Is it hard to go vegan or eat a plant-based diet? If you're looking for a short but clear answer to this question, you've come to the right place! Again and again you hear that Veganism too extremetoo strenuous and impossible to implement in everyday life. However, in my experience, this is mainly claimed by people who have not yet, or only to a limited extent, dealt with the motives for a vegan lifestyle.
It was the same for me. When I learned more about the background to the Factory FarmingI have changed my opinion abruptly after learning about plant-based nutrition and the environmental impact of animal products.
The animals that had to die for me had a hard time - but certainly not me. With this realization, it was incredibly easy to give up meat, eggs, cow's milk, honey or traditional cheese.
In this article, I will show you which factors play a particularly important role in whether or not the changeover seems difficult. I'll also give you some useful tips that will make it much easier for you to stick with it and get rid of old habits without completely bending. Let's go!
In advance, here is a brief overview for you:
What does it depend on how hard it is to go vegan?
Of course, Change is often difficult for us humans. You require a certain degree of discipline - and accordingly the degree of difficulty in the transition to the vegan lifestyle quite high at first glance.
After all, you have to Shed traditions, habits and comforts and also somehow replace the delicious taste of animal foods. Admittedly, that's quite a big change. Especially if you've been eating these things your whole life.
But there are some factors that are crucial to how difficult or easy it is for you to make the change. I would now like to introduce you to these important components. Incidentally, they can all be adjusted so that the achievement of your goals is easier. even easier for you personally will.
Personal motivation
Your personal reasons for going vegan will determine how strenuous the change will be for you. Are you making the change for health reasons? For example, at vegan slimming? Or do you want to use the Protect environment and for example the Stop deforestation of the rainforests? Then the motivation is already quite high.
But it's especially big when you vegan for the animals (so vegan for ethical reasons). After all, your eating habits require sacrifices, as cows, chickens or pigs have to suffer and ultimately die for meat, eggs or milk, for example.
As soon as you put yourself in the position of the animals and your Compassion you will also remain vegan. Even when things get a little more complicated. Documentaries about factory farming (e.g. Cowspiracy*) help immensely.
Tip: One such "complicated" situation could be visiting a restaurant where there is nothing vegan on the menu. How you can still eat vegan in any restaurant you can find out in the linked blog article.
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Own openness to change
There are people who, for a variety of reasons, prefer to leave everything as it is, even though a small change in their everyday lives could make them feel much better. The reason for this is often professional or private Stress - or one or the other Prejudice towards the vegan lifestyle.
But those who strive for such a change do so because it would feel right or simply better - in other words, for good reason! Those who don't even try, however, have already lost before the supposedly huge challenge has even begun - and will continue to live with a contradictory relationship between one's own moral standards and one's own actions (see cognitive dissonance - "I love animals but I eat them") have to live.
My absolute recommendation for a good start is definitely the book "Eating animals" by Jonathan Safran Foerthat you get here*. This will make it easier for you to question what you eat - and why you eat it.
And to get rid of prejudices, I would like to show you the Book "Vegan ist Unsinn!" (is available here*), in which popular arguments against veganism are logically refuted.
Social environment
Of course, the People you regularly surround yourself withis crucial to the success of your plan. It's probably a little harder to go vegan if your five best friends are, for example, meat fanatics, environmental destroyers, alcoholics or chain smokers - in other words, if Animal welfare, nature and health play at most a subordinate role in their lives play.
If they also Not open to change and make fun of you for your decision rather than supporting you in your endeavor, the transition can be tough.
It's different if you cultivate a supportive and open environment - and slowly sensitize those around you to the issue. With the right Questions for good conversations (e.g. "Do you believe that animals are here WITH or FOR us on earth?") you can Stimulate questioning.
Cooking plant-based dishes together (Cookbook tip: "Vegan & Easy" by Bianca Zapatka*) increases the understanding and acceptance of your decision in your environment.
Residence
If you want to go vegan, it's important to know where exactly you live. On the Village in my experience, the plant-based diet is somewhat more difficult than in the City. For example, because there are only a few restaurants and there is (still) less demand for plant-based alternatives.
Nevertheless, even in the countryside it is still absolutely within the realms of possibility. Not least because noodles, rice, tofu, pulses and fruit and vegetables are also available there - and many plant-based foods are even grown locally. 🙂
Really hard would be if you were in the Arctic would live. Because there you die if you don't catch a fish now and then and eat it. But in our western world, we don't buy "survival foods", we buy luxury foods, which are available to us in an incredible variety. So we are free to decide whether we eat vegan or not.
Can you think of any other reasons that make it hard to go vegan? Then just write me a comment with your hint.
How can you make the transition to a vegan lifestyle easier?
There are countless Beginner mistakes that vegans must avoid at all costs should. For example, you shouldn't see yourself as a health guru, only consume plant-based substitutes or think you have to do everything perfectly.
But apart from this advice, there are a few tips that will help you answer the question "Was it difficult for you to become vegan?" with a smiling "No, I just regret that I didn't start sooner".
Make animal welfare a priority
You are against cruelty to animals? Then stop paying for animal cruelty. Understand that your actions have consequences. For you it might just be a 3 minute salami sandwichbut for a pig its whole life.
Also keep yourself busy, what vegans eat and try simple recipes from cookbooks like "Vegan nutrition for beginners" (is available here*) and "Vegan & Easy" (is available here*). You will gradually learn how to replace even the last animal products in your everyday life.
Meet like-minded people
The changeover will be super easy if you together with others or have like-minded people around you. For example, try to eat a purely plant-based diet with a friend - or join the Street discussions with others for the vegan way of life strong.
Get a taste of plant-based cuisine
Think it's too much effort to be vegan? As so often, can Trial months help with major changes in everyday life. That is why for many people the so-called Veganuary (Start in the vegan diet in January, so to speak. sustainable new year resolution), extremely helpful. After all, the project then seems less gigantic and overwhelming if one Step by step to the goal arrived.
Also a Accompanying online course like "Vegan living, made easy* by isshappy.de* helps!
Set aside prejudices and inform yourself
Many people reflexively throw Reasons around not to be vegan, if they are near a vegan or a vegan. Such Prejudices have an extreme braking effect and make it really hard to be vegan. Put clichés and myths, like Do plants have feelings? or no animals die for eggs bit by bit. The Book "Vegan ist Unsinn!" (is available here*) makes it easy for you.
Also be sure to take a look at vegan documentaries (e.g. What The Health* or Cowspiracy*), which will show you the Bringing lifestyle and its motives closer. Personally, the Dominion film vegan, as it shows the background to the exploitation of animals (for food, entertainment and clothing, among other things).
Do you have any other tips to make going vegan even easier? Then just write your ideas in the comments column.
In principle, it is not difficult to live vegan...
... and not only with your own words, but also with their own deedsto stand up against cruelty to animals and animal exploitation. You make it more difficult for yourself if you only consider your own advantages and disadvantages.
And the changeover will be much easier if you use the Advantages and disadvantages also from the perspective of the victims look at them. Once you've done that, you'll realize who actually has a hard time. Is it hard to go vegan? It's definitely easier than convincing yourself every day that animals don't have to suffer.
"All animals know it, except man, that the highest goal of life is joy."
Samuel Butler (more at Animal Welfare Quotes)
I hope that I have been able to help you with this article and show you that being vegan is not difficult for most people. Do you have any questions, suggestions or other tips that will make it even easier to "stick with it" or implement it? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay animal-friendly,
PS: You also want to eat vegan without substitute products? Then you will now learn how easy it works in the linked blog article. Have fun!
