10 things I wish I knew before I went vegan

Over the years, people are less and less critical of veganism, and we try to deconstruct many false beliefs. It feels good! When I became vegan a little more than three years ago, I heard many things about veganism that scared me. I don't think I was the only one who faced certain fears, and maybe even some people gave up on veganism for these reasons.

In this article, I mention 10 things I wish I had known about going vegan. Don't worry; this article is meant to be reassuring about it!

1. No, you don't NECESSARILY need to take any supplements (like vitamin B12).

Too often, we think, wrongly, that vegans stuff themselves with supplements every morning. I am not a nutritionist, but I know that a varied diet is probably all you need. I strongly recommend that you talk to a nutritionist about your diet and be reassured about it. For example, for my part, my daily consumption of fortified plant-based milk and nutritional yeast allows me to have all the needed vitamin B12.

2. I promise you will NOT lose the pleasure of eating!

Believe me, eating vegan is EVERYTHING but boring. You will be pushed to try lots of new foods and test new flavors! My dishes are often very colorful and filled with tasty ingredients.

3. It's not true that TOO MUCH soy is bad for you...

Well, that is a false belief that has been repeated far too often. Many scientific researches have shown that the daily amount of soy that must be ingested for it to become dangerous to health is absolutely disproportionate and that no one consumes such amounts. So you can enjoy your soy drink and eat your tofu in peace.

4. No, it's not SUPER difficult to eat out.

Veganism is more and more popular, and there are now many options in restaurants! There are also a lot of 100% vegan places.

5. You are NOT forced to follow this type of diet by the book under penalty of conviction.

Let me explain myself here... Veganism is often seen as a sort of "sect" where you cannot deviate from this way of life or else you will be "kicked out". I reassure you here, do not put this pressure on yourself! If you do happen to slip up occasionally (like eating milk chocolate), no one should punish you for it.

6. It is unlikely that it will cost you MORE.

We often think that eating vegan costs a lot more. Eating more fruits and vegetables is indeed expensive, but even omnivores eat them. Transformed vegan products generally don't cost more than non-vegan ones. In fact, meat costs a lot more than tofu! I personally saw no difference in my grocery bill.

7. It's NOT hard to eat vegan.

It is actually not more complicated than being omnivorous! You just have to learn to cook again, and it takes a little adjustment... which brings me to the next point!

8. Do the transition at YOUR own pace!

You don't have to go vegan overnight. In fact, it is strongly recommended that you go at your own pace to help you find new habits without feeling completely unsettled.

9. You will not NECESSARILY need medical or nutritional monitoring.

Maybe some vegans (like some omnivores) need closer follow-up with their doctor or nutritionist. I recommend talking to these professionals about your new diet. However, it is very rare to see vegans followed closely because of this diet!

10. Yes, you may have to defend your point...

This is my only negative point. It is, unfortunately, true that by becoming vegan, we are faced with having to argue with some skeptical people. However, as I said above, this way of life is more and more popular and understood. That being said, many people still misunderstand veganism. Therefore, we must put our arguments out and assert our values!

By Katia Bricka
Writer at RAW Nutritional