Is It Hard Being Vegan?

by Emma Larocque - January 30, 2013

Anyone who has been vegan for any length of time has likely heard the words, “You’re vegan? That must be so hard!” at least a few hundred times. My reaction when people say that to me is to deny it – and I probably deny it so vehemently that the asker is likely to think, ‘She doth protest too much…” To me being vegan ISN’T hard – but I’ve been vegan for a long time, and it’s just the way I live. Still, I’ve been thinking lately that maybe denying how “hard” it is, is NOT the best tactic.

I’ve been thinking this because I have, in the past six months, been involved with a newly formed vegan potluck in my town that is attracting A LOT of veg-curious souls. These people want to eat more plant foods but they don’t know where to start. They want to expand their repetoire of recipes, and meet other people who are thinking about veganism, vegan food, and healthier eating. Some of them are interested in talking about factory farming and testing on animals, and the environmental effects of eating animal foods. To many of them eating vegan IS hard – now. And I am realizing more and more that if longtime vegans are prepared to really listen to people who are interested in veganism, we will be much better able to help them make a successful transition that they can, and want to, stick to.

As for how to respond to that often dropped “That must be so hard!”, one suggestion made by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau in her fabulous book Vegan’s Daily Companion is that when you are faced with comments or questions like this, to pose a counter-question, rather than answering – such as, in this case, “What do you think is so difficult about being vegan?” to start a conversation and engage the other person. Even if the person who asks you the question is someone you don’t think is interested at all in eating vegan, answer carefully. You never know.

How do you respond to this comment?

Or, if you’re a new vegan and you have made this comment (or one like it) at some point, what’s the best response you have ever received?

About the Author

Emma Levez Larocque is an author and photographer living on the west coast of Canada. She has been veg for 18 years, vegan for 3. Her passion is working to make veganism mainstream to promote a better, kinder world for all beings.

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Tatelor

I don’t think it’s hard, but it constantly takes effort. The food at home part is easy. But when you factor in checking ingredients at restaurants, ensuring beauty / health products are cruelty free, making sure shoes are made of man-made and not leather… then it adds up.

So like anything else, it’s a lifestyle choice and it’s important to be honest with someone who is considering making the switch.
Donna

Sometimes it IS hard. When I am too tired and have been too busy to cook, I used to pick up a pizza on the way home from work. That’s not an option. And there is almost nothing I can eat at the bar at my local ski area where I hang out with friends on the weekend, so I bring my own food, but bag lunches are not allowed inside the building.

I don’t crave meat, but being vegan in a non-vegan world is way more difficult than being vegetarian ever was.

I also have problem feet. There are very few possible shoes for me of any description, but since leather moccasins are not an option, I mostly do not wear shoes at all now.

Still, when I am faced with the temptation to give in, I picture the calves at the zoo, separated from their mothers so the zoo can give milking demonstrations. The calves are kept alone, in small enclosures. It is so very wrong.
http://www.facebook.com/deborah.calderon.7 Deborah Calderon

I am only vegan ish or vegan light. Not fully transitioned yet. I have been doing it for a little under a year. It is hard the first 6 months or so, but now I have the hang of it I don’t find it all that difficult. But travellling is still complicated and I carry a bag or box of food whereever I go. A friend of mine has a travelling bag always packed with oatmeal, flax, raisins and a few other bits and pieces so there is always something to eat when he is hungry.
Emma (VM Editor)

I absolutely agree Tatelor – it is an effort, and it’s a good thing to talk about that effort, and the reason for it. Thanks
Emma (VM Editor)

Donna, you remind me that stories of how difficult it CAN be sometimes are very inspiring in terms of the commitment people have to their reasons for being vegan. Thanks for sharing.
Emma (VM Editor)

Finding those ways to cope are key, Deb. As it sounds like you’ve discovered, those coping mechanisms quickly become second nature – like remembering to bring your own snacks everywhere (and I often find that people then want MY snacks instead of what they have purchased at some corner store)
Lisa Tea

I think once i moved from being nonstrict vegan to nearly 100% strict as i can be vegan, then it isnt hard. You have just completely adapted it into your lifestyle, and can oggle the tempting cakes in the bakery, without feeling any desire to actually buy them. But when you are in the beginning stages, and you dont know exactly what to buy , or what is /isnt vegan, then it can be a bit hard. Good to motivate yourself with a few bits of info /pictures of why you are doing it i think…which is how i finally managed to kick my milk chocolate habit , when i watched the short film on youtube of how cadburys keep their cows/treat their calves. But once you get into the swing of it, and get support maybe from one or two of the vegan facebook pages who are always talkin about what is /isnt vegan, it gets easier and easier One of the hardest things, once you have committed to it, imo ,is actually coping with how MORE people are not as caring and compassionate to go vegan…that is one of the hardest things for me ! ….and feeling a bit left out when someone brings in a cake cos its their birthday ! that aint easy to deal with either ….but you can always make a note of it in your calendar , and make some vegan cake and bring it in on the same day so you can join in next year
http://twitter.com/Veganacious Barbara DeGrande

These discussions are always about the difficulty of eating a plant based diet and do not address living vegan. I think it is very important to have a vegan support network, even if only online, because there are family and friend events that my ethics do not permit me to attend. Compared to what animals endure, it is all a breeze. And worth every bit of difficulty. All people of principle are willing to undergo some degree of difficulty for those principles.
borissimo

i became vegan at 16 after around 8 years being veggie. my mum was always worried so she rooted through the supermarkets to get me so many foods! most ended up uneaten so that the rest of the family have to eat them i don’t find it hard at all but i don’t plan my diet very well. i just eat whatever i feel like. i am a creature of habit so will have stir fry each night for a few weeks then salad each nigh or pasta… saying that, i’m not sure many students plan their meals well! at least there’s not pizza or takeaways here!
Marie

Hm, I always reply that it is not hard to be vegan, but that it might be complicated in certain situations. If you don’t live in an avantgarde urban neighbourhood, getting fast food or going out with omnivore friends might be tricky at first, but you quickly learn how to manage that. My regular meals at home range from quick and dirty to real feasts. I never had as much fun cooking and discovering new recipes before I turned from veggie to vegan. In Germany, where I live, I get everything I need on a daily basis in my local supermarket. So I guess everyone who’s saying that they “could never do it” simply never tried properly!
I do agree that there are personal situations or places in the world in which being a vegan is almost impossible (e.g. soy-, nuts- AND gluten-allergy, or living in countries with restricted food supply)….but I think for most people in Western Industrial countries it’s an easy option to follow a plant-based diet (if only in your own kitchen).

So, “That must be so hard!” is just an excuse for people not to go vegan. Don’t get me wrong, I use the same excuses myself often enough: “You go running every day? You must be so well-organised, I never find time for it.” = “I am lazy and the fact that you aren’t makes me feel bad about myself, so I blame it on the circumstances.”