Some people would think that being anything, but a carnivore requires a lot of dedication, sacrifice, and motivation. It would be untrue to say that it is not difficult in the beginning; the only way to not crave meat is to be born vegetarian. Luckily all veggies and vegans quickly develop their own methods of motivation; some people want to maintain a healthier lifestyle; some remember the good they are doing to the planet whilst others are horrified at the true nature of the meat or dairy industry. Some people even get tattoos to keep them motivated.
Approximately 22% of the world population are either vegans or vegetarians and their community keeps on growing. It is an appealing lifestyle being adopted by more people, either by choice or by necessity. For many reasons, giving up or even just reducing meat/dairy consumption can be a real solution towards a healthier diet and a healthier planet. Despite presenting certain challenges at the outset, a deliberate choice to cut meat and/or dairy from your diet gets easier with time to finally become a natural way of life.
Before jumping in, a few things need to be considered before changing over to this lifestyle. Firstly, don’t go cold turkey from one day to the next; as with any habit, withdrawal symptoms can make you unhappy and this makes it difficult to stay on track. By making small, gradual changes, you can move towards vegetarianism or veganism without any problems. If however, this all seems too daunting at the beginning, the flexitarian diet is a very good alternative, especially if you are changing diets for ecological reasons. Ultimately, keeping a balanced diet, with protein, fruit and vegetables in whatever form, is essential to living a healthy lifestyle and in the end, a happy life.
People who are either way considering changing towards vegetarianism/veganism need to surround themselves with some sort of support. The University of Essex has a Vegan Society, which can be very helpful from a motivational perspective: having people around you who will support you is key to keeping up this lifestyle. This does not mean you have to surround yourself with just vegan/veggie friends, but you do need people to talk to sometimes when you are struggling to fight the cravings. You could argue that campus does not offer the best choice, with halloumi seemingly being in every vegan meal, the sticking together as a community could help bring about changes to make veganism and vegetarianism more accessible on campus. Colchester town centre is a very good alternative; many stores will offer the vegan alternatives not only in ready-made meals but also with ingredients to make your own dishes.
For vegans, who do not consume meat or dairy, this may be due to a rise in lactose-intolerance or a lifestyle choice. Alternatives such as almond and soya milk are now readily available and recipes are abundant on the internet to make traditional meals without the traditional butter or eggs.
From an environmental perspective, it can be a very efficient solution to some of the issues our planet is facing. Even by becoming flexitarian, which entails reducing red meat consumption and increasing other protein sources and vegetables without giving up meat altogether, you can reduce the demand for factory farming and exploitation of cattle; livestock represents 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The flexitarian approach means we could all make a giant step towards saving the planet from an ecological crisis.
One of the fears people have with veganism is the price. You may get the impression that you need to keep snacking between meals as vegetables are quickly digested, leaving you feeling hungry more quickly. This is when you need to be careful and try getting into the habit of eating full meals and avoiding snacking in between. Although certain meats, such as chicken, are not expensive, by cutting out meat from your diet, you will be saving money during your weekly shop. You may, however, find yourself having to go shopping more often as fresh produce goes off more quickly; an idea could be to go shopping in Aldi and not Tesco where there is less temptation to buy little extras or to give your business to the SU Market every Thursday on Square 3.
Some people might feel it is difficult to balance the lack of protein and sport. It is important to stay on top of the diet and be careful with quantities. If you try combining veganism and a lot of physical exercise, you can rapidly end up feeling light-headed, lacking energy and possibly fainting. Getting the right amount of carbs and protein is vital; think about keeping a diary or some form of schedule to avoid skipping meals and therefore putting your body in danger. By being careful, it is possible to keep up this lifestyle, whilst maintaining a fitness regime.
Veganism and vegetarianism are specific lifestyles which sure demand a lot of organisation, determination and motivation, but they are definitely interesting ones to follow. While it may be difficult at the start to keep on track with your goals, keeping an eye on the prize and keeping in mind why your are changing to this lifestyle will be key to a successful change.
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