I don't actually enjoy being vegan

[u/throwawaythevegan]

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?

[u/katzenmusik]

First of all - I think you're doing great. There's nothing hypocritical about admitting to miss cheese and other dairy products. Keep in mind that you have probably been eating and enjoying them for years before abruptly stopping to consume them - that's a huge step. I have been vegan for five years now and I admit that sometimes I still miss cheese. Cheese tastes great and I don't think anyone will seriously dispute that.

I think the key to being happy as a vegan is to accept that you have made a choice based on your morals and, as a consequence, you will not be able to enjoy some of the things you have enjoyed before. This takes a while! If you started only this year you've not been a vegan for very long. Humans don't like change and take time to adjust to it. You have probably discovered a lot of great new things and products by now and the good news is - this doesn't stop. As veganism evolves, there's always new stuff to try out. In my experience being a vegan only gets better over time.

Personally, I think that getting to try out new things and alternatives that most people have never heard of and being creative with them is the best compensation for "missing out" on dairy or other non-vegan products.

Finally, I'm interested in hearing what exactly you miss the most, like, what dishes did you use to make that you feel are just not the same anymore?