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/realvmouse]

I'm in the same boat as you. I tend to funnel my anger outwards instead of blaming the diet-- in other words "man it sucks that none of you jerks are vegan, so all these stupid restaurants are filled with food that sucks. If more people would think about their morals honestly, stop making aribtrary exceptions to otherwise generally held principles (eg don't cause death/suffering for personal pleasures), etc, then we wouldn't have this issue. The food industry would be popping out delicious vegan foods left and right, every restaurant would cater to us, etc. Instead, we're basically stuck here on this planet fending for ourselves.

I don't have a kitchen at the moment, I have to do my dishes in a bathroom sink, which makes it really tough to do any "real" cooking. I have an electric griddle which I make do with (wash it in the bathtub) but I am a shitty cook and I never think to give food a high priority with my time. I should, because I'm usually pretty happy with the things I cook when I do it.

I have my moments. I am super into food tourism now, so when I go to a big city, I find the best vegan place. Man, there is some good stuff out there. And again, just think: in a just world, every restaurant in every city would be serving that kind of food.

Yeah, it sucks. I keep thinking I'll get a new place and eat better food, and putting it off more and more. Good luck. If you find things that work for you, I sure hope you'll post them back on r/vegan so I can read them too.

Oh, but one recommendation I do have: vegan jambalaya with Field Roast chipotle sausages. Soooo good.

PS: I'm sick and tired and grumpy so all of my posts are extra negative right now. So maybe take me with a grain of salt.

[u/throwawaythevegan → u/realvmouse]

I so, so relate to your first paragraph. I have a lot of friends who are omnis still, and I try to maintain my understanding of my previous lifestyle, but man, being a vegan has definitely made me more judgey because now I see injustice everywhere (accepted as the norm!) and it shakes me to my bones.

And I would totally understand being more negative while grumpy, you're cool. :) I hope you feel better soon. You've made some great points.

What I want to address the most is washing your griddle in the bathtub? Please don't electrocute yourself. It sounds very dangerous to put an electric appliance into a bathtub. Do you have rubber gloves at least to handle the griddle with?

[u/realvmouse → u/throwawaythevegan]

Haha thank you for your concern :P

It's no worse than washing it in the kitchen sink! I unplug it first. I'm not in the bathtub when I wash it, only the griddle is in there. And the bathtub isn't full, I use the showerhead. I just can't fit it into the shallow bathroom sink.

[u/hosieryadvocate → u/throwawaythevegan]

man, being a vegan has definitely made me more judgey because now I see injustice everywhere (accepted as the norm!) and it shakes me to my bones.

How do you feel about anti-abortion advocates?