Don't Let These Myths Stop You From Going Vegan

I was on Instagram live the other day talking to my peeps (come follow me on there so we can connect, too!) about how and why they should start a vegan journey.

One of the ladies asked if it's normal to start and then "fall off the wagon" only after a few weeks.

This is pretty common! Maybe you can relate.

Before I became vegan in April 2010, I tried it earlier that year, but only lasted about two weeks.

I lived on fruit, sunflower seeds, and water during that time because I had no idea what to eat, cook, or how to vegan grocery shop.

I was sooo overwhelmed!

These days there are a million resources, ingredients replacements (homemade and store-bought) and support, so there's no excuse to not incorporate healthier and more compassionate options.

Even if you tried to do this before, you should never give up!

 

BEING VEGAN IS TOO EXPENSIVE

What do potatoes, spinach, black beans, corn tortillas, bananas, apples, rice, spaghetti noodles and canned tomatoes have in common?

All of these items are vegan and very affordable.

I will admit that our grocery bill spiked when we started this journey, but that was because I was buying all organic for a family of 5. These days, I do buy some organics, but overall I just focus on what we can afford. Period. 

Don't let a tight budget be the reason you don't stay on this vegan journey.

Quick Tips to Keep Your Grocery Bill Down:

*Buy as many whole ingredients as possible - it doesn't take a million hours to cook from scratch. I promise! 

*Think about how you can make enough for leftovers (soup & chili recipes are perfect for this) to save both and time.

*Only shop at Whole Foods (AKA Whole Check- chile!) for speciality vegan products that you can't get at a regular grocery store. Do the rest of your grocery shopping at your regular store. You can also save some coins using Thrive Market

*Buy what you need - I know this isn't popular advice, but in my experience, you will waste money buying produce in bulk because it's hard to eat it fast enough before it spoils.

*If you prefer to buy organics, see if you can get a better deal at the farmer's market. Also, my grocery store has store brand organics that are super affordable. See if you store has this option.

VEGAN LIFE IS TOO MUCH TIME-CONSUMING

I can understand why this is a struggle for many people.
We're all used to grocery shopping and cooking at some level - The problem is, most of us aren't used to writing a detailed meal plan and paying close attention to what we buy while grocery shopping.

This is the reason vegan life can feel time-consuming in the beginning. 

I promise once you get used to those uncomfortable feelings (by pushing passed them) and get into a routine, all of this will become easier.

Hang in there!

RELATED: Here's an episode from my podcast with tips on how NOT to spend all weekend on meal planning.

VEGAN FOOD IS BORING & TASTELESS

Before I was a vegan, I thought we could only eat salad and smoothies. I promise this isn't the case at all!

I love variety just as much as the next person. I wouldn't be on this journey if I felt limited by my food choices.

You can make or buy everything vegan.

Sometimes vegan meals have a reputation for being bland and boring. Vegan life is what you make it! 

I don't know about you, but I'm not interested in blah meals. I live for flavor! Some of the most common spices/seasoning I use: Salt, black pepper, cumin, garlic and onion powder, cayenne, smoked paprika, and oregano. 

RELATED: Blog post and audio with more information about pantry and spices basics here

VEGANs DON'T GET PROTEIN

Some people think you can only get protein from chicken, beef, fish, eggs, etc. but this isn't the case at all. There are sooo many plant-based options that can easily replace the meat on your plate.

Grains: quinoa, brown rice, couscous, barley, cornmeal, wheat flour, oat brans, etc.

Beans: black beans, tempeh, kidney beans, chickpeas, tofu (made from bean curd), etc.

Nuts/Seeds: pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts, walnuts, etc.

There's also a protein in spinach, apple, grapefruit, tomatoes, etc.
 

I hope this post was helpful!

5 Reasons You Should Go Vegan with Your Family

I know exactly what it feels like to be overwhelmed with the idea of starting vegan life with a family.
When you're consistent and persistence with this lifestyle, I promise it will become easier to stay on track.

I believe the first step in getting started on a vegan journey is determine your why.

Once you think about why you want to go vegan, it's very important to make the decision to do it. There's sooo much power in making this decision because it will open you up to research your options, meal plan and even start cooking vegan meals.  Don't worry about being perfect. Just get started! 

Just in case you're still not sure why you should start a vegan lifestyle, I want to give you some amazing reasons why vegan life is right for you and the fam.

Here are 5 reasons you should go vegan with your family.....

*Health benefits

When you crowd out meat, dairy and eggs and replace with more vegetables, fruits, grains, beans and seeds; you lower the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, certain cancers and diabetes.

*Being vegan builds a solid foundation for your children

 Most of us grew up drinking tons of dairy milk and eating meat at every meal. We don't have to pass that same lifestyle down to our children.  We have the power to change this narrative. Spend some time meal planning, grocery shopping and cooking with your children (I'll give you tips on how to do this in later in this course). You don't have to lecture them daily, but as you learn and grow, pass on that information to them. 

 

*Being vegan saves money on your grocery bill  

Once you get the hang of vegan grocery shopping, you will see that you will spend about the same on your grocery bill or even less. 
Think about it this way, you're transferring the cost of meat, dairy and eggs (which can all be expensive-especially if you're buying organic) to more affordable options like more leafy greens, potatoes, beans and cashews. Think about how you're transferring the cost- NOT spending more on your grocery bill.
When you buy whole ingredients and get in the kitchen to cook more, you're guaranteed to save money and also eat better.

 

*Good for the planet

I remember a few years ago there was a lot of talk about how gas guzzling Hummer and SUVs aren't good for the environment but want to know what causes even more devastation? The production and consumption of meat and dairy!

 

*Silent protest against factory farming 

Ultimately, humans take away life. Other animals do not ‘give up their life’ as some people believe – they have not given consent to be slaughtered. In over 95% of cases they are killed prematurely:
-Cows, for example, could live to well over 20 years of age, while on 'dairy' farms they are usually shot between 3-4 years of age when milk production is no longer considered 'profitable'. Cows bred for 'beef' meat are killed sooner.
-Broiler chicks are just 6 weeks old and grown too rapidly to sustain their own weight and heart when they are killed. Chickens could live to 10 years old.
-Pigs are slaughtered when they have reached a certain weight, which will be later in organic systems than in intensive farms, but they are typically killed between 4-6 months of age, while they could reach 15 years.
-Sheep can also live to 15 years but depending on whether they are slaughtered as lambs or later, they are shot and bled between 3-10 months of age.
-Every week 3,000 male calves are killed shortly after birth, usually within days, and over 40 million day-old chicks are killed each year, including those from organic farms. Males do not secrete bodily fluids destined for offspring (cow's milk), or lay eggs like hens do. Calves are either shot or exported alive to where they are kept in small pens to produce veal flesh - deprived of their mothers and their natural food (milk). Source - Vegan Society

Here are some awesome books that helped me to get started back in 2010:

Diet for A New America, Sistah Vegan, Skinny Bitch

Is anything holding you back from starting your own vegan journey? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

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