For a while now, I’ve identified as being vegan-curious. My family is vegetarian, so I didn’t grow up eating meat. In many ways, I think my current omniverious lifestyle is just a prolonged teen rebellion that turned into a mindless habit. Also, burgers are pretty tasty.
“I’m obsessed with dairy-free ice cream. I can confirm that a vegan diet is not necessarily healthier.”
I am well aware of the impact that eating animal products has on the environment. A study from the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet could reduce your carbon footprint from food by up to 73%. I’ve seen the documentaries, read the books and articles… I’ve even written the articles. As the effects of climate change become more and more serious, my lackadaisical approach to eating animals felt lazy at best and, at worst, hypocritical and destructive.
When murmurs of vegan January (Veganuary) began circling the eco-sphere, I thought it was the perfect time to put this whole vegan thing to the test. Here’s how it went.
27 December*
Approaching this 1 month challenge, I am only really nervous about two things: eggs and feta. Mostly because those are my favourite toppings on avocado toast.
2 January
Day 1 was a breeze. I went to the supermarket today to buy a silly amount of frozen vegetables to prepare for the rest of the month. There was one square of chocolate left in my freezer (freeze your chocolate, it’s delish), so I just popped it in my mouth to make room. Seconds later, I realised there was milk in chocolate.
Did I think I’d mess up on the second day of this challenge? No. But here we are and I have no choice but to move along.
5 January
Recent google searches include:
Are churros vegan?
Are bagels vegan?
Is wine vegan?
The answers, if you’re curious, are no, mostly yes and thank goodness yes.
6 January
I break out the vegan cream cheese. Surprisingly good! If you live in the US, I highly recommend Kite Hill’s chive cream cheese.
7 January
Order a regular flat white by accident. Give it to a friend.
12 January
Ok, this really is too easy. I walked into an ice cream shop because I thought it would create a nice moment of wistfulness for this article, but there was a whole vegan menu. The Lemon Curd Cookie flavour was incredible.
14 January
Ordered a veggie burger at a dive bar. It sneakily came with cheese on top, so I picked it off. That’s fine, right?
15 January
Do vegans eat honey? I’ll just skip it to be safe.
18 January
Alright, things got a little complicated. I was supposed to have dinner with a friend doing the Keto diet (not the official definition, but it seems to be all animal products). I start calling restaurants to ask if there are any vegan options on the menu. I feel like a total loser. It takes 4 phone calls before I find a place that has something for both of us. I’m a little annoyed, but my miso eggplant is excellent, so it’s fine.
20 January
I’m obsessed with dairy-free ice cream. I can confirm that a vegan diet is not necessarily healthier.
21 January
Finished another pint of ice cream. This may be getting out of hand.
22 January
I’m invited out to dinner but worry that my dietary restrictions will cause too much trouble. It’s at the sort of place where everyone shares a bunch of dishes. I decide to go anyway, feel awkward when I order separately, but have an overall good time. In the end, no one really cares what I’m eating.
25 January
Went to a party at a friend’s house. He kindly pointed out which of the appetisers were vegan. I started noshing on some pita chips. They were so good… what was the flavour? Turns out, parmesan. This must be why vegans are so often characterised as untrusting.
“The best part is feeling morally superior to non-vegans. Just kidding! Sort of.”
The frequently asked questions
Sorry, that diary ended kind of abruptly. After the pita chip fiasco of 2020, nothing noteworthy really happened. I ate delicious, plant-based food at home and eventually sat down to write this article. Throughout the month, I got a lot of the same questions. Maybe you’re asking some of these questions too? I’ll just go ahead and answer them.
How do I feel?
Physically? Exactly the same. My skin might actually be a bit clearer, but I’m not willing to definitively say that’s because of my diet. Really, the best part is feeling morally superior to non-vegans. Just kidding! Sort of.
Was it expensive?
It didn’t have to be, but I did spend a bit more than usual. I found myself going to pricier, specialty supermarkets because they had the most fun vegan snacks and desserts.
Was I hungry all of the time?
No. In fact, I was less hungry than usual. An increase in fibre will do that to you.
Did I lose weight?
Absolutely not. There were about 3 other pints of vegan ice cream that I didn’t mention in this diary. And did you know that chips and salsa are vegan?
Did it impact my social life?
Yes and no. Being vegan made going out much more stressful. It ended up being fine, but it was definitely something that I had to think about.
Did I only eat tofu?
First of all, I really like tofu. Is that weird? Like I’ve added tofu to meat dishes before. But no, I didn’t only eat tofu. In fact I didn’t eat much of it at all. I did eat a lot of hummus, though. So that’s pretty stereotypical.
Did I miss eating animal products?
I honestly (and truly surprisingly) didn’t. I only missed the convenience of knowing that wherever I go there will be something that I can eat.
Did I, um, use more toilet paper than usual?
Yes. A strong yes.
Will I continue eating this way?
I’ve thought about it, and I’m willing (and excited even) to only bring plant-based products into my home. I can also commit to not eating literal meat or cheese in restaurants. But there are just so many little things that I don’t have the patience to keep track of – the eggs in pasta, the rice that was cooked in chicken stock, the lentil soup that has a surprise sprinkling of parmesan. In order for this to be sustainable for me, I have to give myself a little slack. And I’m ok with that! Trying my best is the best I’m willing to do.
The short version
Being vegan? Not that hard. Except when it is. Feel the same, look the same, use the loo a bit more. Fell in love with coconut-based ice cream, contemplating marriage with a frozen treat.
*It’s perhaps important to note that I did not do any of the things I should have done before starting this challenge. I did not check any of my vitals, I did not consult a doctor or dietitian and I did not do any real research about how veganism could affect my health. If you choose to do this, don’t be like me. (I mean you could because it ended up being totally fine, but don’t tell our lawyer I said that.)