I understand exactly what it feels like to be overwhelmed or scared to make a big change in your life.
Let's dispel some of the myths about being vegan, so you can move forward in your journey.
VEGAN LIFE IS TOO MUCH TIME CONSUMING
I can understand why this is a struggle for many people.
We're all used to grocery shopping and cooking at some level - The problem is, most of us aren't used to writing a detailed meal plan and paying close attention to what we buy while grocery shopping.
This is the reason vegan life can feel time consuming in the beginning.
I promise once you get used to those uncomfortable feelings (by pushing passed them) and get into a routine, all of this will become easier.
Hang in there!
Here's an audio with tips on how NOT to spend all weekend on meal planning.
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH VARIETY (AKA TOO MANY BORING MEALS) AS A VEGAN
Before I was a vegan, I thought we could only eat salad and smoothies. I promise this isn't the case at all!
I love variety just as much as the next person. I wouldn't be on this journey if I felt limited by my food choices.
You can make or buy everything vegan.
I even had delicious vegan shrimp at Loving Hut restaurant (I was skeptical about this one at first lol). Here's the picture I posted on Instagram back when I tried it....
In the video below, I show you the many vegan options at Target.
Whole Foods and other health food stores do an amazing job of catering to vegans when it comes to specialty products. No worries if you don't live near any of these places - sites like Amazon and Vegan Essentials make it super easy to get what you need shipped right to your door.
You can also make a homemade version of anything you can think of. Google gotcha covered on that!
For instance, if you want to make a vegan version of buttermilk, you just search "how to make vegan buttermilk" or "vegan buttermilk recipe" and so many options will come up.
By the way, you can make vegan buttermilk by mixing 1 cup of soy milk and 1 tbsp of white vinegar and allowing it to sit for 10 mins.
Start thinking about some of your favorite dishes and how you can make delicious vegan version of those meals to add variety.
YOU HAVE TO GO VEGAN OVERNIGHT
This is probably the biggest misconception on this list! No matter what anyone says, it's okay to gradually transition to a vegan lifestyle. I was a vegetarian for 2 years before started my own journey in 2010. Making the shift to vegan life is a process!
I notice when people transition overnight without being clear on their why or without a real plan, they usually give up within a couple of weeks.
I'm not saying you should make excuses about why you can't be vegan, but I am saying that the transition may take some time.
Please be gentle with yourself, so that you gain the confidence to move forward.
Ready Set Go Vegan will walk you through all steps to stay on a consistent vegan lifestyle.
BEING VEGAN IS TOO EXPENSIVE
What do potatoes, spinach, black beans, corn tortillas, bananas, apples, rice, spaghetti noodles and canned tomatoes have in common?
All of these items are vegan and very affordable.
I will admit that our grocery bill spiked when we started this journey, but that was because I was buying all organic for a family of 5. These days, I do buy some organics, but overall I just focus on what we can afford. Period.
Don't let a tight budget be the reason you don't stay on this vegan journey.
Quick tips to keep your grocery bill down:
*Buy as many whole ingredients as possible - it doesn't take a million hours to cook from scratch. I promise!
*Think about how you can make enough for leftovers (soup & chili recipes are perfect for this) to save both and time.
*Only shop at Whole Foods (AKA Whole Check- chile!) for speciality vegan products that you can't get at a regular grocery store. Do the rest of your grocery shopping at your regular store.
*Buy what you need - I know this isn't popular advice, but in my experience, you will waste money buying produce in bulk because it's hard to eat it fast enough before it spoils.
*If you prefer to buy organics, see if you can get a better deal at the farmer's market. Also, my grocery store has store brand organics that are super affordable. See if you store has this option.
Do you feel better now that we just debunked all of those myths? I hope so! There's nothing stopping you now!