insideKENT Magazine Issue 75 - June 2018 | Page 128
HEALTH+WELLNESS
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VEGANISM cont.
of living. Avoiding animal products is not just
one of the simplest ways an individual can
reduce the strain on food as well as other
resources, it's the simplest way to take a stand
against inefficient food systems which
disproportionately affects the poorest people
all over the world.
Why vegetarian isn’t enough
The suffering caused by the dairy and egg
industry is possibly less well publicised than
the plight of factory farmed animals. The
production of dairy products necessitates the
death of countless male calves that are of no
use to the dairy farmer, as well as the
premature death of cows slaughtered when
their milk production decreases. Similarly, in
the egg industry, even 'ethical' or 'free range'
eggs involve the killing of the 'unnecessary'
male chicks when just a day old.
Ethical meat
It's tempting to want to believe that the meat
we eat is ethical, that our 'food animals' have
lived full, happy lives and that they have
experienced no pain or fear at the
slaughterhouse. Yet the sad truth is that all
living creatures (even those labelled 'free range'
or 'organic') fear death, just as we do. No matter
how they are treated when alive, they all
experience the same fear when it comes to
slaughter.
The good news
The good news is there IS something we can
do about it. Every time we shop or order food
in a restaurant – every time we eat – we can
choose to help these animals. Every time we
make the switch from an animal product to a
vegan one we are standing up for farmed
animals everywhere. Going vegan is easier
than ever before with veganism becoming
increasingly mainstream as more and more
people from all walks of life discover the
benefits of living this way.
HOW TO GO VEGAN
Take it slow
Keep your end goal in mind, but go at your
own pace. Some people manage to go vegan
overnight and if that's the right approach for
you, fantastic. But don't be concerned if you
feel you need more time. Like any other
lifestyle change, going vegan not only takes
getting used to, but it takes time to determine
what will work best for you. It's not a one size
fits all experience and there are numerous
approaches you can take.
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Making small changes to your everyday meals
is one of the easiest ways to increase the
amount of plant-based foods in your diet. You
could start by removing meat or dairy one day
a week and go from there. Or you could try
changing one meal at a time, having vegan
breakfasts during your first week, adding a
vegan lunch during week two and so on. You
could even try changing one product at a time
by swapping cow's milk for almond or soya
milk or butter for coconut oil or
margarine. There's a plant-based alternative
for almost every type of food you can think
of, so you don't have to miss out on any of
your favourite foods.
Do it right
Make sure you don't miss out on essential
nutrients. Just because you're vegan, it doesn't
mean you're 100 per cent healthy, as there
are vegan versions of almost every type of
junk food you can think of. As long as you eat
a wide variety of tasty plant foods, planning a
healthy diet that incorporates all the vitamins
and nutrients you need will be a breeze.
Try new things
Treat your taste buds to new foods and new
flavours. Leaving your food comfort zone will
take you on a voyage of discovery of new
cuisines. There are thousands of vegan recipes
out there from every corner of the globe.
Whatever your culinary preference, you'll
encounter amazing new dishes and
interesting variations on your old favourites,
but you don't have to be an award-winning
chef to achieve this. You'll be pleasantly
surprised by the number of meals you can
easily prepare from things already in your
kitchen or local supermarket ingredients.
Check out
www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/shopping
for more information, including a list of
specialist online vegan stores.
Keep learning
Remember that going vegan is a learning
curve. To live as a vegan in a non-vegan world
takes both courage and curiosity. Veganism
has been around since 1944, but it’s still a
relatively new concept to many people. It’s
important you allow yourself time to learn
about the various strands of veganism – and
remember to pat yourself on the back along
the way for the progress you've made.
Remember why
Keep reminding yourself of the reasons you've
chosen a vegan lifestyle and the benefits
you've felt since going vegan. You'll probably
find going vegan a lot easier than expected,
but if you do have a bad day or feel this whole
vegan thing is too much like hard work, take
a deep breath and briefly reflect on your
choices. Reading books or regularly watching
informative and uplifting videos about
veganism can help, as does keeping
motivating visual reminders like photos of
your favourite animals. Or, how about locating
your nearest animal sanctuary? Spending time
with animals who are traditionally farmed and
getting to know their wonderful personalities
is a great way to reaffirm your commitment
to veganism.
Don’t give up!
If you believe in yourself, vegan living will
soon become second nature. There is always
a better reason to stick with your decision than
to go against it. If you're having issues with
friends or family, don't give up. Remember,
there are lots of vegan groups online and off
that you can join. Make sure that you do things
along the way that remind you of the joy of
vegan living, and take it one day at a time.
You've chosen an amazing, exciting and
profound way to live your life – be sure to
enjoy it.
Ask for help
There’s oodles of information on The Vegan
Society’s wonderful website – for everything
from recipes and nutrition advice for all ages,
to positive videos and links to helpful support
sites and networks, just head to
www.vegansociety.com - good luck!
The Vegan Society
www.vegansociety.com
[email protected]
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