As the year draws to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about this space and what I can do in the new year to challenge myself (and hopefully you) in new ways. It probably doesn’t come across this way on the blog, but I often struggle with questions like – What am I doing to make a difference? What can I do to help people and animals? Am I growing on a personal level? Lately, these questions have gone mostly unanswered. Don’t get me wrong, I love sharing my recipes with you (and I know it makes a positive difference based on your feedback – thank you), so I have no plans to stop recipe development. It’s something I enjoy immensely more days than not. But there are other things I could be doing and I’ve felt this pull at my heart strings a lot in recent months. With only weeks to go until my cookbook manuscript is due, I’m feeling worn out and I’m sure this a big reason for the rut I feel like I’m stuck in. The good thing about a rut is that it usually prompts a change for the better (with time). Discomfort prompts motion.
In spirit of change, I’m starting a series on veganism this year – simple posts that can make the transition to a plant-based diet easier. I’m really excited about this. To be honest, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for over a year now, but I tend to suffer from the mindset that if I can’t do it exactly right or if I don’t know all the answers, then I shouldn’t do it at all. Well, this is a rather silly way to go through life, don’t you think? The truth is, I’m the only one holding myself back. I want to share whatever it is that I can offer and trust that it will be helpful for some of you. Even if you have no desire of going vegan or if you are already a vegan yourself, I still hope that this series will be inspiring and peak some curiosity about things you may want to know more about.
Here are some examples of questions I receive every week:
What can I replace yogurt with?
What’s a substitute for sour cream?
I have no idea what to do. Do you have a vegan 101 Series I can read through to get started?
What do you eat each day?
How do I get protein?
What the bleep is a flax egg????
What do I do if I have a craving for an old food?
Why do you soak beans and nuts? Will my husband fart less if I soak his nuts? (Yes someone wrote this once…I almost spit out my drink.)
I want to start TODAY…help me!
It occurred to me that it would be more helpful if I posted my experiences on the blog, rather than simply via email. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that a vegan diet isn’t about what you take away; it’s really about what you add in. I didn’t know this for a long time. For every food that I decided to forgo, I eventually added at least a handful of new, vibrant foods in its place. But first, I had to learn what it is I could add into my diet. This wasn’t easy for me in the beginning and I suspect it’s not for many. Three and a half years into it, I’m still very much learning.
To make this series a success, it’s important for me to have your feedback and input. I’d love to know some of the questions you are struggling with right now or perhaps things you struggled with in the past but triumphed over. Everyone loves a good success story, myself included. [Side note: I’m considering the return of reader success stories, perhaps in a Q & A format – would you enjoy this feature again on OSG?]
For those of you who are making some changes to your diet in 2013, I hope you’ll find this series timely and helpful in your journey. More on all of this very soon.
For more in this series, see:
Part 1: How To Make The Transition
Part 2: Replacing Dairy Milk
Part 3: Homemade Oat Milk
Part 4: Homemade Almond Milk
Part 5: Ten Tips for eating out as a vegan
I wish you a happy, fun, and safe New Year’s surrounded by the people you love! Happy New Year to you all. Thank you for reading Oh She Glows and bringing me into your home each week. I bid farewell to 2012 filled with gratitude.
This is so great! My husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer in September of this year. He’s been through surgery and is now recovering. This is the second cancer he has fought. We have been doing a ton of research in how to decrease the risk of cancer reoccuring. Everything points to a vegan/vegetarian diet. I have been vegetarian for a year but can not seem to cut the eggs and dairy completely out of my diet. So, with my husband joining me in a similar diet, we are both hoping to cut all animal protein from our diets. The big issue we are having is trying to find portable breakfast and lunch ideas that require no microwaving. I know salads/smoothies/sandwiches are great, but really we need some variety options. Also, what to serve guests…all our friends are big meat eaters!
Looking forward to this great series!!
This is such a brilliant idea! I can’t think of any resource out there for this kind of content. Way to go. I think a few things to address – how easy it can be when you need to eat out (if you decide to foray into being vegan), biggest reasons why people go vegan, how it can actually be healthy, and how to make it a HABIT. As the new year approaches I always feel that is the easiest resolution, but the hardest to keep! Can’t wait for the series.
I love this idea! I’d like to know how to cut back (or cut out entirely) white sugar, which is my most beloved vice. If you can give me a surefire way to stop adding 4 tsp of sugar to my tea without it making me stop drinking tea altogether, I’ll love you forever. I’d also like tips on how to more bravely try new ingredients that for some reason have never made it onto my plate (okra and brussel sprouts, I’m looking at you)…and *why* I should even bother trying those new foods.
On an unrelated note, I made your revamped lentil loaf for Christmas Eve, and it was awesome! It actually made two loaves for me, so I’m still eating leftovers!
I think the series is an awesome idea!! I have been vegetarian for about 4 yrs and have dabbled in veganism on and off throughout that time. I have no problem eating vegan when I’m on my own, but like some of the other readers, social eating is a headache! This is especially true when I’m visiting my family or when they come to visit me; I’m from a Hispanic family and most meals revolve around meat. My mother makes great attempts to make things I can eat, but they contain cheese and I feel awful turning her down after she’s gone through so much trouble. I also have trouble out in restaurants that aren’t vegan, I would like to be able to enjoy more than just a salad when eating out with friends.
Hey Angela!
I would love to read a vegan how to series. As a borderline vegan myself it would be extremely helpful! I strive to eat vegan 98% of the time but sometimes I’ll slip up and have yogurt. I’m striving to be 100% vegan soon.
I read a post you wrote a while back…healthy size. I really enjoyed the concept. I think there is too much pressure on women to be a certain size.
My question for you is..do you still weigh yourself using a scale? I find it bothersome to see the numbers go up one day and get frustrated but then the next day the numbers are down. But If I dont use a scale then how do I really know my weight is stable? I’d love to hear your thoughts (readers are welcome to answer too) and how you strike balance. Thank you so much!! Happy New Year!!
Angela,
What a great resolution, and not only because it so snugly fits next to mine. For years, and more seriously in the past 6 months, I have toyed with vegetarianism and veganism. After watching and reading a great deal of pro-plant works, I am jumping in. The plan is to eat a vegan diet for a year, and then reevaluate. I actually started it a little early, around the solstice. It feels like a true gift I am giving to myself!
As soon as I stumbled on OhSheGlows.com, I high tailed it to the kitchen. Your blog inspires me to cook. Thank you. So many of your recipes are now things I make all the time. In particular the almond thumb print cookies. They were the perfect thing to take to my vegan workplace where many people are also following a gluten-free diet. I have shared that recipe, along with your blog, over and over.
It seems that this vegan how-to is a fitting addition to your site but I completely understand your apprehension. My own passion for health and well-being has led me to become a sort of succubus of nutritional knowledge especially when paired with my educational background. It is not uncommon for friends and family to seek out conversations of health with me, or maybe it’s the other way around… I of course cherish the opportunity to share with them my thoughts and experiences, but can never escape the twinge of uneasiness over how little I feel I actually know. At my preschool we address this problem by realizing it is not that you teach or guide as if you have the answer but simply provide what you already know expecting the idea to unfold and expand in it’s own unique way.
Thank you for being that provider for so many people! Courage is the most attractive quality.
Love and light!
Brooke
Thank you Brooke, what a beautiful comment. :) Thanks for trying out so many recipes and spreading the word! I love what you say about “provide what you know” that is so very true. I hope it to be more of a conversation, than anything.
This is exactly the type of series that I would LOVE to read. I’ve been a vegetarian for a year now. I’m trying to monitor my dairy consumption because I often find myself eating it multiple times a day. Sometimes I have trouble getting in my calories “on the go.” I’m a student, commute and almost always bring snacks, lunches and dinners with me around campus. Any tips? Last idea: Dealing with family and friends when they ask about your diet. Some judge, some have lots of questions, some people automatically become nutritionists and tell you its bad for your body- how can we effectively and politely inform people about our food choices? How can we get them to understand that this is an important life style choice we have decided to follow?
I can’t wait to start reading this series :) If you would like to chat or brain storm feel free to email me!
Reader Success stories sounds like a great idea, I always love reading diet and weight loss success stories and I think vegan ones would be just as interesting :) Question and answers format is tried and tested and I always like that way of doing it.
My mum is becoming vegan in the New Year (which I’m SO happy about!) so I think that would be a great resource for her. Love your website and I’m looking forward to your new posts (and your cookbook when it comes out!!!).
Have a great 2013 :)
Lana x
Happy New Year Angela!!!
P.S. I miss Glo bars soooo much.
I have been vegan for about a year and a half. The thing I struggle with the most is have non vegans in the house and sastisfying me and my non vegan family. My husband won’t touch most vegetables with a ten foot pole! I get tired of having to make two meals every night. I would like to know how others deal with this issue.
Hi,
I am struggling with family dinners with inlaws who are mostly intolerant of a vegan diet and serve meat at every meal. I usually remedy this situation by cooking our own meals and bringing them to their house each occasion, but does anyone have any success stories about how they have overcome this obstacle? Thanks and happy vegan new year!
Yes!! This is what I have been waiting for. I am considering vegan too. So pumped you are doing this! Just found your blog a month ago and have been reading the post from 2009 and 2010. Addicted! Keep the great recipes coming.
This post, and series, is right on time! Last year one of my “New Years resolutions” was to become vegetarian. It really helped to say it out loud and what better jumping off point then the first of the year? It worked beautifully. I really wanted to expand what I ate and going vegetarian helped. I have been juggling the idea of going vegan for as long as I juggled the idea of going vegetarian. I am still going back and forth on going vegan starting Jan 1 2013. I struggle with the idea of completely giving up cheese. Some of my fav go to meals include cheese, like lasagna and mac and cheese. I feel like trying to replace them would be hard, though I know there are easy substitutes. I wonder if I should just cut back some which I already have with yogurt and not adding cheese to simple pasta dishes and mexican dishes/chilis. But when I tried to “cut back” on meat before I gave it up completely I ended up still eating more meat then I wanted to, especially when out at restaurants. I look forward to this series for motivation and confidence to meet my food goals and expand further my food choices for 2013! Happy New Year!
I’m a vegetarian & the closer I try and follow a vegan diet the more my hair falls out even when watching my protein and taking my vitamins. What else can help with this?
I have been tempted to try cutting out dairy to see if it would make me feel better. But I already can’t have gluten, soy and most nuts. Beans and seeds (like quinoa) arent much easier on my digestion either. I have tried coconut yogurt, but the taste was horrible. My naturopath also says I am not getting enough protein from my current sources and I need to include at least a small amount of meat in my diet even though I hate it. Ugh. I am still curious to see what you have to say though, because I enjoy seeing what works for other people. I really think we all need to find a way of life that fits with our emotional needs and our individual bodies’ nutritional needs.
Whoa, sorry for typing so much!
looking forward to these series. I struggle with trying to blend beans/nuts without a food processor to get a more sauce like texture but know eventually getting one will be worth the investment. I can’t get over the huband soaking nuts comment…too funny haha
looking forward to these series. I struggle with trying to blend beans/nuts without a food processor to get a more sauce like texture but know eventually getting one will be worth the investment. I can’t get over the husband soaking nuts comment…too funny haha
I think this is a good idea, since it can be hard to transition to a vegan diet and keep up the momentum without good support and ideas from other vegans. For anyone contemplating switching to plant-based, I highly suggest the PCRM 21-Day Kickstart program. Basically it is a challenge to eat healthy vegan meals for a month, and they provide daily encouragement, nutritional information, and recipes to help along the way. I found it to be a good motivator!
http://pcrm.org/kickstartHome/
Thank you For doing this Angela. I think it’s a great idea. I am veg and slowly moving over to a plant based diet. I’m committing to at least 30 days of a strict vegan diet just to see how it goes. My question regards dining out. My husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy and I would like to hear some restaurant suggestions. I don’t want to be eating bland salads and side dishes all the time. Have a happy healthy New Year!
Love this idea!