“It’s Too Difficult to go Vegan”
“I really want to go vegan, but it’s just too difficult!”
There’s no denying that any big habit change can be hard, whether that’s sticking to a new exercise routine, giving up a lifelong vice, or changing the way you eat.
But we’re here to tell you that going vegan probably isn’t as hard as you think and what’s more, there’s never been a better time to do it!
Some people find it easier to make a habit change overnight, in one fell swoop, while others are more successful making small changes bit by bit.
Whichever way you choose to do it, we’re here to help you move towards a healthier, more compassionate lifestyle.
Easy vegan swaps
Going vegan these days is so much easier than it was 20 years ago because there are so many meat and dairy alternatives available.
You no longer need to give up burgers, cheese, yoghurt or chocolate to lead a more compassionate life. All you need to do is simply swap the animal-based one for a plant-based one.
Depending on what is most likely to create sustainable habit change for you, you could make all these swaps the next time you do your food shopping, or bit by bit until eventually the entire trolley is full of plant-based goodness.
Meat
There are so many incredible vegan meat swaps out there now and most health food shops and supermarkets stock them.
You don’t need to miss out on beef burgers, sausages, pies or fish when you go vegan.
You can find something to suit every budget as Iceland, Aldi and Lidl are now on board too!
Some of the other supermarkets and health food shops also have low-cost options.
Milk
Going dairy-free is one of the most natural changes to your diet. Why? Simply because drinking milk past infancy is not what nature intended.
This is why over two-thirds of the global population is lactose intolerant.
Going dairy-free is a smart move not just for ethical reasons but also because it will very likely improve your health in several ways – not to mention that dairy is so much worse for the planet than any plant-based milk.
To help you on your way to a dairy-free future, here’s our guide to trying plant milks!
Cheese
So many vegetarians and omnivores tell us: “I would go vegan, but I couldn’t give up cheese!”.
Don’t worry, we totally understand! But thankfully, once you break free from it, the cravings stop.
Vegan cheese gets a bad rap because when it first hit the supermarket shelves it was, let’s say, not the best-tasting alternative to dairy cheese.
Nowadays, however, you would often be hard pressed to tell the difference!
Yoghurt
Vegan yoghurt is absolutely everywhere, delicious and comes in a wide variety of flavours, styles and ingredients.
The most popular is the soya yoghurt but there’s an abundance of almond, coconut, rice, cashew and even hemp!
They are available in all supermarkets and many shops have created their own brand.
It can be found in natural, sugar-free, flavoured and mini pots.
It’s much lower in fat than the dairy versions and often contains gut-friendly bacteria.
Chocolate
There is so much incredible vegan chocolate we didn’t know where to start!
From milky to white to dark, fruit filled, with nuts, for kids, indulgent and just downright delicious, we’ve got it all covered.
There are a lot of options available in the supermarkets (including their own ranges), high street shops, independent health food shops, online and of course the best range can always be found in the Viva! shop!
With all these swaps it’s important to experiment and try different brands. Not all vegan cheese or chocolate is equal and, as with any food, you’re bound to prefer some over others. So don’t be put off if you have a bad experience with one, just try something different next time. After all, trying all the different brands is half the fun of going vegan!
For more information about vegan swaps, including eggs, ice cream and alcohol, go to: https://viva.org.uk/lifestyle/going-vegan/easy-vegan-swaps/
Eating out
A hurdle for many aspiring vegans is dining out. If you’ve never had to think about whether a restaurant can cater for you before, it might seem like veganism is a bit restrictive.
But the truth is, eating out as a vegan has never been easier!
With veganism becoming more mainstream, almost all restaurants, bars and cafés offer a variety of innovative plant-based options. Many even have a dedicated vegan menu.
It is often not until you go vegan that you start realising how many vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants there actually are.
In fact, going vegan can lead to many amazing culinary discoveries that you never knew about before.
The UK is doing particularly well in the vegan stakes and makes most of the ‘top ten countries’ lists for variety and availability.
London is also ranked No.1 city in the world for vegan food by Happy Cow (a global veggie restaurant finding resource) and a special mention goes out to Bristol, Brighton, Glasgow, Norwich, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and Southampton, who all boast many fabulous options.
Planning is important but doesn’t take too much effort. Once you go vegan, you can’t always just rock up to the nearest restaurant and expect good vegan food. A little research is needed to find vegan gems and check menus online before heading out.
When going on holiday, many experienced vegans will map out all the vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in the area so they know exactly where to go and don’t spend hours wandering around an unfamiliar city getting hungrier and hungrier.
In fact, experiencing vegan dining in new places becomes one of the joys of travel, rather than what might initially seem like an inconvenience.
To help locate vegan-friendly eateries be sure to check out the Happy Cow app and Viva!’s own myvegantown.org.uk.
Eating out with friends/family
Sometimes we can’t choose the restaurant we’re going to, especially if it’s chosen by friends or family for a special occasion.
Once again, all you need to do is a little preparation. First of all, check the menu online. You might be surprised at the vegan options on offer.
If the menu is decidedly vegan-unfriendly, phone the restaurant in advance and let them know of your dietary requirements. Most are more than happy to cater for you. In these scenarios though, you may need to accept that you might not be served the finest vegan cuisine.
If, for whatever reason, the restaurant can’t cater for you, and you don’t feel comfortable suggesting a different location, eat beforehand so you’re not resenting the food choices of your non-vegan friends, while you eat something substandard.
In almost all cases, you’ll be able to eat chips and some side dishes. Remember though, this is the worst case scenario.
Most of the time there will be vegan options on offer, even at the most meat-centric places.
