5. Why you should go vegan-ish, instead of going vegan

A wholesome vegan diet is healthier for you and better for the environment than any other diet. The human body is built for a plant-based diet, and it thrives physically and mentally on it. We are only meant to consume meat, dairy and eggs in small amounts, and the overconsumption of animal products is a major contributor to the skyhigh levels of obesity, depression, cancer, and heart disease that plague our society. Not to mention the huge negative impact meat production has on our climate and the environmental destruction it is responsible for.

But I am not here to tell you to be a vegan. I am not a vegan, however, I do reap most of the benefits of veganism regarding my health and taking care of the climate. I do that by being “vegan-ish”. What that means, is that vegan meals are the base of my diet, and I reserve the consumption of meat and dairy products for occasions, such as family events, when visiting others, dining out, special treats, and the occasional I’m-exhausted-and-need-a-quick-meal. Here is why I think you should go vegan-ish, instead of going vegan.

Some change is better than no change (for both you and the environment)

Going vegan is framed as and thought as an “all or nothing” change. For some people that is exciting. For others, it is an unwelcome hassle in their busy and sometimes difficult lives, and an overwhelming task to reinvent your whole diet from day 1.

This is a shame, because adopting some change, no matter how small, will be a benefit to your health and to the environment. Eating just one vegan meal a week, or switching from red meat to fish or cutting back on cheese, all these changes will benefit your health and be better for the planet.

Being a priviledged person myself, I will say that it is definitely easier to adopt a vegan lifestyle if you have excess time, energy and money available. It is much easier to go “vegan-ish”. You can ease into it, increase gradually over time, and find the level that you have the energy to muster. Which leads me to my next point.

Gradual change is easier and more sustainable

I started my journey 6 years ago. I limited my meat intake to chicken and fish, and from there I built better habits little by little. I cut down on those types of meat, then I cut back on cheese, then I switched from eating a lot of processed carbs to eating more vegetables and unprocessed carbs, then I switched from milk to drinking mainly plantmilk. Easing into another lifestyle takes time, but by doing change gradually, it is easier to sustain and stick to, because your body, mind and habits has time to adjust.

It allows you to keep in touch with your traditional food culture.

Food is an important part of many people’s culture and cultural identity, and eating certain foods on certain occasions is important to them. Especially when it comes to minority cultures, there can be so many aspects of society that tries to erase or subjugate someone’s culture. You should not feel that you need to chose between having a traditional festivity and doing right by your health and your planet. You can do both by being “vegan-ish”.

It is easier to dine out

Many restaurants have a vegan option, but often they only have one, and it is the same or a similar one. Usually a salad. It is nice when you grow tired of eating a salad every time you go out, that you can opt out and say, you know what, it is time for a chicken fillet.

It is easier on social occasions when you guest friends or family

I do think one of the hardest parts of being vegan is feeling like an undue burden on friends or family when they host you, and how they can fret about what to feed you (and sometimes go very very wrong). Being vegan can also cause conflict between you and family members who don’t understand you choices. Some people prefer to take the potential conflict. It is also completely fair to go vegan-ish and save yourself some sorrow. You know your life better than anyone.

You don’t feel like a failure, when you “give in” to temptation

One problem with the all-or-nothing, cold turkey approach to going vegan that is commonly expected in society, is that if you fail along the way, it is a sucky feeling, and you probably feel disheartened and ready to give up. It is far easier for most people to have a gradual transition, and it is a better experience without the shame.

It is also a difficult diet to stick to, and most vegans go back to eating vegetarian or even eating meat at some point in their lives. This is NOT because vegans are hypocrites, but rather the natural consequence of living in a society that has a very strong meat-eating culture. Vegans face many obstacles. Social pressure from friends and family, societal and cultural pressure, difficulties when dining out, difficulties getting affordable vegan products in their local supermarkets, and the huge task of figuring out an entirely new food culture. And while some of it is getting better, there is a still a lot of room for improvement.

So instead of giving up your plantbased diet, the first time you give into temptation, consider if vegan-ish is the better approach.

You can use it as a stepping stone to becoming vegan (if you want)

Maybe I will one day go full-on-vegan. A few years ago, I would have said “I will never be a vegan”. Incorporating vegan meals into my diet, has made me gradually explore vegan recipies and vegan meat and dairy substitutes, that I otherwise would not have tried. I have discovered that a lot of things I thought was difficult about veganism, don’t have to be. I love yeast flakes, and I now know how to buy it at affordable prices. Soy cream and soy coco-milk works for me, soy milk doesn’t. Frozen produce is cheaper than fresh. A lot of bread where I live is actually vegan. Vegan guacamole tastes better. I would not have found out these things, if I hadn’t attempted to eat vegan meals, and I would not have attempted to eat vegan meals, if I continued to think of veganism as “all-or-nothing”.

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To save the world we don’t need 100 people doing veganism perfectly, we need a million people doing veganism imperfectly, doing vegan-ish-ism.

You should keep in mind that I am not a dietician, I am a person on the internet expressing my own opinion. Every body is different, and diet is a complex issue. It is best to consult your own doctor about your health and dietary needs. I’m not here to tell you how to live your life, or judge you on how you live your life, I am merely outlining a possible option for you.