Reasons to Avoid Vegan Cooking
If the idea of eating healthy has crossed your mind at some point, you are likely wondering exactly how a Vegan lifestyle would help you. This is a lifestyle that crosses the minds of thousands of people each year in addition to the millions who are already eating strictly Vegan. With a large bit of effort, there are plenty of benefits that Vegan eating can provide, but have you ever stopped to consider some of the negative complications that are possible as well? For many people each year it is just not worth the hassle to eat Vegan and many people do not understand why. In order to start to understand we shall dive into some of the problems with Vegan eating and take a peek.
One of the biggest problems with a Vegan lifestyle is the absence of meat. While many people around the world really desire to do better for the environment the draw and attraction of a well prepared steak or a delicious hamburger is simply too much temptation to avoid. If you find yourself in this position there is little that you can really do to get away from meat. You have to really want to move away from eating meat in order to be successful. A Vegan lifestyle is not something that you can commit to if you are in the habit of eating steak or other meats continuously.
If we have to be brutally honest with ourselves, we have to admit that our lives are busier now than they ever have been before. This means that frequently we find ourselves pulling up to the drive through of our favorite fast food restaurant and ordering something that is prepared hurriedly for us to eat. If you are trying to live a Vegan lifestyle it can be extremely difficult to plan out your life so that you can avoid these restaurants, after all avoiding meat at a fast food restaurant is difficult. If you are able to plan your routine to avoid eating out as much as possible you will find it substantially easier to enjoy a Vegan lifestyle.
Many children are not keen upon change. This is something that parents have tried for years to change. It never fails, if you have something that you really want to do, your child will fight you on it. Trying to force them to change even further seems to only lead to more frustration. Working with your child to make smaller changes might be necessary but some parents are not willing to do this. If you find that you are not interested in allowing your child to have a serious say over what they are eating it might be a good idea to look for some ways to live together and exist happily together at the dinner table.
Other problems that are frequently occurred is the lack of desire to eat vegetables. If you are like most families, you probably do not eat as many vegetables as you should. This can make things extremely complicated when it is time to start giving up meat entirely. If you find yourself skimping on the vegetables on your plate, you are very much likely to discover that it is difficult for you to start heaping your plate full of veggies when the time comes. If however you are one of the first people in line to always pile up with different types of veggies for each meal then you might discover that a Vegan lifestyle is not as difficult or complex as you might have thought.
Working to create a new lifestyle for yourself is not always easy. Taking some time to really determine the best course of action for yourself is always best. If you get in a huge rush and start pushing through before you really have time to make the smaller changes you will see that it is even harder. Small changes are usually best, even if this is not necessarily what you are most interested in.
I have to admit, I’ll probably never make it as a 100% vegetarian. However, in the past year, I’ve cut red meat down to once every few weeks (just HAVE to have a cheeseburger sometimes!). I’ve also begun eating a lot more veggies and nuts. I think once you get in the habit of eating healthier food, it really does get easier to give up some of the things that aren’t so good for you.
That’s right Sarah. Eventually you might get tired of those cheeseburgers! LOL
It takes much discipline if you’re going into a vegetarian diet. Yes, it’s very hard especially if there are a lot of factors that will affect it. If you’re not into vegetables before or having a hectic life going on, but everything is not in a rush! Take it slowly. Little by little and you’ll realize the big difference after!
That’s right RJ. Thanks.
I had never considered the amount of organization it must require to follow a strict vegan diet. I have a close friend who is a vegetarian and he does well staying from meat, but personally I don’t think I’m willing to make the sacrifice
I try to do Vegan however living in the midwest the vegetables and fruits are hardly worth buying, especially in the winter months. So I try to improvise with pasta dishes and homemade sauces with cooked vegetables and really flavored up. I definitely know I feel better not eating beef.
As much as I think it’s great if you can go vegetarian or mostly vegetarian – both for your health and the environment – I advise against setting foot in fast food restaurants for anything but an emergency. And saying that your life is too busy is a poor excuse- in the time it takes to drive there and back, you could make a cheap veggie meal that feeds the family for much less, and much, much healthier.
In my case it would not be hard for me having a vegetarian diet since i love vegetables ever since i was a kid but the problem is i eat a lot of rice with vegetables. And i think i should cut eating rice.
I have never been able to completely eliminate meat from my diet. I have managed, however, to reduce portions and to limit my meats to lean meats, which has really helped me to maintain my weight loss while not feeling deprived.
If you are going to try to eat a vegan diet, then I’ve always heard that it is imperative to get some other source of protein. From what I hear lentils are a good substitute for meat.
I actually have a solution to the drawbacks of a 100% vegetarian diet and the challenges that it presents.
Try a 5/2 split, meaning eat only vegetarian dishes 5 days out of the week and then if you body needs meat, eat “clean” meats on weekends.
This way you still have everything you need but minimize health issues associated with meat consumption.
Depending on what you body can handle you can move to a 6/1 or a 4/3.
Everybody will be different.
Great article.
Mark
It really takes a great deal of commitment if you are eating a vegetarian style diet. Most places that you go aren’t necessarily the most vegetarian friendly. However, it is getting better, most restaurants now are working more on building healthy eating alternatives and have added some vegetarian selections to their menus.
I have to side with Sarah and say I will probably never make it to be a full vegetarian. My own effort to cut down on my meat consumption is based more on the sustainability issues of meat production than the welfare of the animals themselves. Now with 7 billion people on the planet where are all the steaks going to come from? It’s in the interest of all of us and our children to rely a little bit less on meat and move more towards plant based protein.
Good arguments. I understand your point of view. I am also not able to always stay on my plan. But I keep trying and find more and more interesting dishes on the net. Thank you for the article.
Thanks Kathrina!
Sometimes moderation is the key!
Yes, I have noticed that myself.
Thanks Mark. Good points!
Good point Roslin.