Eating vegan - how often do you "slip up"? (And how do you handle it?)?!
Occasionally, however, I've ordered something at a restaurant (or purchased something at a grocery store), not realizing that it wasn't vegan. So I was curious: how often does that happen to other people, and what do you do under the circumstances? (I happen to be cheap, so my informal philosophy has been that if the money's been spent--and it was an accident--I'll finish it, and just learn from the mistake (not with meat, just items with egg or dairy.)
Of the vegans out there, how many would throw out non-vegan items? For that matter, how many vegans occasionally "cheat"? (I can honestly say I haven't done so intentionally....)
Thanks to all in advance for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
Answers: I'm a relatively new vegan (New Years 2007), and I can honestly say that I haven't missed meat, dairy or eggs almost at all.
Occasionally, however, I've ordered something at a restaurant (or purchased something at a grocery store), not realizing that it wasn't vegan. So I was curious: how often does that happen to other people, and what do you do under the circumstances? (I happen to be cheap, so my informal philosophy has been that if the money's been spent--and it was an accident--I'll finish it, and just learn from the mistake (not with meat, just items with egg or dairy.)
Of the vegans out there, how many would throw out non-vegan items? For that matter, how many vegans occasionally "cheat"? (I can honestly say I haven't done so intentionally....)
Thanks to all in advance for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
I'm a long time vegetarian, quite recent vegan (2 months) and I accidently ordered something with cheese today (what I got was not what was described on the menu) and I was going to be late for work so I ate it. Did I enjoy it? It tasted alright, I guess, but I no longer crave cheese and in fact had to shut off my mind (and heart) in order to eat it. That being said, I think it is wrong for all these people to be judging you for "sliping up." It's hard to transition from veg to vegan, and one's commitment to and view of veganism should not become someone else's moral judgment. Worry about yourself and open up the wonderful world of veganism through compassion and enlightenment not judgment and scorn.
p.s. my mind and body felt pretty damn bad after consuming an animal product....no danger of me slipping on dairy again anytime soon, I'm commited!!
p.p.s. as a health-care worker I do not have the luxary of avoiding vaccinations due to the fact that the disease is incubated in a chicken egg. When I got it my body went absolutely berserk after not having animal protein of any sort in it in over a month...it was interesting to see the effect.
This happens to everybody. Once you get more familiar with vegan-friendly food brands and what you need to look for in a restaurant (eggs and cheese on salads, eggs in pasta, that kind of stuff) it becomes second nature to look for and ask about these things. I personally don't break my veganism for anything, I would just offer it to a friend eating with you, or order it again correctly and wrap the non-veg meal up to bring to a family member or friend at home.
Restaurants will inevitably screw up vegan orders, just try not to stress about it. I tend to not eat out often and I cook like 99% of my own meals from scratch.
I'm just vegetarian, but I have slipped up a few times. I don't stress about it. I try to give the food away to someone else, but if there's just a little left then I just eat it and move on.
It's not very often that I "slip up", but there have been a few times that I can think of that I have discovered something with cheese or milk in it after taking a bite. I throw it away and proceed to feel queasy. I believe the current research done by some of the most learned and respected people in the field of nutrition that dairy products are incredibly unhealthy and can even be deadly. I won't take any part in passing anything with dairy on to anyone else, that's for sure.
I would never knowingly "cheat" because I truly believe in not consuming animal products. That's not to say that I'm perfect and eat a perfectly balanced diet, but I do try to stick to MY basic guidelines.
Jena is not a vegan, so discount all her advise. I'm a vegan
that never slips up because I can eat all 4 food groups.
I don't "slip up". Frankly, I don't understand why someone would not read the full description of a menu item before ordering, or simply ask the waiter. And in grocery stores, all you have to do is read the label.
I don't "cheat". Anyone who eats animal products is, by definition, not vegan. But, the label aside, I could never knowingly eat a non-vegan item such as dairy because I know how much pus is in it and the horrific suffering that contributed to its production.
I did have an incident not too long ago. I was eating chips and habanero salsa from Qdoba (a burrito resturant whose method is sort of like's Subway's line) and there was a chunk of chicken in the salsa. I think it was probably the first meat I've had in my mouth ever (I was raised vegan) so that was NASTY. Their tubs of everything at the restaurant are really close together, so it probably just fell in. I spat it out and nearly gagged.
You probably already know this, but veganism is a lifestyle, not just what you eat. Vegans don’t wear leather, fur, or wool, buy products from companies that conduct non-required animal toxicity tests:
http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/compa...
Or frequent zoos, rodeos, circuses, or other places where animals are held in captivity or forced to perform.
Take care.
Compared to "true" vegans of ancient traditions and cultures, most modern day "vegans" are "vegans of convenience" espousing a political agenda without a spiritual foundation.
Most I've encountered are "chegans" ... cheating vegans . . that rationalize such as you did . . . "(I happen to be cheap, so my informal philosophy has been that if the money's been spent--and it was an accident--I'll finish it, and just learn from the mistake (not with meat, just items with egg or dairy.)
"True vegans" would stop the action immediately upon finding out they made an "error".
LOL .. "it was an accident--I'll finish it" ... of course you would, luv. You are a cheating vegan like all of you crazy buggers are. You are vegan when it suits your fancy. That has been my experience in first world countries. A half-arsed commitment.
it happens
They cut themselves. Emo, anyone??