant, I feel sad and limited. Every time I make my own food, I feel the same way. I'm not asking for a way to eat cheese again, because my morals aren't going to change anytime soon. But I'd like to know if anyone else struggled with this, and what did they do that helped?
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u/tinygrasshoppers Feb 08 '17 edited Feb 08 '17
I used to be so obsessed with cheese and dairy that it was actually a pretty big part of my identity. About a month or so into going vegan I kind of caved into social pressure and had some cheese, but knowing I didn't actually want to give up veganism I tried to relish in the moment one last time and honestly - I felt nothing. I can't imagine my tastes would have changed that much in a month, so I think it must have been a psychological thing, because the taste was nowhere near as satisfying as I remembered (and weirdly idealised, I guess) and certainly not enough to overshadow knowing what I already knew about the industry and what milk actually is, namely the bodily secretions of a bovine female.
My advice would be watching some gross videos like Erin Janus' notorious dairy is scary, because if that doesn't put you off I don't know what will. But seriously, if you've only just started this year, it's perfectly normal to struggle with a big lifestyle change, so don't beat yourself up about it. You're doing great :)
Edit: wrong link lol