How to Survive Your First Year of Veganism

Jan 14, 2021

"Veganism is not a sacrifice. It is a joy."
-Gary Fracione

1. Know why you're vegan

Like I said last year in "How to Go Vegan in 2020," veganism isn't something you do for a new year's resolution to get healthy. You do it because you want to do right by the animals. In order to go vegan, you have to know why you're doing it, and that why is going to be what motivates you to keep moving forward. If you're interested in veganism or curious about the lifestyle, but don't have a clear understanding of what it is, please do some research first -- watch a documentary, read a book, peruse the articles linked below -- and figure out what will motivate you enough to move forward.

2. You will definitely make mistakes

Let me be very clear: There is no such thing as a "perfect vegan." We all make mistakes -- like accidentally buying bread made with honey -- and we've all had accidents happen to us -- like ordering pasta at a restaurant served with parmesan, even though the cheese wasn't mentioned on the menu. (I've done both, on more than one occasion.) While you can wallow in guilt about these things happening, that won't change anything, and the best thing you can do is learn from the experiences and try not to let them happen again.

And remember that even the most seasoned vegans make mistakes sometimes, and we have no control over accidents that occur. But just one little slip-up is nothing compared to all the good you do in every other way. So, please, no matter how many mistakes you make, don't just throw in the towel and give up on the lifestyle. Making lots of mistakes while trying to do your best is infinitely better than not even bothering to try at all.

3. Remember that it takes time & practice

Going vegan is like learning a new skill. It takes time and dedication to become a master. You must practice every day and take the time to become educated on essential information; you can't expect to know everything you need to know without putting in the effort. Pretty soon, you'll find that most of what vegans do is based on common sense and basic ethical principles. What really takes the most time is reinforcing certain habits -- like remembering to read labels -- and reminding yourself of the vegan ethics, especially when you feel tempted by something non-vegan.

4. You might not feel disgusted by animal products

Shortly after going vegan, you're still in the transition period, and you're learning what it means to be vegan in a non-vegan world. It may feel normal for animal products to be a part of the average person's life, and you might not feel the disgust or outrage at seeing someone eat a steak or an excited family going to the aquarium that you may feel is expected of you as a vegan. And you may never feel that way, but your opinions of these things will very likely change as you become more accustomed to the vegan lifestyle, as you find non-veganism less relatable, and as veganism becomes more socially acceptable.

You will probably also have cravings for certain foods, which is totally normal, and these may even last for several months, no matter how repulsed by animal products you are. Luckily, what you're craving isn't the animal product itself, but the plant-based seasoning, the texture, or the way it made you feel, and you can find all those things in plant-based alternatives. You can easily satiate these cravings by choosing the plant-based versions, and, soon enough, they'll be what you crave instead.

5. There will be social pressure

As much as I'd like to portray veganism as the best thing since sliced bread, there can be drawbacks when you're living in a non-vegan world. You will feel pressure from others to explain yourself or to revert back to "normal" or to be a perfect example of veganism. There will also be pressure from other outside sources; you will constantly be confronted with animal exploitation almost everywhere you look.

The best way to counteract this and strengthen your resolve is to surround yourself with other vegans, even if it's just online, so you know you have a safe place where you don't have to worry about the outside world. Join vegan groups -- on Facebook or in your local community -- and keep reinforcing your values -- read books, listen to podcasts, watch YouTube videos -- and that pressure won't feel quite so heavy.

6. Don't assume you know everything

One thing you have to accept about veganism, as well as life in general, is that you will always be learning, and there is so much that you simply will never know. We all have to come to understand that it's impossible to know everything, which means it's impossible to know everything about veganism. Don't put pressure on yourself to become some "perfect vegan" who knows the exact right answer to every question; it's perfectly acceptable to tell someone you don't know all the answers and that you're just living in a way that aligns with your conscience.

7. It's ok to wear & use animal products you already own

Many new vegans wonder if they have to eradicate their entire wardrobe and start from scratch, but please don't do this! There's absolutely nothing wrong with wearing out your animal-based clothes before buying new vegan clothes. And it's also ok if you don't want to keep those reminders around and would prefer to buy new vegan clothing or pre-owned animal-based clothing. (If you would prefer to not wear animal products but can't afford to buy anything new, I'd suggest maybe getting some vegan pins to wear with your animal-based clothes, which would be much less expensive.)

The same can be said for anything else non-vegan in your life. Continue to use up what you have around (as long as you feel comfortable doing so), and then buy the vegan version afterward. While, ethically, this may feel wrong, remember that you've already paid for these products to be made, and throwing them out won't change that now, so there's no reason in wasting your money.

8. You don't have to be an animal lover

Many vegans were already animal lovers (or became animal lovers after going vegan), but veganism isn't about love. It's about respect and morality. For instance, we aren't against racism because we have an affinity for people of other races -- actually, that sounds pretty creepy -- but because we recognize that they are also human beings who deserve the same rights and freedoms as ourselves. When it comes to nonhumans, we simply seek to treat them in a way that sentient individuals deserve to be treated.

Remember that animal rights doesn't mean we want to give nonhumans exactly the same rights as humans, but that they are due certain fundamental rights to autonomy and protection. Basically, they should be protected from humanity's interference. That isn't out of love, though love may play a part in it; that's out of respect for their individuality and for their place in the world.

9. Eat as much as possible

This tip doesn't fit in too well with the other ones, but it's actually very important. When you go vegan -- especially if you choose to eat a whole foods, plant-based diet -- you will likely have to alter how you eat (in more ways than just changing what's on your plate). Plant foods are generally much lower in calories than animal-based foods, so you may have to eat larger quantities or eat more frequently than you did before.

Many new vegans don't alter their eating habits enough and ultimately end up starving themselves. It's not the diet's fault if you're undereating, so when you're first getting started, make sure you're always eating enough. Also, don't expect weight to just fall off or the diet to start working miracles on all your ailments; while it's possible to see significant health improvements, it's not guaranteed. No matter what all the documentaries and books say, a plant-based diet is not a cure-all.

10. Don't panic

When I first went vegan, I didn't look at it as a lifelong commitment; honestly, I didn't even think about that at all. My parents asked me if I was really never going to eat animal products ever again, and I, truthfully, said that I didn't know. The one thing I did know was that, after watching Earthlings, I had to stop using animal products, so I simply started doing that. Then, it became a habit, and now I can't imagine living any other way.

No matter how much you plan or how much information you learn, you can never be fully prepared, so it's best to just jump in and learn as you go. Don't view veganism as a lifetime of restriction and worry and ostracism. Take it one day at a time, doing the best you can, honing your skill until it becomes your new normal.

be conscious, be kind, be vegan