The Vegan Survival Guide

By Miss Lycia, Guest Contributor

Hello, my name is Miss Lycia.  I am a vegan, and I live in the barbeque capital of the world.  GASP!  How is that possible, you ask?  Well, I have maintained this lifestyle successfully (and happily!) for years and have some survival tips to share.

Be Prepared

Every Thanksgiving, my family members say “We know you’re vegan, so we made some macaroni and cheese just for you.” Nooooo! Instead of sitting at the dinner table with an empty plate, I have learned to make items ahead of time for family gatherings—like zucchini lasagna or vegan pumpkin pie. Caveat: People are always curious about what the “vegan” is eating—be sure to bring enough to share!

Experiment

Most ethnic foods are very vegan-friendly.  Who needs greasy fried chicken when you can have Thai coconut curry or Japanese vegetable sushi?  Since becoming vegan, my taste buds have experienced culinary adventures from Sri Lankan to Ethiopian, Greek to Moroccan.  With these delightful cuisines, do I miss meat? Absolutely not!

Educate

Many people may not understand what it means to be a vegan and why you chose to adopt the lifestyle.  I try to use every opportunity as a teaching moment, without being condescending. (Thus, I do not advocate snatching cheeseburgers out of your friends’ hands.)  Share the truth about how animals are raised with the people around with you (Watch “Food, Inc.” or “Meet Your Meat” together) or recommend books that may be of interest (“Omnivore’s Dilemma” or “Fast Food Nation”).  Once my friends and family members understood my inspirations for becoming vegan, many of them became motivated to adopt a plant-based diet too.

Find Support

You may find it challenging if you are starting this journey alone. Identify sources of support, either online (such as Your Daily Vegan) or locally.  My city has a vegetarian organization that organizes monthly potluck and animal awareness events.  We all know there is power in numbers.  When I realized that there was a network of like-minded individuals in my area, it strengthened my commitment to veganism.  If I can survive in a carnivore’s paradise, then you can too.

With these tips, you are ready to face the world without fear, “I am Vegan, Hear Me Roar!”

Photo: Giant Sloth