Friday, November 24, 2023 7 Brooklin Town Crier My sister recently shared how hard it was to give up meat. After being vegan for several months, she returned to eating meat. I understood. When you first change your lifestyle and diet, you can no longer rely on old favourite meals or easy recipes. Everything's new. What do you eat? What can you cook for dinner that's fast? It's even more challenging if you don't eat ultra-processed meat replacements. After being vegan for 13 years, I don't face those issues. But for many they are real and need to be considered. People give up based on the stress of the change. Another issue vegans face is the lack of support from others. I still face it. Very few supported my desire to become vegan. Generally, I only tell people if we're making plans for dinner or a meal. That's when I offer to bring something if it's a house party. I was once uninvited to dinner when the person who invited me said it would be too hard to prepare a meal I could eat. These days, when friends make dinner plans, they ask me where I can eat, a considerate request. Suggesting meat A small group of people in my life seem to be waiting to pounce. If I get sick, they say maybe you should eat meat. They suggest I might not be getting protein. If I'm tired, they suggest red meat as the cure. Being vegan does not mean you will never feel tired or get sick. Last year, when I was critically ill with sepsis, a concerned uncle called to say I needed to start eating meat. If I were to guess, I'd say that people need to be right or wrong. If I'm right, are they wrong, and vice versa? You may be thinking I'm one of those "pushy vegans." Not so. I never try to force my lifestyle on others. The Challenges Are Real Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson My journey is what I believe is right for me. If you face what you feel are negative comments about your choice to be plant based, my advice would be to not engage in an argument that creates more separation. Arm yourself with the facts so you feel secure choosing the vegan path. For example, I have a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell. I am comfortable knowing I am making good food choices for myself. Here are some tips to staying on the vegan path: Find "your people", ie. make vegan friends. Follow great vegan blogs. Watch documentaries. This link has an extensive list https://www.worldofvegan.com/ vegan-documentaries/. Dine at vegan restaurants and chat with the owners or staff. Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association. Download the HappyCow application to your smart phone to find plant-based restaurants near you. Attend plant-based events. Join Vegans of Durham Region on Facebook, and share tips.. Sheree's Hack: In the beginning, immerse yourself in your new lifestyle.