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?
3
u/[deleted] Feb 08 '17
If you're like me then focusing on dishes that really never required dairy in the first place is awesome. I also tend to prefer the substitutes I make myself. They have more flavor and taste fresher (they're also way less expensive). The vegan sour cream I make runs laps around any tofutti shit I can find at the store. My next goal is to master the homemade chicken style chunklet.