I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. Big things and little things. Maybe you already know all 22—if so, you’re way ahead of me. Because after seven years, I’m still figuring sh*t out.
Do you have a good one that didn’t make the cut? Give me a shout.
1. Veganism is so much more than a diet
Being vegan is the greatest personal stand you can take against the exploitation of animals. You give up food and drinks made from the various parts and excretions of animals. You avoid places like zoos and marine parks that take animals out of their natural environments and hold them captive for profit. You do not support the insidious act of testing on animals and invest in kinder alternatives instead. You do not adorn yourself with the skins of other animals.
To your greatest ability, you do no harm. To you, a non-human animal is a someone, not a something; they are fellow Earthlings worthy of life, freedom, and respect.
2. It only gets easier
Until one day, you’ll wonder how you ever lived differently.
3. You’re not alone
The latest estimate of vegans around the world is 88 million—or 1.1% of the human population. That might not seem like much, but that’s the equivalent of Iran, the 17th largest country by population.
Also, I think it’s safe to say that every single one of us wants more vegans in the world. So we gravitate to one another, forming events, communities, and groups all over the place—and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. 💜
4. Not being able to convince others to care will be a daily challenge
Frustration, anger, despair, brief glimmers of hope. This life is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Stay cool, my friend. It’s a long game.
5. Meet your new best friend: Happy Cow
No matter where you are in the world, pop over to Happy Cow, set your filter to vegan, and you’ll have an up-to-date and rated list of every restaurant in the area cooking nothin’ but plants.
I’d be hungry and adrift without it. If I’m planning a trip to Tennessee or Oregon or wherever, Happy Cow guides my itinerary. There are no sights I’d rather see than the local joints serving vegan burgers and dairy-free Mac, ya know?
6. You’re sparing the lives of an estimated 200 animals every year
Every. Year. And I’m going to take this one step further… Let’s say you went vegan when you were 23. If you live to be 75, that’s 10,400 animals who will not suffer and die because of your decision to eat plant-based foods.
Even on the more conservative side, with Animal Charity Evaluators estimating 105 animals per year, it’s still a helluvalot of animals.
7. And you’re also helping the planet
The Guardian summed this one up quite well, just last month: “The research showed that vegan diets resulted in 75% less climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land use than diets in which more than 100g of meat a day was eaten. Vegan diets also cut the destruction of wildlife by 66% and water use by 54%, the study found.”
This isn’t new information, rather the evidence continues to build—and in very alarming ways.
Being vegan is a tremendous step in the right direction. According to Dr. Joseph Poore, Oxford University, “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use. It is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car.”
8. You can make a career in animal rights
My bet is that you’re going to want to do even more. I think the majority of vegans feel compelled to speak up for animals. When you know the harsh truths and see the prevalence of animal cruelty all around you, how can you not?
Well, if you want to make animal advocacy your full-time gig, you can. I’ve been doing it for seven years, first with Mercy For Animals, then with Animal Charity Evaluators, and now with Compassion in World Farming.
Aside from keeping an eye out for openings at your favorite charities, there are job boards and resources to help you with your search, like Vegan Jobs and Animal Advocacy Careers.
9. Just because a beauty or body care product is labeled “cruelty free,” that doesn’t mean it’s vegan
Cruelty free only means that the product was not tested on animals, while vegan indicates that it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Your best bet is to find those that have both labels.
My favorite vegan and cruelty-free beauty lines include e.l.f., Pacifica, and Derma E.
10. There’s a shortcut to reading food ingredient lists
This might not be bulletproof, but I’ve found it makes my grocery shopping a whole lot easier…
Meat is pretty obvious, so we’re going to disregard that for this exercise. Dairy, however, can be a little harder to identify. They sneak that sh*t into everything! BUT, since milk and eggs are two of the eight major allergens, food companies have to call them out in a more distinct way than all other ingredients.
So, a standard ingredient list will have all ingredients listed first, following “ingredients.” And then below that will be a second list, “Contains.” Here is where you can quickly scan for milk and eggs.
11. Plants have plenty of protein too
Don’t let your momma or the random stranger who said, But where will you get your protein? when they found out you’re vegan scare you. Vegans being at risk of protein deficiency is such a terrible misconception. Eat a balanced diet, and you’ll get more than enough.
Tasty plant foods that are high in protein include beans, nuts, quinoa, potatoes, broccoli, and oats.
P.S. Elephants are herbivores too, and you wouldn’t call them scrawny or weak, right?
12. Seitan, tempeh, tofu—what’s the difference?
The Short Version: Seitan is wheat-based, and tempeh and tofu are both made from soybeans. All three are delicious and high in plant protein.
The Long Version: What’s in a Veggie Burger—or Any Vegan “Meat” for That Matter?
13. Don’t be fooled—vegans need supplements no more than non-vegans
There seems to be a never-ending debate about this, and B12 and vitamin D are the most common suspects. The first you can find in fortified foods like oat milk and nutritional yeast. And the latter you can get from our friend the sun.
But don’t take my word for it. Please do a bit of research or talk to an expert if you’re at all worried your diet may be lacking.
14. Cheese lovers, I have a secret for you, and it’s going to rock your world
There’s a reason why dairy cheese is so addicting. This infamous topping has casein, a protein that breaks down into casomorphins, which can attach to dopamine receptors in your brain, triggering feelings of pleasure and reward. Crazy, huh?
Well, if you’re looking for a new kinda cheese high—the cruelty-free kind—I’ve got just the thing: Miyoko’s Creamery. Their artisan cheeses truly are phenomenal, and you can find them in most grocery stores and even Target.
My personal fave is Classic Chive. Spread on Simple Mills Rosemary & Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers makes for bite-sized tastes of heaven.
15. Pour wisely—not all wines are created kindly
Truth bomb: Wines are commonly produced using animal-derived products. The filtration process, specifically, might include “blood and bone marrow, casein (milk protein), chitin (fiber from crustacean shells), egg albumen (derived from egg whites), fish oil, gelatin (protein from boiling animal parts), and isinglass (gelatin from fish bladder membranes).” 🤢
I’ve got two vegan brand recs for you: La Granja 360, a budget-friendly option you can find at Trader Joe’s, and JUSTIN Winery, available almost everywhere.
16. Watch out for honey
Honey might seem like an insignificant food, but it’s typically the only difference between a “plant-based” restaurant and a vegan restaurant. Why? Although honey comes from plants, it’s made by hardworking animals—honeybees! And because the honeybees are kept in artificial hives, their nutrition source (honey) is replaced with sugar water, and the fuzzy pollinators are typically killed after a season’s harvest, honey is not vegan.
Lucky for us, there are many cruelty-free substitutes that are just as sweet, like agave, maple syrup, and date syrup.
Want to learn more? Read Sentient Media’s Is Honey Vegan? The facts are mind-blowing.
17. McDonald’s fries aren’t vegan
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, again. This one bummed me out too. Fries are about the only thing we can eat at a lot of non-vegan places, after all. But at McDonald’s, even the French fries are off limits.
In the US, McD’s uses beef flavoring to give those golden potato sticks their famous taste. And while it’s unknown whether this mystery flavor is derived from meat (they don’t have to disclose this info), we do know that it contains milk.
Sorry.
18. But some of your favorite celebs are
Kat Von D, Billie Eilish, Woody Harrelson, Lewis Hamilton, Jessica Chastain, Joaquin Phoenix, Travis Barker, Lenny Kravitz, Paul Wesley, Cory Booker… The list goes on.
These high-profile individuals are speaking out on veganism, while setting compassionate examples for millions of fans and supporters.
19. Animals are exploited for common materials like silk, wool, and down
Silk. Silk is obtained from the cocoons of silkworms, who are typically boiled or gassed alive. About 6,600 silkworms are killed to make just 1 kilogram of silk.
Wool. The wool industry abuses sheep in horrific ways. I can’t even get into the details right now. 👈🏻 I’ve linked to a PETA summary if you want to learn more.
Down. Ditto for down. 💔 My heart aches for the geese trapped in such a cruel and violent industry. Please check out the PETA article if you’d like to know specifics.
Overconsumption is a major crisis wreaking havoc on our planet. So in addition to avoiding new or unnecessary items that contribute to animal suffering, try buying used. Thrifting is a lot like hunting for treasure—it can be quite rewarding and fun.
20. You could be closer to being a true feminist than most
The animal farming industry is inherently anti-female. Female chickens, cows, and pigs are valued only for their abilities to reproduce and nourish. Hens are caged and bred to lay eggs at highly abnormal rates. On average, a commercially reared hen will produce 300 eggs in a year. Exhausted, her production level will decline, and at just over two years, she’ll be slaughtered. In a natural environment, free from exploitation, she could live to be eight years old.
The stories of female pigs and cows are similar: tragic. To choose vegan is to abstain from the abuse of non-human females, beings just as worthy of respect and bodily autonomy.
21. Compassion fatigue is real
The everyday acts of knowing and caring that so many animals are suffering can be exhausting. Feeling the weight of the world and the pressure to bring about change. The thing to remember is, if you burn out, you help no one. Learn to take breaks and put yourself first when you need to.
22. You are one bad*ss, animal-loving ROCKSTAR!
Annnnnd, I’m out! ✌🏼