30 Days Vegan Review & Advice ♥︎
A year and a half ago I decided to become vegetarian. It came to my mind pretty often to try it out, but I always gave up after a week or so. Recognizable? I would love to share my experience with you about what it was like to be vegan for 30 days and maybe I can give you new insights ♥ ︎
Actually it is not that surprising that I quickly gave in to eating meat again, after trying a vegetarian diet. I had no idea why I wanted to be vegetarian or what it would mean for the world and for myself. Out of ease and enjoyment I started eating meat again, until I got to know myself better during my time in Portugal.
By being in a new environment, surfing on a weekly basis and feeling a strong connection with nature, I learned what my values are, what my principles are and what I find important. It suddenly became very clear to me that we, humanity, depend on nature. That we owe everything to nature.
What we don’t realize
Nature doesn’t need us at all. In fact, nature would be better off without us. Yet we are here in this world, and may we use all the wonders that nature has to offer us.
When I look around, it seems as if we have forgotten this. As if it was lost. Respect, connection and especially gratitude for nature is missing. There is so much individualism and so much selfishness that we lose this connection. Both the connection with ourselves and with nature.
Eating meat, but also dairy and other animal products are bad for the environment. Especially because it is consumed worldwide in such large quantities. In addition, an unprecedented amount of animal suffering is involved.
Also read: Top 5 most Effective Sustainable Changes
Animals are also part of nature, and we should therefore respect them. Instead we use them and see animals as a product. Animals are slaughtered, abused and used on a large scale.
I no longer wanted to participate in this industry. I wanted to show more respect and gratitude to nature.
Meat just as harmful as dairy?
After being a vegetarian for a year, I discovered that the dairy industry is almost as harmful, cruel and polluting as the meat industry. Partly thanks to documentaries and people who promote social welfare via social media (watch video here).
Also read: 9 Sustainable Social Media Influencers
That’s why I decided to become vegan for at least 30 days. Is it really that hard? Is vegan food just as tasty? What are the obstacles? What are the benefits and how much impact does it have? Will I continue to eat vegan? I have experienced it these 30 days.
Good preparation is half the battle …
I had prepared myself reasonably well before the 30 days started. This made it easier to stick to vegan food. These are the 4 ways of preparation that have helped me a lot and hopefully can help you on your way too!
1. Do research on vegan recipes, products and influencers
I started looking for vegan recipes and inspiration. This is possible via blogs, social media, vegan cookbooks or on YouTube. In this way you prevent yourself from being in the kitchen and having no idea what you can cook. There are really endless vegan recipes online. You just have to make sure that you are aware of it and know what your favorites are!
Here some inspiring girls who always share super easy, tasty and healthy vegan recipes and tips. All 3 recipes can be found on Youtube, Instagram and via their websites.
Lisa Goes Vegan (@lisagoesvegan) www.lisagoesvegan.com
In addition to the vegan recipes from Lisa, she also shares new vegan discoveries in supermarkets and vegan hotspots in cities. She lives in the Netherlands and therefore shares many Dutch vegan products! Super handy for grocery shopping, or if you want to eat outside!
Madeleine Olivia (@madeleineolivia) www.madeleineolivia.co.uk
Madeleine (UK) has very nice YouTube tutorials where she shares delicious and easy recipes that are also budget proof 🙂
Pick Up Limes (@pickuplimes) www.pickuplimes.com
Pick Up Limes is also based in the Netherlands! The recipes that Sadia shares via YouTube are super unique, creative, unwise healthy, delicious and look incredibly beautiful!
2. Buy vegan groceries before you start
Try to stock up on a good stock of vegan groceries in advance. Think of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! When I suddenly got hungry or cravings, I always had something vegan at home! If you don’t have this, you will be tempted more quickly to get something not vegan.
3. Tell friends and family about your challenge
I also told a large part of my family and friends about my challenge. When your friends, family and other people from your circles are aware that you are vegan, they will take it into account more quickly. This of course makes it easier for you. You can of course always ask for help, understanding or encouragement. Especially if you still live at home, and vegan cooking is not automatically done!
For example, I now regularly receive vegan recommendations from friends!
4. Stay Informed
” When you feel like quitting, remember why you started ”
By keeping abreast of climate change, you keep reminding yourself why you are vegan. Depending on what your personal reason is of course. This makes it easier to start / continue.
I mainly did this by reading books about climate change, watching documentaries, staying informed via social media or by following the news about climate change. For example via CNN Climate (@cnnclimate on Insta).
Also read: 10 Netflix Documentaries You Have To See
What was the biggest sacrifice?
For me it was the most difficult during the 30 days not to eat cheese. I tried some cheese substitutes, but these were first of all packed double thick in plastic and in addition, it didn’t really taste like good cheese from the cheese farmer.
I prefer to eat as few products as possible. The more natural the better. The only cheese I found quite tasty was the vegan feta van Violife.
Furthermore, I always drank oat milk instead of cow milk, bio margarine instead of butter (which I also found difficult, because of course margarine tastes different than butter, but it was fine), vegan mayo, vegan frozen pizza when I felt like it and soy coconut yogurt (from AH homebrand) instead of cow yoghurt.
In the beginning I had to get used to some tastes, such as the vegan yogurt. After a while I started to get used to the taste and actually found it tastier.
Staying vegan after 30 days?
To be honest, I did eat cheese a few times afterwards and some other non-vegan things. So at the moment I am not 100% vegan. However, this is my goal and still take small steps to a vegan lifestyle!
By being 100% vegan for 30 days, I have discovered new products and recipes that I now use instead of the animal variant such as vegan margarine, yoghurt, pizza, mayo, feta and more. So I definitely made a step and the 30 days helped me further!
My cooking skills have also improved considerably since the 30 days! I have learned many new vegan recipes and learned a lot about different types of food.
When I cook now, it is always vegan. So I think I am 90% vegan. With small steps I hope to be completely vegan soon! With the aim of showing more respect, gratitude and connection to nature and to myself.
I also learned to speak out what I want and what I don’t want. In a restaurant clearly saying that I do not eat meat, fish, dairy or egg, I would previously have found unwise embarrassing and exaggerated. Now I dare to pronounce it more easily and to stand up for my own values and principles.
How about you?
And you? Are you already vegan or vegetarian? Or do you eat meat and fish? How do you stand here and what are your thoughts on this? Would you be open to change or not?
I am very curious! Maybe you have tips or want to share your story to help others. That is super welcome in the comments below this article! Questions and feedback will also be appreciated 🙂 I hope to have inspired you to eat more vegetarian or even vegan!
Need help with a vegan or vegetarian diet?
Take a look at the ProVeg website! There they offer a free 30-day vegan or vegetarian challenge with guidance from dietitians, coaches and recipes!
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I can also be pinned at Pinterest and you can find 16me on Facebook and Instagram (@emmawouterson)! ♥︎ Util next time…
Good Vibes,
Emma
