World Vegan Month: How To Stay Vegan

An increasing number of people are trying out being vegan: in the UK, the number of vegans skyrocketed by 1.1 million last year, and 3.2% of the European population are now vegan. With the presence of social media, spreading the message about the horrors of animal agriculture and the reasons for going vegan has never been easier. Staying vegan, however, is a different story.

By Sascha Camilli: writer, speaker, activist, and vegan fashion expert. 

While Faunalytics' much-quoted 2014 study claimed that 84% of people in North America who stop eating meat go back to it, this has been, in a way, debunked. It appears the study applied to those who had adopted a vegetarian or vegan diet relatively recently, rather than long-term vegans or vegetarians. This proves, in fact, that while veteran vegans usually are harder to sway, for newer vegans staying vegan can be a hurdle that many struggle to overcome.

As a twelve-year vegan, I know that so much of staying vegan is down to really being clear on your "why". Once I stopped seeing animal-derived products as food, I stopped craving them, and staying vegan was surprisingly simple. But I know this is not the case for every new vegan out there - health issues, relationship pressures, and everyday difficulties can get in the way. So I consulted some experts, and some other people who have been there, on how we can ensure that we stay on the vegan path.

Adjust your expectations.

When you go vegan, you'll help save animals and combat the climate crisis. That should be the reason for making the switch, and that in itself is motivation enough. Will you also experience health benefits? Possibly, but not necessarily. Will you lose weight? Maybe, but you might also gain weight. Expecting veganism to heal all ailments and fix everything that you believe to be wrong with you is unrealistic and setting yourself up to fail. Dietitian Ginny Messina, who runs the website The Vegan RD, says: "You may or may not experience weight loss or health benefits when you go vegan. If your blood pressure and cholesterol levels drop (and they very well might) those are nice bonuses. But if you somehow don’t find yourself with more energy, clear skin, and the slender waist you were expecting, it doesn’t mean a vegan diet 'doesn’t work.' A vegan diet always works because it always reduces your contribution to animal exploitation and lessens your impact on climate change."

When it comes to your health, be informed. 

Being armed with knowledge and information is crucial - often, it's not as easy as "eat a variety of plant foods and the nutrient thing will sort itself out." Ginny Messina warns: "It’s easy to meet nutrient needs on a vegan diet but it’s not enough to simply eat a variety of whole plant foods. If you’ve always depended on cow’s milk for calcium and meat for protein, you need to learn new ways to get these and other nutrients." She recommends her nutrition primers for advice, and The Vegan Society also has lots of good health info.

Get creative with food.

Plant-based cooking and dining offers infinite possibilities - the only limit is your creativity. Instead of getting locked into a routine of eating the same dishes over and over, expand your horizons and try new ingredients, recipes, and restaurants. Finding fun and enjoyment in your food can be a big motivator to stay on the plant-based path. Check out Happy Cow for vegan recommendations in your area.  

Find your tribe.

Christmas is a joyful occasion for most people, but some vegans dread it due to the debates that are certain to ensue at the family table. If you feel like an alien among your loved ones since going vegan, you're not alone. Find your local vegan Facebook group and join a meet-up - there is nothing like community to make us all feel supported in our vegan lives. If you would like a mentor, or think that you could mentor others, Challenge 22 offers mentorship programmes for those starting out on the path.

Honour your traditions - and make new ones.

That sense of belonging, gathering around dinner tables, sharing food - that's something that former vegans quote as a reason for moving away from veganism. Not being able to take part in traditions and cultural moments is a hurdle for some. But there's no need to completely break with all things that once were normal to you. Vegan dietitian Taylor Wolfram has written about connecting veganism with your culture - her advice is to be creative when it comes to adapting the foods you know and love, but also to "learn about how your ancestors respected animals. Veganism and plant-based eating are not new. Do some research on how animals have been cared for and respected over the years within your culture. You may be surprised by what you find!" 

Make it enjoyable.

Of course, the choice is rooted in a desire for a better world - but the truth is, vegan living has to be enjoyable for it to last. If we are too strict, then ultimately just the activism aspect alone won't be enough. Humans are built for joy and unless we make veganism joyful, we will backslide. So try that new plant-based menu, explore some beautiful vegan fashion. Toss some new cruelty-free cosmetics in your basket. Bake that indulgent vegan cake. This in itself can be a form of activism: by showing others how enjoyable veganism can be, we are more likely to inspire more people to take the step.

By Sascha Camilli

About Sascha

Sascha Camilli is a vegan fashion writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her or read her newsletter Kind of Wild. You can also follow her on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cover image by Samuel Regan-Asante. Second photo by Roam in Color. Third photo by Brigitta Baranyi. All via Unsplash.

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