Top 5 Tips for New Vegans!

by Anticarnist November 23, 2019

With over 100,000 people signing up to Veganuary and counting, veganism is set to start going mainstream in 2018. And with so many new and aspiring vegans out there, I thought I should offer up a few words of advice that helped me in the beginning. There’s also a chance to WIN a huge hamper from Little Shop of Vegans for anyone hoping to inspire others to try veganism (or gain inspiration themselves!).

No One is Perfect

According to The Vegan Society the definition of veganism is:

“A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”

Veganism is not a purity contest. If you slip up, take note and learn from it. If you are unable to find a vegan alternative for something you absolutely need, make sure it is known that there is a demand for it to be veganised. It is not a competition. We are all doing the best we can in a world that hasn’t caught up yet.

Learn the Facts

When you are vegan you are a constant reminder to everyone around you that they support animal exploitation. They will try to do everything they can to discredit you to make themselves feel better, so make sure you know what you’re talking about.Check your sources before sharing anything. Join vegan Facebook groups and don’t hesitate to ask questions. The meat and dairy industries are also notorious for spreading disinformation to discourage the current rapid growth of veganism, so keep up to date with the news and what they’re trying to pull next. Because you WILL be approached about it by people hoping that they have a new excuse to never change. There’s a list of common arguments against veganism on the Anticarnist website here that will absolutely come in handy almost immediately without a doubt.

Find Your Kind

One of the biggest factors for keeping me sane in the beginning was when I started attending the Norwich Vegans monthly meetings. Three years ago I sat with six other people and chatted for hours. It was refreshing and very much needed whilst I was otherwise surrounded by friends and family who either didn’t want to discuss anything I had learned or wanted to shoot it down. Now the meetings have around fifty different people in attendance each month and my friends and family are also much more receptive. Nevertheless, in the beginning, the opportunity to make vegan friends in a non-vegan world was a life saver. If there aren’t any groups in your area, strongly consider creating one. Go out for meals, do various forms of activism, or meet up for a social drink. We’re stronger together.

Everyone Needs B12

One of the hidden bonuses about being vegan is if you’re eating more fruits and vegetables than you were before, you’re not as in need of supplements. Nevertheless, a huge percentage of the world is deficient in B12, so it makes sense to take a B12 supplement at the very least. B12 is the byproduct of a specific bacterial fermentation that used to be much more abundant in soil, but due to modern farming processes and the fact we now wash all our produce for good reason, some people find themselves without enough of it to remain healthy after years of being deficient. Nowadays farmers give B12 supplements to their animals, but fortunately we can easily take these ourselves instead of getting B12 second hand. B12 is also found in fortified plant milks and cereals.

Get Stuffed

My **Bosh!** Mushroom Wellington (click for recipe, you won’t regret it!)

Another little benefit of aligning your actions with your values is that fruits and vegetables are very low in calories compared to meat, dairy and eggs. They’re cheaper too; especially vegan staple foods such as beans and rice. If you focus on a whole foods diet (which isn’t mandatory of course – there are plenty of vegan meats and cheeses in supermarkets these days), you can eat a lot more in terms of volume. So don’t forget to increase your portion sizes accordingly because food is fuel, and you’ll need that fuel to keep fighting for the animals. And the more leafy greens the better.

For a chance to WIN an amazing hamper full of vegan-friendly gifts featured above, see the top pinned post on the Anticarnist Facebook page.

FULL List of prizes in the Little Shop of Vegans Hamper:

Little Shop of Vegans tote bag, designed by Anticarnist
All Glamour No Guts ‘Someone Not Something’ notebook, designed by Anticarnist
Soya Free Vegenaise
Nutritional yeast flakes
Whipped Cream
Dandies marshmallows
Box of Chocolates
Ravioli
Anticarnist stickers x4
Anticarnist ‘Respect Existence or Expect Resistance’ beanie
How To Go Vegan book by Veganuary

GOOD LUCK!

Terms & conditions

1. How to Enter:

1.1. To join in the campaign entrants will need to ‘like’ the Anticarnist Facebook page, share the competition post and tag a friend in the comments.

1.2. The winner will be selected randomly

2. When to Enter and Who can Enter:

2.1. The Competition closes Sunday 14th January 2018

2.2. Entrants can enter at any point until this date

2.3. Entrants can only enter the Competition once, but can share as many times as they like.

2.4. The Competition is only to those aged 18 or over, excluding anyone professionally connected with the administration of the Competition. Proof of age may be asked for.

3. Prizes:

3.1. The Prizes for winning the competition are all items included in the Little Shop of Vegans Hamper photo.

3.2. The Prizes are as stated and they cannot be sold or exchanged for cash, goods or services.

4. Data Protection and Publicity:

4.1. You consent to your surname, published on the digital channels or other media of Anticarnist if you win any Prizes under the Competition

4.2. Any personal data relating to participants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation. By entering the Competition, you agree that Anticarnist may contact you in relation to the Competition

4.3. Competition winners will be contacted by Anticarnist. You must provide accurate contact details on notification.

5. Competition Rules

5.1. The Competition will be run and prizes will be awarded at Anticarnist’s sole discretion.

5.2. We reserve the right to refuse entry into the Competition

5.3. We reserve the right to change the Competition rules and these Terms and Conditions from time to time. If we do so, we will always have the most up to date terms and conditions on this page.

5.4. All intellectual property rights in the images and materials on the digital platforms, and used in the services provided by and no person may make any use of them without Anticarnist’s express permission.

6. Liability and Indemnities

6.1. Except in the case of death or personal injury arising from its negligence, or in respect of fraud, and so far as is permitted by law, Anticarnist and its associated companies and agents and distributors exclude responsibility and all liabilities, whether direct or indirect, arising from:

6.1.1. any postponement or cancellation of the Competition;

6.1.2. any changes to, supply of or use of the Prize; and

6.1.3. any act or default of any supplier, which are beyond Anticarnist’s reasonable control.

6.2. Anticarnist does not accept responsibility for any liability arising from technical incompatibility, problems relating to the internet, or technical difficulties of any kind

6.3. Anticarnist shall not be liable, whether in tort, contract, misrepresentation or otherwise for loss of profits, loss of anticipated savings, loss of goods, loss of use, loss or corruption of data or information, or any special, indirect, consequential or pure economic loss, costs, damages, charges or expenses

7. Jurisdiction

7.1. The Competition and these Terms and Conditions are governed by English Law. England & Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions.

8.Disclaimer

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook or any other social network.

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