“One of my New Year's resolutions for 2022 is to participate in Veganuary,” are my last words before I turned vegan and never went back to eating animal products. Veganuary is a British charity that inspires and advocates for people trying veganism for one month in January. I began this journey as a form of discipline and a form of care and love for the planet at the beginning of the year, convinced that I will return to my normal eating habits once January is over. What I didn’t know, however, was the ride that I will go on throughout the month that would lead me to stick to this decision and vow to never consume any form of meat again. Now, a year and three months later, the two questions I most often get asked are “Why did you become vegan?” and “Would you recommend for me to go vegan too?” While the first answer is one that I have recounted several times, and it goes along the lines of what I stated above, the second is a lot trickier for me to respond to.

Let me begin with the good, as someone who likes receiving good news before the bad. The benefits of veganism are tremendous, ranging from ethics, the climate, and a love of animals to the several health benefits that I have experienced. The purpose of this article is not to share the numerous statistics that already exist and are easily accessible about how consuming animal products is terrible for the planet or how red meat is bad for your health. I am simply here to tell you that the benefits I have experienced were greater than I could have ever envisioned. I began viewing animals as so much more than just food. I see them as life, something worth cherishing and protecting. I have gained so much respect and admiration for the planet and everything it produces, and I remain in awe at all of the intricate processes that occur on the planet that allow us to live every single day.

The cognitive dissonance that permeated my brain also disappeared, as I no longer had to justify my consumption of animal products despite having a deep love for animals. I did not realize the tremendous impact that consuming animal products had on me, especially since being an ethical person was a value that was deeply embedded in my personality. I learned so much about my body, what it needs, what harms it, how it reacts to foods it does not appreciate, and the impact that food has on my mental health. Some of my greatest moments of joy are when my friends show that they love me with little thoughtful acts and gestures, and my being vegan has amplified these opportunities. I felt so loved when my friends made sure that the chocolate they got me, the dish their mum cooked, or the event we are going to be at, has vegan options. It is one of the most beautiful and raw acts of kindness that radiates from people and shines through the world. For all of these lessons that veganism has taught and continues to teach me, I am eternally grateful.

Still, I began experiencing the negatives of veganism instantaneously, and it was incredibly intriguing because most of them were related to people, not my diet. The ‘Bad’ of veganism is what most people can imagine being the pitfalls of adopting this lifestyle. I experienced a significant amount of pushback from family and friends about my dietary preferences and imposing their ideas about why my decision is wrong and the damage it will cost me. Do not let my previous statement fool you though, for I continue to receive nutritional and health advice from people I have never spoken to, or family that have neither studied nor read about nutrition and veganism. It is definitely one of the stranger aspects of my experience, and one that I did not completely foresee.

Another ‘Bad’ is the social situations that arise and I have to be mindful of when they occur. Whenever my friends and family want to go to a restaurant, I need to check that there is at least one vegan option available. My mum and I went out for my birthday to a renowned restaurant chain and had to promptly leave because they had no vegan options and nothing that could be changed around to become vegan other than a plate of rice and vegetables. Now, of course I usually do not mind eating salads, potatoes, rice, or whichever kind of plain vegetables or carbs are being offered, however, this was a special occasion, and we both wanted to share a special meal of more than just the basics. This tends to make me feel like a burden to my loved ones and a nuisance to everyone else that has to accommodate my diet. I also cannot really connect with people over food like I used to, especially desserts, because they are very rarely vegan. While for me these connections are not something that took precedence over all of the good, it is still something that could be prevalent in people’s lives, especially if everybody around does not follow the same diet. While all of these aspects of veganism have impacted my life, it is important to note that each person will have their own experiences and their own ‘bads’, ones that I might never encounter.

Last, and perhaps most importantly, the ‘Ugly’ that follows veganism and everything it entails. One of the many reasons that I cannot be one to suggest whether or not someone should be vegan is due to the hefty financial aspect of it. While this fact can be disputed, as several cultures indulge in traditional foods that are vegan and are fairly cheap, this does not apply everywhere. I have witnessed how simply having the ‘vegan’ trademark on an item can ramp up the price of that product, making the food immediately inaccessible. This occurs especially when we compare some of the less bought items, such as birthday cakes or ice cream. For my birthday, the cake was significantly smaller yet significantly more expensive than a non-vegan cake would be. This process alienates the majority of the world population that cannot afford to buy these more expensive alternatives yet want to maintain their daily lives and habits. Vegan food, on average, is less accessible to families than non-vegan meals. This is due to the fact that they are not as easily found in grocery stores, forcing working parents to cook meals beforehand to make it cheaper and this intrudes on the parents’ time and comfort levels. This tends to be a driver for stopping a plant-based diet. Among young adults, there was also a perception of vegan food being less accessible, which this study states will only become less of a barrier once plant-based options are more readily available.

Lastly, and the point that I believe requires the most nuanced take, is the increased focus on the food intake that an individual becomes immediately aware of once they make the switch. I am constantly aware of what I am consuming, as I tend to have to look at the ingredients list of food items, or just have to be more conscious of exactly what I can and cannot consume at all times. This restrictive outlook towards food is one that could trigger a lot of people that suffer from disordered eating. It is, like any other diet, placing additional emphasis on what somebody is eating, which could be incredibly damaging when someone is struggling with eating anything. This is definitely the thing that stood out to me most when I first began my journey, and it is one that I think is not considered or talked about enough.

These are some of the main reasons why, when people ask me “should I go vegan?”, I feel ill-equipped and uninformed to tackle that question. I am also in no position to ask for all of these candid and personal details from someone who is asking me a dietary question. I have found out that it is so much more than a ‘dietary question’. It is one that requires an article as long as this one to do this topic justice, and to ensure that people are fully aware of what veganism entails. The beauty and love that accompanies the vegan lifestyle is one to admire, but the pitfalls, damage, and hardships that comes with it are also things that should be considered.