The Most Common Myths of Being Vegan

Is Going Vegan Hard?

First and foremost, I want to address one of the most common questions/comments I hear. “Isn’t going vegan hard? I don’t know how you do it!”

In my eyes, going vegan is no harder than going to the gym 3-4x per week, sticking to a financial budget, or any other habitual goal you set for yourself. The key to most success is simplicity and consistency.

Whether you’re going out to eat, or cooking at home, you can just follow a couple of simple rules.

1. No meat

2. No animal byproducts or animal derived ingredients

It’s that easy! By adjusting your grocery shopping list and increasing your grains, fruits and vegetables, you will easily be able to convert.

The biggest keys to my success at the beginning were finding meat substitutes that still tasted great, as well as making some of my favorite staples and just removing animal by products. Not only did my shopping bill get lower, my meal prep quite honestly got quicker. When you simplify your life, there are less decisions to make and steps to take.

Now, if you are a chef and love to cook, it might be a slightly different story. What I found has helped me the most when I want to meal prep or cook for a group is leveraging vegan cookbooks and/or Pinterest. There are countless recipes out there that are absolutely delish. Some I’ve made for friends without reminding them that I’m vegan, and I’ve been asked for the recipe—they’re that good. So whatever you do, don’t let the perceived notion of going vegan being difficult, hold you back.

Vegan vs. Vegetarian

The lines between being a vegetarian and being a vegan can be blurred and get confusing. It wasn’t until recently that I learned the distinct difference. Not only does a vegetarian eat dairy, they also will consume animal byproducts such as eggs. The easiest way to remember the difference is that vegans don’t eat anything to do with animals while vegetarians solely steer clear of animal muscle tissue.

There’s no one size fits all and everyone should determine what works best for their own lifestyle, whether you fit into one of these buckets or not. Take me for instance, honey is technically a byproduct of an animal but is still a food group that I eat from time to time. In addition, some wines are not vegan…and that is one label that I will not be checking when I go to pour myself a drink.

What do you order when you go out to eat?

Another misconception that many people think is that it’s difficult to eat out. In all honesty, so many restaurants are now serving vegan dishes. There are a plethora of dietary restrictions out there that cross over with a vegan lifestyle. Whether it be lactose intolerant, gluten free, or vegetarian, many dishes are being made to be more inclusive. Restaurants are continually adjusting their menus to fit a wider range of needs and are more open than ever, to make adjustments for their diners.

Typically when I plan to visit a restaurant I end up ordering some of my favorite dishes below:

1. Veggie Sushi Rolls

2. Grain Bowls

3. Vegetable Curry

4. Greek Pita

5. Vegetable Stir Fry

6. Veggie Fajitas or Tacos

7. Avocado Toast

8. Potato Veggie Hash

9. Marinara or Pesto Pasta (no cheese)

10. Veggie Burger + Fries

11. Dairy Free Smoothies

12. Salads

Where Do You Get Your Protein?

My favorite question out of any vegan question I get is… “but how do you get enough protein in your diet?” Let’s get one thing straight, animal meat is not the only source of protein we can consume. There are plenty of food groups that contain large amounts of protein such as vegetables, beans, nuts, and more!

It’s actually a very interesting misconception that we need to eat meat to get enough protein in our diet. Plants have the digestive protein enzymes our bodies need, and when you are consuming a meat product, you are actually getting most of your protein from the plants they ate during their lifetime. In other words, the animal is an intermediary agent before being transferred to you. Similar to society deciding the color blue is for boys and pink is for girls, we’ve be taught to think meat = protein.

Below are examples of vegan foods with higher protein:

• 1 cup of Tofu = 20 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Tempe = 30 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Chickpeas = 15 grams of protein

• 1/2 cup of Peanuts = 20 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Quinoa = 8 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Lentils = 18 grams of protein

• 1/2 cup of Almonds = 16 grams of protein

• 5 mushrooms = 3 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Oats = 11 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Corn = 16 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Broccoli = 3 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Edamame = 17 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Black Beans = 16 grams of protein

• 1 slice of Ezekiel Bread = 4 grams of protein

• 1 ounce of Pumpkin Seeds = 9 grams of protein

• 2 TBSP Peanut Butter = 6 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Lima Beans = 15 grams of protein

• 1 medium Potato = 4 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Peas = 8 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Hummus = 16 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Brussel Sprouts = 4 grams of protein

• 1 cup of Avocado = 3 grams of protein

• 2 TBSP Chia Seeds = 4 grams of protein

The biggest difference is the volume. When you are removing meat from your diet, you tend to have a lower caloric intake. This leaves room to increase the volume of other food groups such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and grains. As you begin to fill up the portion of your plate that once held meat, you will be substituting it for another food group that most likely offers protein in a different form.

One thing that I personally have noticed and become more aware of is watching my fat intake. Although healthy fats are good for you, by eating more beans, nuts, and produce such as avocado, your natural fat intake can sneak up on you, so it is something to keep an eye on.

SHOP THE POST:

I truly love being a vegan because of how I feel from the foods I am putting in my body. I am always happy to talk about my journey and share my latest favorite vegan recipes. So, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Being vegan doesn’t have to be difficult. It is a lifestyle shift that has changed my life.

Happy Dining!

Jen

Investor // Landlord and DIYer // Realtor // Business Consultant // Globe Trotter // Converting Vegan.

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