I need help making my transition to Veganism easier.?!

March 3, 2011

My journey to Vegetarianism and Veganism has been difficult.
Coming from a traditional Mexican family, I was taught how to cook delicious, savory dishes early on a child. All of them requiring meat.
I’ve taken pride in my abilities to cook as well as I do. And impressing friends with how good I am at it.

About a month ago, I began to inform myself about existing cruelty against animals. Why? Because for the first time in my life, I have a pet. This has been a slow and steady process since I got my dog Rocky. I have never felt so much love for another species the way I do for him. Many people don’t understand how my conscious has evolved in the short 3 years since I got him.
You see, I purchased Rocky from a pet store. And after that, I became aware of the whole puppy mill situation, and the guilt I felt for buying my Lovely Dog was overwhelming. I had to try and make up for what I contributed to.
Slowly, I began getting involved in volunteering at Shelters, I began searching websites to see in what other ways I could try to help these poor dogs.
I came across many websites, that didn’t only focus on Dogs and Cats, but all animals.
At first, other animals were not my focus. But the more I read, and informed myself, the clearer the picture became.
Any kind of animal abuse is wrong.

I can no longer turn a blind eye to any animal’s suffering. I look into the eyes of my Rocco, and I cant help but know of all the cows, sheep, chickens and endless lists of animals being exploited by humankind. All those animals who also have little eyes, viewing the world in the most horrific way. The torture they endure is un necessary.

There are many arguments to this sensitive subject. And because I’m still learning about it myself I’m in no position to persuade anyone to change their beliefs.

Many people argue the “circle of life”. I understand that argument. I too find nothing wrong with the circle of life… however, because of our greed, animals are not being treated humanely, and that I do have a problem with. We are all Earthlings of this planet.
We all have a right to live here. We all have pain receptors, and we all feel.
What makes humans feel so entitled? Why are we all so greedy?

It has been 1 month since I have been informing myself, and learning about this abuse toward animals.
I’m a beginner vegetarian… and its a lot harder than I imagined.
At first, I thought it couldn’t be that hard to cook delicious veggies, and salads, and stir- frys over rice… I’m Mexican, so eating beans on a regular basis was not an issue for me at all, I grew up poor, and it was a regular meal for us growing up.
However, I underestimated my dependence on meat.
Two weeks in, I ran out of ideas on what to make. My vegetarian meals felt like they were missing substance. Sometimes they were too bland. And almost everytime, they were not satisfying.
Yet on my weekly grocery shopping trips, I would tell myself the same things I read on all these vegetarian websites. That is, “Veganism is a Journey” It’s a beginning and what follows is a practical effort to avoid products that are derived from the exploitation of animals Eventually, with the help of creative vegan education, we will arrive at our destination.
Basicly, even the strictest Vegan will tell you, that they arrived to their destination with baby steps. Its almost impossible for anyone to wake up and eliminate all Animal byproducts from their diet, from one day to the next.

Therefore, I need to pace myself, and start slow… maybe with a little spring in my step.
However, walking the isles of the meat section at my grocery store, I haven’t been able to bring myself to buy any meat in the past month.
The guilt, the knowledge I have gained, the look in my Dog’s eyes… all of it has made grocery shopping so difficult for me.

I’ve gone to bookstores in search for Vegetarian / Vegan cookbooks, but lets face it, those are not meant for beginners. They have ingredients that are not only hard to find, but things I’ve never even heard of.
Has anyone ever thought of making a “Simple, Stupid Beginners guide to cooking Vegetarian”?

I hope to make my transition to Veganism smooth, and as easy as possible. I just don’t know how to do that.
I don’t have the support from my beautiful Traditional Mexican family. I’m doing this alone, and I feel so overwhelmed… and hungry…

I’d like to ask Vegans out there for any advice they may have for me. Tips on how to stay on track… tips on how to make it easier.

Our dependence on animals is everywhere. Our Clothes, our Food, Our Medical Research, even Entertainment… basicly our entire economy depends on animals.
We are biting the hand that littereally feeds us. Our disrespect for our fellow earthlings is shameful. I can no longer participate and I’m disappointed in the fact that its taken me this long to realize and open my eyes.



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