question for the vegans

I didn't have any trouble giving up meat and I love fish and venison. It's been three years and the only time I've had meat on my plate is when it was accidentally served to me at a restaurant. Dairy was a pretty easy transition although I miss the convenience of things like cream of mushroom soup and the social aspect of my life is a bit different too.

I was vegetarian for a year, but not vegan. I actually found cutting out meat to be very easy (and I love chicken and burgers, so that was a surprise!) I could never ever ever cut out dairy or other animal products though. As a vegetarian I basically lived off of things like eggs, cheese, and greek yogurt for my protein needs. I did get a lot of protein, but I had to really work for it, sometimes by drinking multiple protein shakes a day. If I had gone vegan it would have been even harder to get that protein, and I'm trying to get serious about lifting weights and building muscle, so that wouldn't be worth it to me.

I know a lot of happy and successful vegans, though! To each his own. Just know that it's a big commitment and you will have to think a lot more carefully about what you eat to ensure you get the proper nutrition. I'd also recommend taking a multivitamin if you don't already.

And I agree with the above, try going vegetarian first before you cut out all animal products completely! Baby steps.

I agree that researching more is the way to go and a gradual switch to vegetarian and so on is a good plan, some people find their bodies don't function as well on these diets, although some do great so it's a individual case by case thing for sure. Also you'd be surprised at foods that have some form of dairy in them, always read labels if you like to become absolutely animal product free...dairy for example can be found in some surprising places look for casein, whey proteins, lactose etc.
I'm not vegan (grew up on a dairy farm) but have plenty of vegan friends Good luck

How hard was it for you to go 100% animal product free? What helped you stick with it? I am not doing this for moral reasons but health reasons and I would like to know what I am up against

To get back to your original question, the only hard things we do are the things we don't want to do. If it's important to you, regardless the reason, then it won't be so hard. Do what is right for you. Gain the knowledge you need to eat what is best for your body. That knowledge and the results I've had are enough for me. Good luck on your journey.

I was vegetarian for about 4 years before I went vegan. For me it was both health and moral reasons. Giving up meat was a lot easier than I expected personally. I armed myself with a lot of good recipes and began to experiment in the kitchen more. Packaged veggie burgers and other mock meats are ok and pretty tasty, but they are no where near as good as homemade . I cut out the dairy and eggs about 3 months ago, and it too was pretty easy once I set my mind to it. I now eat a largely whole foods vegan diet and have found weight loss to be easier than ever on any other "diet"
The hardest part...dealing with omnivores who feel the need to bash my diet choices when I am not pushing it upon them. I don't care what anyone else eats so why are my choices so irritating...I will never understand that. The other irritating thing is people who have not done the same research as I have preaching to me about macros and carbs vs protein...and discrediting anything I say on the matter. That stuff...far more challenging that giving up one set of delicious foods for another that is better for my health and my values.

Te meat part is easy it is the dairy I have a problem with. Vegan cheese awful. I like Silk Soy Drink but cna't stand soy yogurt

Clearly, you haven't tried almond cheese. I had my room mate try some of my almond cheese today and she preferred it to dairy cheese and she's a meat eater. I love it.

A lot of vegan cheese is kind of...meh. But I love daiya brand shreds...yummy!!

it's really easy. you just have to learn how to cook and BAKE really well. a lot of my favorite treats that are not vegan are very easily made vegan. most everything has a vegan version, except meringue. i haven't found a way to properly replicate that. and the food is definitely more delicious, in my opinion.

I am vegetarian but have a hard time going to vegan because my husband is not and likes to eat out a lot. there are very few vegan choices at most restaurants. my neighbor is vegan and she makes the most awesome meals--but she cooks everyday and almost never eats out. so i guess that is the best way. good luck

"Millions of animals die to create veg as well" ??? I don't understand, pls explain.

I have heard this argument before...how some animals and insects are killed during harvesting.... Next comes the whole " plants are alive too!" It's just tiring really

Do rodents and insects lives have less value than cows and pigs lives in the vegan world?

I've been vegan for 8+ years now and healthier than ever. Just being vegan, however, isn't enough to label you as a healthy. I actively make sure that what I'm eating is meeting/excelling my nutritional needs and exercise regularly. On the other hand, you can be what I label as the "french-fry vegan" because in all technicality, eating nothing but cut and fried potatoes CAN be vegan too.

The first couple of things that would greatly help in the transition is to do your research and learn to cook. Make sure you have a variety of recipes (or vegan recipe websites) that you can handle, know what kind of substitutions are out there for meat in a recipe (ie. textured veg protein for beef in chili, Earth Balance for butter, ground flax seeds for egg replacer in baking, etc.) and be prepared to ask questions when you go out to eat.

Many people seem to find cheese substitutes difficult - maybe it was 8 years ago but nowadays, there are so many options! I personally love keeping up to date with my favorite vegan companies to see what new products they come up with. For cheese, I personally love Daiya (as a previous poster mentioned). They make mozzarella, cheddar and Monterrey jack shredded cheeses and then they also have spreadable ones in cheddar and havarti. All of them are yummy! This isn't to say that there aren't mediocre products out there because there are plenty of those too. It's fun finding favorites.

For the person who mentioned no meringue: http://www.veganbaking.net/cookies/710-pistachio-meringue-cookies

For the person who mentioned no health benefits clearly hasn't done any research other that the usual meat head claims: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/vegan-diet-cancer_b_2250052.html

Better yet, just Google "vegan health benefits" and educate yourself.

I've been vegan for 8+ years now and healthier than ever. Just being vegan, however, isn't enough to label you as a healthy. I actively make sure that what I'm eating is meeting/excelling my nutritional needs and exercise regularly. On the other hand, you can be what I label as the "french-fry vegan" because in all technicality, eating nothing but cut and fried potatoes CAN be vegan too.

The first couple of things that would greatly help in the transition is to do your research and learn to cook. Make sure you have a variety of recipes (or vegan recipe websites) that you can handle, know what kind of substitutions are out there for meat in a recipe (ie. textured veg protein for beef in chili, Earth Balance for butter, ground flax seeds for egg replacer in baking, etc.) and be prepared to ask questions when you go out to eat.

Many people seem to find cheese substitutes difficult - maybe it was 8 years ago but nowadays, there are so many options! I personally love keeping up to date with my favorite vegan companies to see what new products they come up with. For cheese, I personally love Daiya (as a previous poster mentioned). They make mozzarella, cheddar and Monterrey jack shredded cheeses and then they also have spreadable ones in cheddar and havarti. All of them are yummy! This isn't to say that there aren't mediocre products out there because there are plenty of those too. It's fun finding favorites.

For the person who mentioned no meringue: http://www.veganbaking.net/cookies/710-pistachio-meringue-cookies

For the person who mentioned no health benefits clearly hasn't done any research other that the usual meat head claims: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/vegan-diet-cancer_b_2250052.html

Better yet, just Google "vegan health benefits" and educate yourself.

I didn't say "no health benefits" I said not healthier than a regular healthy diet with animal products. Most studies showing better health in vegans and vegitarians don't attribute the better health to not eating animal products as much as to eating more plant products. You can eat more plant products and less animal products and get the same health benefits without the risk of deficiency that comes with a vegan diet. But what do I know, I was only a vegan for 15 years, and I obviously am uneducated on the subject.

As for the animals being killed during harvesting argument, a lot of land and food is harvested to feed animals that are bred for consumption, so it doesn't really work, and also the amount of rainforest and animal habitat that is destroyed to make way for cattle and other animals that are bred for consumption. It's the weakest argument ever.

Although I am not vegan/vegetarian I do understand why some may choose to be so. So my questions are more for discussion rather than attack; sometimes they may seem otherwise.

On that note, are forests etc not also cleared to make room for grain fields?
And why is it a "kinder choice" to kill rodents and insects if all life holds equal value?

Far more land is used to produce grain for livestock in feed lots than goes directly to human consumption. Enough so that the world hunger problem could be all but eliminated if the grain used to feed livestock went to feeding humans. (not letting the animals starve, but not having feed lots in the first place and not feeding grass eaters corn they were not meant to eat...)

Personally I try to only buy organic produce, so no pesticides were used to kill any bugs if I can help it. I also shop a lot at the local farmers markets when I can so the food is from small hand harvested farms. Plus no animal is INTENTIONALLY slaughtered for my food. It is pretty darn near impossible to be 100% cruelty free given the way our food is produced, unless you grow your own which for many is impossible. But then I am also not claiming to be superior to anyone because I made the choices I did...and most other people I have met who eat vegan are the same. I wish more people would adopt the same lifestyle, but preaching and being sanctimonious about it is not going to help. I know some vegans like that too and they give the rest of us a bad name, and you get the comments like some early in this thread.

If someone is considering changing to eating veggie I am more than happy to discuss it and give advice, I will also answer questions honestly and even bluntly when people ask but everyone needs to make the choices that are right for themselves and that they can live with. I have made mine and I am happy with my choices.