Questions Non-Vegans Have for Vegans

Earlier on today I was thinking about my transition to veganism and was reminded of all the mistakes I made.

I wish I had known a vegan who could guide me through the process, but I was alone and managed to teach myself all about veganism although I still make mistakes today. No vegan is perfect!

I went over to my Snapchat to ask my non vegan friends what they would like to know about veganism and I received some interesting responses.

Will I lose weight if I go vegan?

This all depends on what type of vegan you are, you can be a:

• Raw vegan (only eats raw food)
• Healthy vegan (but isn't 100% raw)
• Junk food vegan (eats a lot of processed foods)

I'm a junk food vegan so I personally have not lost any weight, but that isn't the reason why I decided to make the change. I went vegan solely for the animals and the planet. If you decide to become a raw vegan or just a standard healthy vegan you are likely to lose weight but it isn't promised.

Veganism is not a diet.

Veganism is a lifestyle that doesn't just include food. It includes buying cruelty free products, not supporting animal entertainment industries etc. It is so much more than just food and that needs to be understood.

Does turning vegan really make a difference?

Yes, of course! The first and obvious answer is that animals don't deserve to die just like we don't.

But we can also save the planet by going vegan, this is what happens when we choose veganism:

• Stop global warming
• Maintain clearer air 
• Reduce pollution
• Save the rainforest
• Consume less fossil fuels 
• Conserve less water 
• Stop world hunger
• Save 55 billion animals worldwide
• Save 1 billion starving people
• Feed 5 times more people

If you would like to read more about how veganism can end world hunger, click here

Did you have any non vegan food cravings while transitioning?

I did and still do. It's completely normal to crave your old favourite non vegan foods. I crave Wotsits from time to time but lucky for me, there are vegan substitutes for everything. 

Anything you eat, I can eat vegan.

Eventually, your taste buds will adapt and you should stop craving non vegan foods. When I first became a vegan I craved cheese all the time but now I rarely do because my taste buds have moved on (lol). For example, growing up I always hated apricots and now I can't get enough of them. It's weird how our bodies change, isn't it?

Is it hard to date a non vegan?

The answer depends on what type of person you're dating. In my situation, it hasn't been hard but it hasn't been easy either. My boyfriend is extremely supportive of my decisions and has even cut down his meat intake himself but sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we both don't know what the hell we can eat together but the fact he has a nut allergy doesn't help with that either, so veganism isn't entirely to blame. 

If you're dating someone who is ignorant towards veganism and refuses to eat vegan food around you or says it's extremism etc then this can really take you back with your vegan journey. Now, I'm not trying to break any relationships up here but if your partner isn't supportive of your veganism then what's the point in being together? This is your lifestyle and a big part of you. Think about that. 

Do you find having non vegan friends hard?

Again, this depends on what type of people you're friends with. All of my friends are great with my veganism, especially my best friend who always makes sure I'm not uncomfortable if he eats meat in front of me.

If you do have friends who don't support your veganism you should consider new friends. 

How do you get your protein?

Well, from plants.

But, may I add that protein isn't as important as we think. You can't die from protein deficiency but weirdly "How do you get your protein?" is the first question I'm asked when people find out I'm vegan. 

Is it easy to find out if a cosmetic product is cruelty free?

Yes, it is and there's an app for it. Bunny Free is an easy way to find out if a cosmetic product is cruelty free, all you have to do is scan the barcode of the product and all the information will come up for you. Another option is to go on the companies website, usually they have a FAQ section and they'll state if they're cruelty free or not.

People tell me that bean protein will never be sufficient enough to replace the protein found in meat, thoughts?

I just do not understand the obsession with protein. People don't care about protein until you tell them you're vegan but if you do care about it...

4 oz of ground beef and 4 oz of black beans have the same amount of protein, I'm not going to deny that but there are extra benefits from eating black beans, rather than beef. For starters, black beans contain lower acidity, contain no cholesterol, no saturated fats and has 9 grams of fiber rather than eating the beef and developing cancer and future heart problems. 

How do you adapt to not eating meat?

By buying all of the meat substitutes! It's not the healthiest way to go about veganism but if you enjoy the taste of meat and know that you're going to miss it then you should definitely take a look at what's available.

Linda McCartney Foods is one of the best brands for vegan substitutes, my favourites include Hoisin duck, Scampi bites and Pulled chicken.
I also love Quorn who are releasing a lot more vegan products, usually their packaging will have a green banner on it if they are vegan.
Fry's are a good company too along with some supermarket own brands! Morrison's meat free burgers are so delicious, juicy and meat like. I would definitely recommend them. Sainsbury's also do meat balls that are actually vegan.

How can you persuade your parents to let you go vegan?

This can be tricky. I for sure found it difficult to tell my Mum I wanted to be a vegetarian, but that's not because I thought she would be ignorant towards it but because I'm Italian and our culture revolves a lot around meat. I thought she would tell me it is unhealthy to give up meat. She was okay with it and is now vegetarian herself.

She told me I wasn't allowed to go vegan until I left home because she thought it would be difficult when living with 4 other meat eaters, I agreed so I persevered.

Look at me now. I'm still living at home and I'm vegan. Victory!!!

My advice would be to let your parents know how passionate you are about making these changes.

Show them vegan documentaries such as Cowspiracy, Forks Over Knives and What the Health.

Educate yourself as much as you can on veganism to show them that you have thought it through.

What do you do if they say no?

Come to an agreement. Ask them if you can cut down on animal products and have meat free days once or twice a week. Remember, every little helps.

If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask me, I'm happy to help.
phoeberuberto@outlook.com
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💓 Phoebe xoxo