To want to go vegan?

[PlantsArePeopleToo]

But tbh I'm a bit torn on the issue .

I feel that in my heart that It's the right thing to do for myself but at the same time I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed about the whole thing.

I understand the basics, I mean you don't eat meat, eggs and dairy and instead base meals around vegetables, nuts, beans, etc but how do you ensure you are getting the right balance of nutrients? What about B12? Is it really necessary to supplement or can I just drink fortified plant milk? I'm a bit torn on how I feel about a diet that requires supplementation tbh.

Gah, please can some vegans help guide me through this moral dilemma?

I’d love to be vegan but can’t give up eggs... I still eat mainly vegan anyway so still doing my bit

I eat a lot of vegan food but to be a vegan you need to do the whole no leather shoes, vegan household products, makeup etc shabang, don’t you? It’s a lifestyle rather than a diet. I’m newly vegetarian but vegan just seems so overwhelming especially when feeding my young kids too - getting the right nutrients into them seems enough of a challenge without the other non-food aspects of veganism!
My son basically survives on fruit, veg, hummus and marmite and that stresses me out enough as it is 🤣

Benydick don’t stress you are doing great and everything you listen that you son eats is vegan

*listed

Tic I know they’re all vegan but gaah.... too much sugar, not enough fat? I just shove him a multivitamin every night and hope for the best 😬

Bendydick - my 5yo has a very limited and mostly vegan diet too. Although he's fussy he's really healthy - we eat the same veg on rotation along with veggie sausages, jacket potatoes, occasional tofu stuff, rice etc, porridge. It's boring, but we have a multivitamin every so often. And he's fine. I worried about it for a while but he's happy and healthy. I think if they show signs of being unhealthy or looking unwell then worry But if they are bouncy and full of life - sounds like you're doing ok.

My brother was vegetarian from birth, there were only about 5 vegetables and 5 fruits he would eat on rotation with loads of bread/ grains and fake meats. Had multivitamin every day. He’s now well over 6ft and perfectly healthy.

Are you on fb? If so, join lots of vegan groups and you'll soon feel like this is such an easy thing to do, there are sooo many of us, and it's growing faster than ever.

www.facebook.com/groups/UKVegansOfficial/

www.facebook.com/groups/980918008596284/?ref=br_rs

www.facebook.com/groups/veganproductsuk/?ref=br_rs

nutritionfacts.org/ is a fabulous resource and will help you see that you are doing the right thing for your health.

If you haven't yet seen them, I recommend the following films (most available on Netflix, or YouTube if not.)

• Cowspiracy
• What The Health

- Vegucated

• Forks Over Knives
• Food Matters
• Okja
• Food, Inc
• Earthlings (gory, I have not seen this)
• Peaceable Kingdom

and hopefully Dominion will be coming soon.

Thanks for going vegan!

It's your very personal choice when it comes to what you choose to eat. But don't choose a vegan diet because you think it's animal cruelty free or not exploiting animals in any way. It's most definitely not.

Do it for some other reason and enjoy the journey!

I would definitely recommend supplementing b12. It's fortified into quite a few foods aimed at vegans but you want to make sure you're getting enough because a deficiency in it can be very nasty, even deadly I believe. Animal products have it supplemented anyway so try not to be put off by that part. In regards to meals, something I found really useful at the start was not trying to eat the same things as I did as an omnivore. It sounds like that would be harder but meat substitutes, vegan cheeses etc can be very different than the real deal and often unpalatable (especially cheeses, some of those are disgusting) and might put you off. Try to get used to eating plants. More vegetables, grains, pulses etc. Then once you're all good add in meat substitutes or whatever. I'm sure others will disagree but for me at least this really got me good with the vegan eating. In terms of non-vegan things you already own, don't just throw them away unless you want to. Veganism is about minimising harm and exploitation of animals wherever possible, but if you already own those things using them isn't going to contribute to that. Replacing would just be a waste of money and resources. Good luck on your new lifestyle, you're making the right moral and ethical choice!

Oops sorry for essay!