Transitioning to Veganism/plant based?

I suggest explaining to your husband why it's important if you choose to go that route... then following up with educating yourself on what your body needs, how best to obtain it on a plant based diet, and how to make that delicious while still fitting your overall calorie goals. You'll really appreciate that last bit.

There are so many plant options for foods... so many fruit and veg that it opens up a whole new world of food, potentially. It did for me, learning to think outside of the (prepared food) box. Everyone will be different, but there are tons of options.

That said, theoretically your husband will value your reasoning enough to understand and tolerate your actions, but I strongly suggest not trying to change him if that's not what he wants. It's totally possible to have differing ways of eating and live in harmony provided it's handled well.

Maybe start with vegetarian and go from there.

As far as your husband goes, are you wanting him to do this as well? Because that would be a big no way for me...that's not something you can force on other people.

Hello! I've been vegan for about eleven years now and I have a non-vegan husband. You say your husband hates "this," do you mean the idea of you being vegan? Or is he worried that you expect him to go vegan as well? It's a big change and it can sometimes be a challenge for some relationships.

I went vegan all at once. It worked for me, but I know people who have had success with a variety of approaches. Some people transitioned one meal at a time (for example, getting comfortable with plant-based breakfasts, then adding lunch, then going all the way), some people eliminated certain foods before others. There are probably a bunch of gradual approaches if you feel that is something that might work better for you.

I recommend thinking about what kind of food you really enjoy and figuring out ways to have that as a vegan. I really love creamy stuff, so when I went vegan I focused on ways to replicate those tastes/textures. Having a cookbook or two with food that gets you excited is also a good idea (or find some recipes on Pinterest, there are a ton of vegan boards on there).

I found the first month or two to be the most challenging -- that's when you're learning how to check labels and figuring out replacements for some favorite things. After that, it's more like auto-pilot. Honestly, it's almost effortless for me now to check labels quickly and know what I want to eat.

Oh, don't feel like you have to justify or explain it to anyone *unless you want to*. Some new vegans feel like those conversations can be frustrating and overwhelming, so remember it's always optional. One tip I found really useful for social/work situations was to refrain from talking about veganism while eating. It can sometimes be awkward or unpleasant to explain your ethical objections to animal exploitation to someone who is currently eating animal products (as most people will be if you're having the discussion over a meal). I generally prefer to discuss veganism in situations that are less likely to get emotionally charged and it's hard for some people not to feel judged while they're eating even if that isn't the energy you are feeling.

I think it's great that you're considering how your own ethics, diet, and lifestyle are related. I agree that veganism is a very personal choice.

From your other posts, it sounds like your husband already has some difficulty understanding the lifestyle changes that you're making. I think this all merits a serious conversation with him about these changes. You both need to talk about how you want to eat/live and how those expectations can fit together. For example, do you do the cooking? If so, how will he get non-vegan meals if he wants them? If you enjoy going out to eat together, what restaurants will be able to accommodate both of your dietary preferences? Will you be cutting out all animal products from your lifestyle--not just food, but also things like leather?

Overall, it wouldn't be fair to expect your husband to join you in your new lifestyle, but I also don't think it's fair for him to be hostile toward your choices either. You need to talk about how you both will get the food you want to eat.