25 Truths About Being Vegan or Plant-based

In an effort to celebrate World Vegan Day I’d like to share with you some quick and fun truths about being Vegan or Plant-based:

1. A Plant-based diet will reduce your carbon footprint more than any other action you can participate in at home, know that if you want to make a change, it can start in your kitchen

2. Eating plant-based may reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and some cancers, do your own research start here - (The China Study)

3. There is no rule against implementing plant-based gradually, even if followed a small part of the week it can still have an impact. Although for best health results it is best to adopt this lifestyle full time.

4. There will be a learning curve (no one tells you this bit) you kind of have to learn how to cook again, but it is a great way to get to know your body better and take in the necessary nutritional facts

5. Vegan is said to be antiaging, I like to think it is, eating better fuel will show in all your organs, so of course, the biggest one, our skin, will also benefit

6. Your body will work better, you will feel lighter and more mobile

7. You will be stronger and have more energy

8. You will be able to think more clearly

9. You will need time to adapt, it might take months or years, there is lots of help and recipes to get you started, learn from others that have gone before you

10. You can lose weight if done right, although this should not be your primary reason to adopt this lifestyle

11. There is such a thing as vegan junk food, and while you’re getting used to it - it’s ok to try it. Go on, we all do it from time to time, it will allow you to adjust and learn about ingredients, but remember it’s not sustainable

12. Your friends will accidentally make it challenging for you, and you will likely become the person who picks the restaurant. You might inadvertently make them feel bad at times, this is their problem and their food guilt. It’s on them. Hopefully, you are surrounded by people that support your choices

13. You will have a label - but in the right places this label makes you part of an inclusive community, sometimes it even helps a restaurant know what to talk to you about on the menu

14. You do not have to march with other more passionate vegans, you can obviously, but you do not have too

15. Pre-bought supermarket vegan food is like all other processed food, not the only thing to live on, as above, it’s a short term or quick solution, there are so many more yummy options out there, think of it as a stepping stone in your journey

16. You do not have to give away all of your leather shoes or jackets, you can go vintage, or you can buy different in the future

17. You do not have to explain yourself to anyone as to why you are doing it (unless you want to) I have never understood why people are so offended by peoples food choices, truly a bizarre behaviour

18. You will want to at some point start educating people around you, I would advise against it… only give advice when it is asked for and if you truly know the answer to the question

19. All your friends will start to think of you as an expert in nutrition... this is not a certainty (refer to number 4 and number 18)

20. You may or may not need supplements - you can work with your healthcare professional to see if this is something your body needs, your body is unique, so treat it that way

21. You will likely have many difficult or pointless conversations about protein - please politely remind people that all you have done is cut out the detour through the animal - literally cutting out the middle man. You are eating the protein directly from the source. Protein, like milk, is a marketing game we all lost years ago, ask them how they think cows and horses get their protein, as they need a lot more than we do...

22. You do not need cows milk - cross-species milk drinking is kind of gross, would you let your wife nurse your cat? No, thought not, so why are humans being breast/udder fed by cattle - its all very odd. Also coffee is so much better with nut milk or soy.

23. Having a plant-based diet and being vegan is different, one is a diet and one is a lifestyle, they blend and coexist but remember you can be Plant-based without being full vegan, but you cannot be vegan without being plant-based. The additional sacrifices made by Vegan’s stretch into every aspect of their lives it’s important to be respectful of their additional effort.

24. Not eating animals doesn’t automatically make you a better person, not really, you can still be a dick and eat plants

25. As your diet evolves your taste buds will too, you will learn to love all veggies, I actually get excited by broccolini these days, I promise you will too with time

If you are already plant-based I hope you can see the comedy in some of these that you have likely lived through. For those of you looking to try plant-based, these are some of the things I have experienced over the years. It’s all worth it, I feel young, healthy and clear-headed all the time. I know I am doing what is best for my body, but what is best for your body is up to you.

Also, side note, I do love the expression on peoples faces when you gently ask them to think about milk as being breastfed from a cow. Or a horse at a BBQ, waiting in line for a meat patty to get their daily protein. Food is all pretty logical really, we just have to look at the science, not the supermarket marketing campaigns.

Please feel free to add any of your own funny stories in the comments.