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Whether you gradually transition to veg*anism or go veg*an overnight, switching to a new diet/lifestyle can be something of a culture shock. I hope this will help those of you who are new to or aspiring to veg*anism:
You Know You're a Veg*an Now When...
1. You automatically check in the pantry for a can of tuna to make salad with, and suddenly remember that you gave all your canned tuna away to a neighbor.
Keep a can or two of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in the pantry for those
moments. You can mash up the chickpeas and make "mock tuna" salad the same way you used to make regular tuna salad.
2. A friend invites you to a barbecue and you forget to mention that you're a veg*an now, so as a result when you get there all you can eat are some raw carrots and the potato chips.
If somebody wants to know why you're not eating the barbecued meat(s), laugh and say "I forgot I'm a veg*an now!" Besides being true, it will keep the mood light. Don't say anything at the time, but the next time you talk to your friend, casually mention that you've adopted a veg*an diet and will happy to bring something veg*an to their next barbecue.
3. You finally agree to go to a restaurant with others that they picked out, and you have no clue what's on the menu. When you get there, there doesn't seem to be a single thing on the menu that you can eat, and you're too embarrassed to say something to anybody.
The better restaurants will accomodate you. All you have to do is ask! No reason to be embarrassed about your diet. Make a meal out of side orders. If they have pasta entrees, ask for pasta without meat, or cheese if you won't eat cheese now. Ask that the pasta be cooked in oil instead of butter, if you're avoiding butter. If they have just vegetables, ask for that with the pasta. Or ask for vegetables and a baked potato if they offer a potato. Sometimes you will have to "make do", but that's better than going hungry.
4. Your coworkers or your schoolmates suddenly start making fun of your healthy veg*an lunches, and you don't understand why.
Their view: by adopting a veg*an diet, you have chosen to alienate yourself from them, and from the "majority". Why would you want to do that? You limit your choices. You're no longer part of "the team" or "the gang". You can't enjoy pizza or a nice, juicy hamburger anymore (they think). Solution: make something veg*an, but don't tell them it's veg*an, and share it with them.
There's more, but I'm at work right now.
You Know You're a Veg*an Now When...
1. You automatically check in the pantry for a can of tuna to make salad with, and suddenly remember that you gave all your canned tuna away to a neighbor.
Keep a can or two of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in the pantry for those

2. A friend invites you to a barbecue and you forget to mention that you're a veg*an now, so as a result when you get there all you can eat are some raw carrots and the potato chips.
If somebody wants to know why you're not eating the barbecued meat(s), laugh and say "I forgot I'm a veg*an now!" Besides being true, it will keep the mood light. Don't say anything at the time, but the next time you talk to your friend, casually mention that you've adopted a veg*an diet and will happy to bring something veg*an to their next barbecue.
3. You finally agree to go to a restaurant with others that they picked out, and you have no clue what's on the menu. When you get there, there doesn't seem to be a single thing on the menu that you can eat, and you're too embarrassed to say something to anybody.
The better restaurants will accomodate you. All you have to do is ask! No reason to be embarrassed about your diet. Make a meal out of side orders. If they have pasta entrees, ask for pasta without meat, or cheese if you won't eat cheese now. Ask that the pasta be cooked in oil instead of butter, if you're avoiding butter. If they have just vegetables, ask for that with the pasta. Or ask for vegetables and a baked potato if they offer a potato. Sometimes you will have to "make do", but that's better than going hungry.
4. Your coworkers or your schoolmates suddenly start making fun of your healthy veg*an lunches, and you don't understand why.

Their view: by adopting a veg*an diet, you have chosen to alienate yourself from them, and from the "majority". Why would you want to do that? You limit your choices. You're no longer part of "the team" or "the gang". You can't enjoy pizza or a nice, juicy hamburger anymore (they think). Solution: make something veg*an, but don't tell them it's veg*an, and share it with them.
There's more, but I'm at work right now.
