By Sara
One of the biggest stumbling blocks many newly vegan people struggle with is that once they make the change to their diet, they feel alone. This can really take a toll on their overall longevity and success with this lifestyle. So what are some of the strategies you can use to make sure you are successful?
Social support should not be underestimated! Having a friend or family member make the change with you can be powerful, but sometimes we must start out on this journey alone. Occasionally, once you begin seeing results your friends and family will ask what you’re doing and maybe even want to try it out for themselves.
Watch a documentary at home with your family or friends to see if they can provide the motivation and inspiration for them to try this with you. If you know your family is eco-conscious, try a documentary regarding veganism as it relates to environmental impact that animal agriculture exerts. Here are a few to get you started:
Food Exposed With Nelufar Hedayat
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
Seaspiracy
Meat The Truth
Before the Flood
More Than Honey
H.O.P.E What You Eat Matters
Racing Extinction
Virunga
Chasing Ice
The End of Meat
Vice (HBO series)
If they are interested in fitness or health benefits, try one of these:
The Game Changers
Forks over Knives
Running for Good
What the Health
Code Blue
Eating You Alive
Diet Fiction
The Big Fat Lie
Food, Inc.
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
Living Vegan
Plant Pure Nation
Fed Up
Hungry for Change
Vegucated
Maybe they’d be interested in going vegan for the animals. Encourge them to take a stand against animal cruelty and exploitation by watching one of these:
Earthlings
73 Cows
Black Fish
The Cove
Maximum Tolerated Dose
Called to Rescue
The Ghosts in Our Machine
Dominion
Lucent
A Prayer for Compassion
Empathy
The Last Pig
The Animals’ Film
Meet Your Meat
A Fall From Freedom
Deadly Dairy
Is your family interested in social justice? Check out these and see how much you can help by going vegan:
Last Days of Ivory
Veganville
The Invisible Vegan
Hungry for Justice
They’re Trying to Kill Us
Speciesism
Okay– moving on from documentaries to watch with your friends and families.
“We encourage you to join our Facebook Group— we love seeing new faces, and want to make it a place you can go for answers to questions you may have, and collaboration. “
Let’s find some people online to connect with. It’s amazing what you can learn from talking to others. Learning tips, tricks, hacks to prep and cook meals easily can keep you eating well. And learning cooking tricks can uplevel your skills and keep you interested in all the foods you can enjoy!
Look on Facebook (there are many local vegan and WFPB groups you can join). We encourage you to join our Facebook Group– we love seeing new faces, and want to make it a place you can go for answers to questions you may have, and collaboration. You can also search on Meetup, and PlantPure Communities Pod network. There are clubs on Clubhouse to listen and learn in. Dump the diet labels, and be open to both Vegan and Plant-Based groups. You can learn from the vegan veterans, and make friends with the vegan-curious, and everyone in between.
Another option is to look for a local, in-person vegan meetup. If you can’t find a meetup locally, start one! A once-a-month meetup that is potluck style is easy to organize. You can speak to your church to see if you can host a potluck-style meal there, or have people meet at a park during warmer weather. Advertise on Facebook, Craigslist, the bulletin board at work, tell your neighbors– the sky’s the limit! You can drive more interest if you also post these on social media with pictures of the delicious food you’ll be enjoying! The more, the merrier!
If you are lucky enough to have a plant-based restaurant, or one with a few options nearby, you can go to dinner and dine outdoors at your local small businesses (many of whom are struggling in these turbulent times). They will appreciate your support. Or if your city is still in lockdown, consider getting takeout and eating it at a nearby park. Bring a balloon, or sign to identify your group for newbies.
Consider visiting a local farm animal sanctuary– there are sure to be some locals there who are compassionate! You can even begin volunteering if you have the time. Then you will be around like-minded people which makes connecting easier, and gives you something in common..
Vegan festivals (veg-fest) are another great way to meet locals with similar interests. You can talk up the vendors, and the others who are there milling about once these are again available. They often have great speakers, cooking demonstrations, local vendors and animal rescue organizations.
Or look for vegan cooking classes. Find a cooking partner and new friend! You can learn some new skills and then use them to impress your family and friends with your kitchen prowess! Or even co-host a get together! You won’t leave hungry!
Hopefully these ideas can spark some ideas and help you to meet some like-minded friends to share your journey with. Some of these ideas are better to wait until more people are vaccinated so that you can safely gather in these COVID times. Do you have any other ideas? Please comment below to share!
What else about this lifestyle puts you on the struggle bus? Comment below, or DM us on social media– we’d love to help ya’ out!
