Going vegan......old style?!

sparklewing

I'm a rubbish vegan. 5 weeks in and today I cracked and ate some cheese. It's not an excuse but I feel rubbish today and the only thing I wanted to eat was a cheese sandwich, I couldn't be bothered trying to think of an alternative and the cupboards are bare as the food shop comes tonight.

I think part of the reason I'm finding it so hard is that my reasons for being vegan are different from the majority of people. I stopped eating meat because I don't like the taste and texture and as much as I don't like the thought of animals being slaughtered and everything that was never my main reason for my dietry choices. When I decided to take the further step and go vegan again it wasn't because of animal welfare but because I really believe it's a very healthy way to live.

Sorry for babbling here but people in real life don't really get it as they are all hardcore meat eaters. I can't decide where to go from here.On the one hand I really want to be vegan but I think it's become a 'don't want to fail' thing now. On the other I'm tempted to go back to being vegetarian and try and eat vegan as much as possible but not beat myself up when I don't.

MrBlueSky_4

Hobajay - you MUST eat all the peanut butter cookies in one day . . . they go FAR too hard overnight to save them. I know this because I , too, have made them, decided to go for a double batch and despite chain eating 12 cookies could eat no more and had to leave them until the next day and they just don't keep!

Sparklewing - I was vegetarian for 5 months before becoming vegan (nearly 2 months now), hardest thing for me was cows milk in tea and coffee. Initially, my reasons for becoming vegan were that I did not particularly enjoy meat, but also I felt vegan was a healthier way of life.

Two months in, I can't remember the last time I felt so healthy, I KNOW what's in the food I eat and I have embraced veganism in my own quiet way by learning about the suffering of animals and have started phasing out animal products in the things I use.

It's not for everyone, so don't be too hard on yourself!

MrBlueSky (actually, I'm a 41 year old female so that may be misleading!):o

clutterydrawer

sparklewing wrote: »

On the other I'm tempted to go back to being vegetarian and try and eat vegan as much as possible but not beat myself up when I don't.

that seems reasonable. Especially if you're doing it for health reasons - if you eat vegan most of the time but have an occasional cheese sarnie i doubt it will have an appreciable negative effect on your health.

I am rubbish too though - I made an attempt at being vegan years ago, lasted a few months, got hit by a car and decided "**** it, I want some milk chocolate..." and that was the beginning of a slippery slope :rolleyes:

annnnyway what I'm trying to say is that your dietary choices are you own business...I don't think theres one "right way" for everyone....so think abotu it and do whatever's right for your health and your beliefs.

kafkathecat

Sparklewing, I don't think being vegan has to be a purist thing. You can be mainly vegan, your diet will still probably be healthier and fewer animals will suffer. Since my son started eating cheese I have occasionally been tempted and I don't think giving in occasionally would make much difference in the great scheme of things. Just my tuppence worth.

hobajay

Hobajay - you MUST eat all the peanut butter cookies in one day . . . they go FAR too hard overnight to save them. I know this because I , too, have made them, decided to go for a double batch and despite chain eating 12 cookies could eat no more and had to leave them until the next day and they just don't keep!

Really?! What did you store them in? Mine just about made it to the next day but were just as delicious!

Today I doubled up the quantities, and rolled the dough up into a huge fat sausage shape in some greaseproof paper then froze it. Now I can just take it out and slice just as many biscuits as I want to bake, hopefully this will save me from myself!

I also made scones today, but used regular milk as I wasn't sure what they would turn out like if I used soya, has anyone tried this?

MrBlueSky_4

Hobajay - you have far too much will power for me! Good idea about freezing them, I'll try that - thanks.

sparklewing

Thank you for the support everyone. I'm not sure where I'll go from here but I definitely want at least the majority of my diet to be vegan because I do feel healthier and I enjoy the food. No cheese for the rest of my life though...... not sure I can commit to that.

twinkle_star_2

sparklewing wrote: »

I'm a rubbish vegan. 5 weeks in and today I cracked and ate some cheese... I'm tempted to go back to being vegetarian and try and eat vegan as much as possible but not beat myself up when I don't.

Hey sparklewing. You really don't need to beat yourself up about a cheese sandwich! Nobody is a good or bad vegan. You have to try no to worry about the guilt. It's like when you go on a slimming diet and slip up and have a chocolate bar. It certainly doesn't mean you need to give up the diet altogether.

I managed to slip up yesterday too - was desperate for a bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes but they've got honey in and I knew it. But ate them anyway. But i'll still be thinking of myself as a vegan (who had a slip-up) because if I didn't then I know my willpower against other things would start to crumble and it would off down the slippery slope to meat-feast pizza!:rolleyes: But that's just me. If you want to think of yourself as veggie rather than vegan then do it - whatever makes you happy :T:D

Justamum

MrBlueSky wrote: »

MrBlueSky (actually, I'm a 41 year old female so that may be misleading!):o

Are you an ELO fan then? My DD1 (age 12) loves that song!!!)

Justamum

hobajay wrote: »

I also made scones today, but used regular milk as I wasn't sure what they would turn out like if I used soya, has anyone tried this?

I'm always complimented on my completely vegan scones - soya milk works perfectly