12 Things I Learned in 6 Weeks of Being Vegan

This is not at all the types of blog posts I’m used to writing – but I decided lately that I need to get more personal and post more little tidbits from my life. So, I’m starting with my newest development: being about 99% vegan (I eat honey and a few other things, and I recognize that because I am vegan for humanitarian reasons, every single decision I make has to be constantly reassessed given changing circumstances. Because pollution / transportation / big industry still harms animals even if I’m eating vegetables… but then again, I also have to eat…). So here is what I’ve learned in the last 6 weeks from being vegan(ish):

1. It is surprisingly easy. 6 weeks ago, I set off with a goal of going 5 days (Monday – Friday) being vegan. I haven’t looked back. Seriously, it has been a lot easier than I thought. After the first 5 days, I just kept going.  I did have one meal that I “skipped” being vegan because it was dinner reservations that we had for months at one of those places where you just show up and they cook for you.  That place has “vegan” days, but our reservations weren’t for a vegan day. And since we were going with our good friends that we moving to Ohio the next day (from Charleston — who does that? JK Trisha and Rob, we miss you), I made an exception.
2. I’ve lost about 6 lbs! Without even trying!
3. I have been sleeping better!
4. TWO WORDS: DAIYA CHEESE. It is better than all other vegan cheese by a long shot.
5. THREE WORDS: DR. PRAEGERS BURGERS. These are amazing and my carnivorous husband loves them too.
6. I haven’t felt ‘awkward’ at all in social atmospheres explaining my veganism. In fact, people have been surprisingly intrigued and interested.
7. Statistics show that there are more vegans than vegetarians in the United States. This stat still blows my mind.
8. I miss eggs. Like a lot. And I’m still wrestling with whether eggs from my friends’ and families’ farms (an alarming number of my friends and family have chicken) are something I feel comfortable eating.  Some say there is no such thing as happy eggs. I’m not sure yet. And I probably won’t ever be, since I’m not a chicken.
9. Lots of things not labeled “vegan” are surprisingly (and to my extreme delight) vegan.
10. MOST TORTILLA CHIPS ARE VEGAN.
11. Some “fake” meat is delicious. Some is gross.
12. I love tofu (I already knew that). I hate tempeh (I don’t like its nutty flavor and nutty texture).