By Alliance Communications Coordinator Amy Durr
Do you react viscerally to the word “vegan”? Do you immediately think NEVER ME! I’m here to invite you to celebrate World Vegan Day on November 1 along with me, an aspiring but not-there-yet vegan.
Living more sustainably is a process for all of us, even Gwyneth Paltrow. Unless you live on top of a mountain, grow all of your own food, and make all of your clothing (including shoes), living 100% sustainably is sadly impossible for almost everyone.
The good news is that living sustainably in general and veganism in particular isn’t about being perfect. It’s about life-long learning, making better choices and I would say caring.
Demystifying Veganism and Exploring Its Possibilities
Vegans can come across as pedantic, but I don’t concern myself with squabbles. The vast majority of the 79 million vegans in the world (1% of the population) are committed to being as compassionate and humane as possible. That’s the important part.
The Vegan Society has a widely accepted definition, and a shorter version:
“There are many ways to embrace vegan living. Yet one thing all vegans have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish, shellfish and insects), dairy, eggs and honey – as well as avoiding animal-derived materials, products tested on animals and places that use animals for entertainment.”
Many people step up by trying a meatless Monday, going plant-based or even becoming vegetarian, spacing the transition over months or years.
What You Can Do to Try Out Veganism
- Celebrate World Vegan Day by eating vegan on Nov 1
- Make my favorite 30-minute vegan soup
- Try vegan foods from a food delivery company like Purple Carrot
- Make a plan to eat vegan 1 or 2 days each week
Find Your Why by Focusing on Compassion
Why do people become vegan? According to the BBC, reasons include:
- Animal welfare
- Environmental impact of food
- Health
- Personal autonomy
- Community
But it isn’t all about food, and you can be more vegan conscious in many ways. Everyday vegan products are becoming much more accessible.
These switches are easy – I’ve switched out all of my cleaning supplies and most of my personal care products. Buying vegan means less animals are harmed, and reduces the demand for such things in the future.
What You Can Do to Be More Compassionate
- Switch out some of your cleaning, personal care and beauty products for vegan alternatives that are not tested on animals
- Avoid wearing leather, wool, fur, and down
- Avoid zoos, circuses, and exotic pets
- Learn about veganism through the lens of justice
- Embrace the idea of Do No Harm
- If you’re brave, watch a vegan documentary
Love the Vegans in Your Life
Although I’m not yet vegan, I want to support vegans to:
- help normalize veganism
- protect animals and the environment
- create a kinder, more compassionate world
Doing so will make it easier for people who do want to be plant-based or vegan.
What You Can Do to Support Everyone in Having More Vegan Options
- Host a vegan dinner party or potluck
- Order a vegan option on the menu
- Share a vegan treat with co-workers, friends or family
- Support legislation to protect animals
- Educate yourself by putting a book about veganism on your reading list
- Follow vegans on social media, such as @queerbrownvegan, @collectiveabolition, @blackricanvegan, @seb.alex, @veganezer, and @jensplantbase
Veganism is a Journey
Because I live in a rural place, there are no vegan restaurants (or even restaurants with vegan options) and the grocery stores have limited frozen or prepared vegan foods. You don’t know how sad I am to tell you that the closest Trader Joe’s is an hour away.
Single parenting two children with special needs (who aren’t vegan) limits the time I have to cook or look up recipes, and my budget limits how many specialty foods I can buy. So for the time being I’ve backed off being 100% vegan. I eat vegan meals at least 4 times per week, focus on becoming mostly plant-based while eating some eggs and cheese, and continue to make lifestyle changes slowly over time.
The changes I’ve made still feel rewarding, I’m continuing to learn new things all the time, and still believe that becoming 100% vegan (whatever that means) is a noble and achievable goal.