5 Commonly Experienced Vegan Problems and How to Avoid Them
Going vegan is still unusual for most thus giving vegans some problems. Here are the 5 most common vegan problems and how to avoid them:
Vegan food itself
Vegan food itself is the most common vegan problem.
Most vegans experience difficulty in choosing what to eat for their meals especially when dining out in a restaurant. Eating in non-fully vegan restaurants makes it hard for vegans since it’s not easy to see all the ingredients used in their food. The menu might show a particular dish is vegan but it might also be cooked in the same grill or frying pan where meat has been cooked.
Another problem related to this is when vegans order coffee with milk. Most cafes always go with regular cow’s milk for their milk as it’s always been more convenient and cheaper. However, we all know this isn’t vegan so if you’re not careful then you might accidentally order a non-vegan coffee.
To avoid accidentally ordering non-vegan food, do not be afraid to ask about the ingredients of your food. To make your coffee vegan, make sure your order comes with soy milk or almond milk.
Cravings
Most people weren’t “born” vegans. As kids, they were used to consuming meat and dairy. Some people miss the taste, smell and texture these foods once they go vegan.
It’s a great time to be vegan as more companies are being more open and offering vegan alternatives for these cravings.
These days you can buy vegan substitutes for products such as:
- sausages
- cheese
- burgers
- ice cream
There’s probably a vegan substitute for everything. These food items are usually filled with meat and/or dairy but now they use vegan ingredients to satisfy every craving in a sustainable and cruelty-free way.
Social events
There are still more meat-eaters than vegans in the world. Being in a social event that includes food is a common vegan problem. This happens because you don’t fully know the ingredients in the food being offered.
In times like this, you may try to eat in advance and just grab a drink or two at the event you’re attending. You can also try to prepare vegan food for everyone. In this way, you can let them know vegan food is also delicious.
It’s much better to come prepared than to stay hungry throughout the entire duration of the event.
Traveling
Traveling exposes us to many cultures and most cultures revolve around food. Veganism is still considered as a weird concept for most cultures.
From the moment we take our flight to our destination, we may already experience problems with airplane food since being vegan is also considered as a relatively new thing even for airlines.
Non-vegan specialty foods are popular in most countries. However, there will always be some vegan alternatives to the foods we crave. It might not be as good as the original, but it could be better knowing it’s cruelty-free.
Social Pressure
One of the most common vegan problems experienced is when others joke about vegans. Doing something not considered “normal” like veganism could be subject to ridicule. Most of these jokes often come from close friends or even family members.
To avoid this problem, remember to explain yourself in a kind and calm manner. If they ask you questions, try to answer them. Remember you can’t please everyone and sometimes the best way is just to stay quiet and not take things seriously.
Going vegan requires a lot of diligence and patience. As a vegan, you may face many problems – but there are equally as many solutions to them.