When I used to be on fb, I once posted a picture of me eating a technically vegan chocolate bar on a vegan group and oh my.. the moderators on that group and their followers almost ate me alive because I did so. They told me that how could I do that knowing that the brand of that bar also made chocolates with "real" milk. And so I asked them if they only shopped at vegan health food stores and not drove their cars so they wouldn't run over insects or if they now hated their mothers or fathers because they continued to eat meat. I'm vegan since 1990 and I live in a non vegan world. We do the best we can and you're exactly right- the more we act that way the more we drive people away from this beautiful way of living. Of course I would love to see this entire planet live in a cruelty free world but sadly, that's just not the case. I've been accused many times of not being fully vegan because my rescued cats eat meat, For Example but I have to continue to remind them that I'M the vegan one- they're not.
I think I know which group(s) you’re talking about. Some people are only happy if they are cutting others down. And unfortunately, social media (and these groups in particular, tend to attract peace pirates like the ones who attacked you over a candy bar.. 😩 I’m sorry you had to go through that.
@@toniwatson8401 Thank you so much- and that's why I decided to quit fb. One of the major reasons, anyway. Social media sites can be very helpful when it comes to awareness but also very damaging. When I first went vegan more than 30 years ago I will admit that I was very preachy but it got me nowhere. Now that I'm grown I know better, ha. And I've had many people change because of it.
This reminds me of when I was on Facebook in vegan groups, I once mentioned I bought and donated blankets from a thrift store to an animal shelter that was in need... I was criticized for not making sure they were not made from wool. I remember first going vegan as a very low income person posting things from a Dollar Tree shop and despite everything was vegan I was criticized for how unhealthy it all supposedly was... despite it was things like tortillas, canned beans, tater tots/French fries etc. Criticized all because it wasn't solely WFPB completely unprocessed vegan food. This was constantly a thing, people criticizing people's VEGAN meals "Ohh that's so unhealthy" as if veganism has actually anything to do with that... I remember people fussing over whether their trash bags were vegan. It got to be too much and these groups almost felt competitive. Who can be the "better vegan" aka most likely translating to "better person"... among fellow vegans of all people though 🤦♀️. Leaving those groups personally was the best thing I could have done for my own vegan journey.
By that logic, simply paying taxes would make you not vegan, since the government funds animal agriculture. It's so counterproductive to criticize others for doing the best they can and can turn them away from the movement all together. Besides, purchasing vegan products from non-vegan brands shows them that there is a demand for it :)
@@victoriah.20 It's almost as if it's: Who's the most vegan competition. Ridiculous, I know. I'm sure we're not the only ones with these "vegan group stories." And not only there, our personal lives as well. And again and again, that's why many look at us as just crazy people. I became vegan at a time when I didn't even know that the word existed. We called it "strict vegetarian" back then. And I've made mistakes, of course. As many have said on here that no one can be 100%...We try the best we can in a non vegan world.
I love this video so much! In the last 6 years I’ve been WFPB, vegetarian, vegan(ish,) pescatarian, etc. Now I’m just untitled, & mostly plant based. That means I use plant based milk at home, but I’ll use creamer in a restaurant. I don’t eat meat, but I feel much better at this stage of my life if I eat omega 3 rich salmon 1-2x a week. This is what feels sustainable and I can make changes as I see fit. It’s difficult to find my place in the plant based community. Videos like this are super helpful & reassuring. ❤
Nobody can be 💯 vegan in this modern world. We try the best that we can do. I love how you represent the movement in such a positive manner. I have been vegan for 9 years and I’m just trying to minimize animal suffering in the best way I can. Thank you for this video.
? isn't it easier than ever not to consume animal flesh and secretion with all the vegan options available today if you miss the taste of certain carnist products? It's not possible to be perfect and never cause harm but it's VERY easy not to eat meat/dairy/eggs and avoid buying leather/wool etc. The point is to stop paying for deliberate exploitation, and that's so easy it almost makes me weep how easy it is.
"Where do you get your protein!" It's a classic! I always reply "where do you think the largest land mammals get theirs from?" Plants!! Loved this video xx
Actually the minimum one should do which is actually super easy to do is not consume flesh (all meats) and secretions (dairy and eggs). We can't be perfect but not consuming flesh and secretions is SOOOOO EASY. Especially with all the vegan alternatives out there. Perfection isn't possible but this much is bare basics, not even perfection.
Great video Nikki, I've been plant based for 3 years my goal is as vegan as possible (the least amount of harm) but that extends to the people around me. So some times eating great Aunt Polly's lasagna that she made "just for you" because you don't eat meat is far more compassionate then telling her no. Using up what you already have before buying a new vegan lotion just makes sense.
I relate to this so hard!!! I was vegetarian when I was a teenager but when we had Sunday dinners at my Italian great aunt Mimi’s house, I ate her meatballs and whatever else she cooked because cooking for family meant the world to her and the concept of not eating meat was not something she could wrap her head around. I’ve been very vegan for 6 years but if Mimi’s ghost showed up in my kitchen, I’d do the same thing today 😂
Ofc you use the lotion if its already there, but you tell your Aunt to make vegan food if she actually cares for you or for the animals, so that she doesnt cause any more damage in the future. Even if it makes her sad, thats obviously not comparable to what the individuals in her cooking pot went thru
So we'll said! I definitely consider myself a vegan. However, I have to use several self care/beauty products that are not vegan or cruelty free because I have several allergies to very commonly used preservatives and emulsifiers in these products. Plus, like all fragrances. I have a very short list of products that are safe for me to use so it's just not always an option. But I know that doesn't make me less of a vegan. Thank you for putting that out in the world! I would love to see a follow up to this video!
The problem is that it makes it sound like some very hard thing to do, confirming that misconception about veganism If people were to just make that leap, bc its the ethical right thing to do anyways, they would notice that there is no fall i think the fall might rather come from not actually being convicted about the ethics. Like if you say you beat your wife less, one step at a time
So many good points! Most people will not or do not want to be vegan but small choices and changes like a plant based meal instead of meat or a a cruelty free beauty product is a win!
I commented on a vegan post years ago of how a vegan diet helped my sister with her multiple sclerosis a great deal. It kept her off med's etc and mine and my husbands health had improved. I got a lot of nice comments but the only one I remember is the hateful one from one person saying that being vegan has nothing to do with health and that I should use proper wording of how my Sister's health improved because she is WFPB not vegan. They ranted on and it really upset me a great deal. If we didn't do the vegan WFPB diet for health reasons and just went vegan for ethical reasons this one person could have drove me back to my old ways of eating. T
Well said! I havent eaten meat in 25 years but do eat fish once in a while. Most difficult for me is giving up cheese; its my lifelong favorite food! Plant based cheese has come a long way but doesn't offer much nutritive value. At least the industry is leaning more towards tastey vegan options.
This was a very helpful video. Sometimes I get feeling really stressed out because it seems the animals are hurt everywhere. I read that even toilet paper, wall paint, tires, even the lcd screens of tvs and phones aren’t vegan. That gives me so much anxiety especially with my ocd on top of that where I can’t be vegan. But then I try not to worry about all those things because that’s just the way it is but we can still just do our best and show compassion to animals and use vegan products the best we can and eating vegan meals.
This content is really helpful to me. I struggle with talking to non-vegans without making them feel guilty so I just stopped practically talking to them about veganism because I realised I was being aggressive and that that wasn't helping the animals... I became vegan overnight and, I suppose, it's not as easy for me to understand that most people can't do it. I lost weight (even though I didn't need to) because I didn't know what to eat. I didn't know how to cook and this was 6 years ago in Brazil, where we always have a lot less vegan ready options than in the US... Your channel was one of the first ones that I found, because I had I lot of gas hahaha... The joyful vegan says "don't do nothing because you can't do everything"... Changing habits is so difficult, I know that, but when I found out about the torture and totally inhumane practices in the farm industry, besides the killing, of course, I mean... it's difficult for me to be compassionate towards non-vegans who know about this and keep on eating animal products... and there are those who don't want to know... and there are those who don't care at all... I used to have a really bad diet, with practically no greens or vegetables and all of a sudden I'm vegan. If I could do it, so can anyone!!... but no. People are different. I'm still not ok with this, but I think your video helped. The important thing is being able to help the animals and my aggressiveness or judgemental behaviour does not help the animals, I know that much. I struggle, but I'll get there. Thanks, Nikki!
💯❤️ I completely agree with all of this! I think it’s important to celebrate any moves someone is making in a plant based or vegan direction rather than looking for perfection. I’ve been vegan for 6 years now, and it didn’t happen overnight. I had to learn how to feed myself, basically. The thing that helped me most was watching TH-cam videos, especially your videos 🙏 Your recipes and “what I eat in a days” inspired me so much and helped me learn, and I am so grateful to you! I know you’ve reached many many people in the same way. Thank you!!!!
These where great points, when I went plant based I quickly realized the difference btwn plant based & vegan, I was curious abt plant based diet for abt year before I transitioned , and what made it official for me was the advice of a health professional to better my health.
Over the past 15 years, I have transitioned from a pescatarian to a vegetarian. Now, I have been naturally “leaning into veganism”. Your videos have helped me accept myself. At times. I have felt like a misfit, being the only plant based person (including yoga and meditation😂) among family and friends. Thank you.
Great points! When I first went vegan I followed a blogger who posted she was going to start to confront people in public who said they were vegan but not vegan enough for her. I unfollowed her and explicitly told her why. Reprehensible for her to decide she was the vegan police.
Love this video! Conversely, I think the biggest fact about veganism is that a small population give the term vegan a bad name. It’s a reason I sometimes refer to myself as plant based instead of vegan when discussing my diet with die hard carnivores. Like you said, nobody is perfect so we have to encourage everyone to do what they can, it’s so much better than nothing at all! Also, as someone who shares their home with furry little friends who are obligate carnivores, I have to purchase animal products to give them a diet that will sustain their lives so does that make me non vegan? I don’t think so.
Thanks for this! I think that a lot of us have posted on vegan Facebook groups, and been told that we aren't vegan enough. It's very hard to get the message across when we are all imperfect people, but someone is always trying to make you feel bad for making an effort. I believe I have deleted at least 2 or 3 posts in the past because someone made me feel like I wasn't trying hard enough.
This fall with be 7 years I haven’t had meat. I think that was the easiest part. The rebalancing of what I was eating and learning to incorporate other things that was more of a learning curve. I did enjoy it but it was also a little overwhelming if I think back to that time. I became part of the FB group forks over knives which was helpful and got a bunch of cookbooks and recipes to help with the transition. I had online support but no one in my life changed their diet with me. No one in my household or family eats the same as me. That is something else to navigate but it can be done. It gets easier over time when they realize this version of you is here to stay. One thing to help with success is to prep something each week and I’m not saying to spend 8 hours on a Sunday in your kitchen each week- I’ve done that and don’t anymore. Just prep things like grains, potatoes, veggies, sauces, beans, etc…whatever is important to you and that you think you can incorporate into meals in the week. I think cooking so there is leftovers is also going to be a great idea . Leftovers you can either freeze for later or eat as a leftover that week for one of your meals. There are so many different ways to manage your meals for the week but you have to find what works for you.😊
100% agreeeed! If only we could switch the name from veganism to "Compassionism" I think we would get less eye rolls! Do you recommend any tracking apps that you used? I want to track my protein (and I am adding pumpkin seeds to my shopping list now!) Thank you as always, love your videos as a Sunday reset ritual :) xx
Thank you for this video-it allows so many of us to breathe a sigh of relief. I have struggled to stay fully plant based for the last 4 years (I’m the only one in my family that prefers this way of eating) and now I’m working through some unfavorable nutritional labs and trying to figure out where to go from here. You are one of few I rely on when I need inspiration.
Part of me agrees with point 1, and part of me disagrees. I need to hang with it a bit to decide. I did once (I'm 8 years vegan) take a vegetarian friend to a vegan group event. Someone came over to talk with my friend and when she shared that she is vegetarian the person said "well keep trying I'm sure you'll get it right eventually" Yikes. I apologized to my friend but she has declined coming to events with me since.
Wow Nicole, I love your content. And so agree with what you are saying, 6 years ago when I went vegan I discoverd that I was allergic to soy. So I moved back to eating eggs for a couple of months, trying to figure out the hows and the what for proteïn to stay vegan in the long run. I'm so happy for that step and can say pround I'm 5,5 years fully vegan now! Oh and the quote 'vegans only eat grass' Is getting me kind of anoyed by now. In the beginning it was funny but nowdays there are still people who think this, thats crazy p.s. please be kind English is my third language, I've not fully mastered it yet.
Another awesome video Nicole and thanks for debunking these lies. I didn't go vegan overnight and I try not to pressure people into being vegan because everyone has the right to make their own lifestyle choices (even if others don't agree with them). Love 🥰 the video and love ❤ Nicole.
Thank you for saying this and "all or nothing" is never sustainable when friction makes it harder to continue the journey. Better to take to slow/steady and make changes that work best for you...stop the labels.
Amen! I consider myself vegan but I hesitate to say it out loud because I'm not 100% with my clothing and maybe once a month I dip my fries in a regular mayo based sauce.
Wonderful video. The biggest thing and lie is that you can’t get enough protein. Also, I’ve had coworkers come to me and say you must get sick a lot because you don’t eat meat. That one has been funny because everyone is different and has a different medical history so how can they know lack of meat is the reason why I get sick ? 🤧 cold, flu, Covid etc
@NikkiVegan well said, we all start somewhere. I ate Pescatarian for a decade and eventually made the decision that I no longer wanted to eat animals. Kudos to speaking up and discussing it’s hard to switch over night and that’s ok. As always can’t wait for more videos!
I am plant based, I still eat honey and my kids are technically vegetarian because their grandparents kept giving them things with dairy and eggs in them. In my 7th year being plant based. I try to only buy vegan and cruelty free products too, as well as it being non toxic. I bake vegan cakes, have vegan parties for my kids bdays. But let them have the bday cake at their friends party. My husband sometimes gives them chicken nuggets from Mac Donald’s, at this point in time, I just told them don’t tell me you had it cause it upsets me.
Loved this video! Made me like you even more! I love your perspective. Ive felt guilty for having whey protein in my smoothie after trying a bazillion plant based protein powders and all made me not feel good. It’s the only thing I eat that is not plant based. But since I deal with a lot of health issues, I needed a smoothie with extra protein. Thanks for making me feel not so bad!
Such a great video, those vegans who are aggressive in their approach and use pictures of animal cruelty really do turn people away. Personally I think if vegans show alternatives for meat and the benefits more people would turn to a plant based way of eating. I've been vegan for 9 years and live with a farmer who shows his animals a huge amount of love. X
When I went vegan 4 years ago I definitely went through something similar to the 5 stages of grief… I had to make a conscious decision to be happy and not let it affect my relationships with my kids and other people I wanted in my life. And they are closer to my way of thinking now… I definitely planted some seeds.
Iron deficiency can definitely be really dangerous. I recently experienced the worst symptoms due to mine, thought I was going to die or end up with an irreversible health condition as a result. I was having near fainting episodes, heart palpitations and fluttering, blood pressure dropping low. Wave abnormalities on an EKG when I went to the hospital about my symptoms. Mine seems mostly an absorption issue. Was the scariest thing. I've had vitamin D deficiency for years and the symptoms of that were nothing in comparison. Even when I wasn't vegan or even vegetarian it looks like my iron itself was low end of normal, plus iron saturation low end too. So probably easy if I'm not careful for it to drop below. I think I need more than the RDI for it at this point to get towards higher end of normal. It does feel very hard to do plant based if you're not eating very specific foods and every day if someone has iron issues. Recently I was so scared due to my symptoms I was piling in the processed fortified cereals, forgetting the vitamin D in them is often not vegan. I don't consider myself not vegan now though. I think temporarily I'm going to rely on those, ie eat what I bought until I can buy a specific type of iron supplement (liquid/sublingual) since I have stomach issues.
I know you said it's an absorption issue...but one thing that worked for me when I was pregnant and it got to 10.5 was adding in spinach or kale or other dark greens to literally every meal. It went from 10.5 to over 14 in a couple months! It really saved me because I bled out in labor and they said the only reason I recovered easily and didn't lose consciousness was because of my crazy high iron. Go greens!! Even with malabsorption hopefully that could help.
@@annaburke8537 Thanks, I am definitely doing that and have lots of bags of frozen spinach in my freezer now. Though being low income, the fastest quickest and also cheapest way I knew was fortified cereals where some actually have 100% DV. Almost as much as or more than some supplements (there are way too many and types to choose from lol). For the last month I ate those cereals adding in blueberries and drank large glasses of orange juice with every bowl, since vitamin C increases absorption. Unfortunately, I didn't even check if the orange juice was vegan which I know some are actually not... sadly that's the sort of world we live in. Being on the low end even when I was eating meat, to be on the safe side I will still be buying a supplement too. My doctor says only take it every other day which means it will last longer and save me some money.
Thank you so much for this video! I have a family member that puts me down because I am not perfect in my transition. This helps me to be happy with the progress I have made. Bless you 😊
I always thought I'd be vegan for the rest of my life and I really want to be, but truthfully I might start introducing fish and maybe a little dairy sometimes, because its been hard for me to thrive eating completely vegan. I've been vegan for almost 8 years but some parts of my health may be affected. I haven't experimented with fish and dairy, and I eat many varieties of plant protein like tofu, edamame, beans, nuts and seeds, quinoa etc and eat often. My weight is healthy and so are my labs. I would still like to make a difference and this is hard for me to move past because I really wanted to make it work and I feel really guilty about it
Words of wisdom for sure. It’s all the lies that kept me from being vegan long ago. It’s been 7 yrs. for me now and I wish I had done it sooner. But we can only move forward. Right?Its the best decision I’ve ever made and I’m so grateful that I’ve found my way and thankful for the truth that is spoken ❤
What a great video Nikki. As someone who eats a vegan diet but is an avid backpacker I do wear wool socks. I know most will say that I’m not a true vegan but do use ethical sourced products and don’t think I should have to justify myself. We all do the best we can and I’m proud no animals have been on my plate for over 30 years.🐷
great video! i know as vegans we see the harm that is being done to animals sooo crystal clear, but most of us have also previously been in a place and mindset where we were blind to it. ive been vegetarian for five years before i started transitioning into veganism, and i never knew how bad the dairy industry was, or the egg industry. i think it's way more important to do our part in showing these things, spreading awareness, standing up for animal rights, and not to demonise anyone who wasn't yet aware of it. also, i wanted to add, i VERY recently learned (from a certified vegan dietician, her name is cookingforpeanuts) that bananas aren't ideal in blueberry smoothies! blueberries contain flavanols, which lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and much more, and bananas break down those flavanols! since you showed of your amazing smoothie i wanted to drop this info. :)
Becoming vegan for me, wasn't really hard. I already didn't consume animal flesh, but I was a dairy person. They have delicious alternatives though. So it really worked out for me
I went cold turkey WFPB, from a standard American diet. The first 3 weeks I suffered while my body adjusted. Then I flourished. I lost 25 lbs. I felt fantastic and I no longer was pre-diabetic. But my family had a hard time with it. So I went back. But I include more veggies and fruits and plant milk. I am ok with it. I think, like you do if people are willing to change somethings in there diet that are healthy we should root them on!
Just chatting with people about how much healthier you feel going vegan creates interest. This gives you an “in” to tell them more if they want to hear more. 👍
Well stated! It's not always just about compassion for everyone though either. For me when I was growing up I never really liked meat that much. There was always an ick factor there for me. I slowly became a vegetarian as I was transitioning into adulthood and didn't enjoy handling animal flesh, I can't compartmentalize like most people do. As I'm getting older I'm starting to get the same ick factor from dairy and eggs and have found myself becoming more and more plant-based. Ironically the longer I've been vegetarian the more compassion and respect I have for all creatures and I just cannot see animals as food and I suffer inside when I see cattle trucks or beat-up chickens etc. I also don't like how animals are treated so that we as humans can consume what was meant to feed a baby cow etc. For the time I still wear leather because most of the world still eats meat and as long as it is that way I don't want to see the hydes go to waste.
I went from eating meat to vegetarian overnight and became a vegan in a week after, I've been vegan since the lockdown, it was part of the reason why I went vegan, feeling trapped at home made me realise this is literally life for animals after that it was easy for me to switch. After binging videos from Earthling ed and Joey Carbstrong they really changed my perspective. I do agree with you, the all or nothing mentality can be overwhelming and discouraging and for most people small changes can slowly make a snowball effect.
Thank you so much for this video. I've been vegan for 7.5 years, and I totally agree with you! Things have and need to change in the vegan world. We're all doing our best. And I especially loved what you said about people not automatically knowing how to get all of the nutrition they need. Especially today with so many processed vegan options. It was easier 7 years ago, but I still tracked all of my macros and micronutrients in the beginning until I felt comfortable. It only took a few months. Something as important as our nutrition should be worth a little bit of effort. But not so much pressure that we throw in the towel.
One of the biggest lies I heard was that being vegan would solve all of my health issues… no it did not! In fact it made some of them worse. I have food allergies and some other issues with food digestion. For instance…I’m allergic to eggs but the same protein enzymes I’m allergic to also reside in most legumes..so eating especially dark beans can make me really sick. Also some vegetables like bell peppers, onions and broccoli can also make me really sick so…yeah eating an all vegan diet will not work for me. I can manage to eat my breakfast vegan and possibly lunch a few days a week but I can’t be vegan. I can’t eat half the foods I would need to get enough protein and nutrients.
I’m not Vegan but I do believe in the power of food to heal so I try to eat plant based most of the time. I watch your videos because I want to learn how to make delicious nutritious meals. So I appreciate your acknowledgment that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Thank you for making this video I really needed to hear this sometimes I get down on myself for simply being tempted to eat like I used too but I been vegan for 2 years now.and I feel like a better person everyday!
I have some digestive issues that reduce my absorption of iron and B12. People still think that you need to eat meat to get iron. My issues have nothing to do with being vegan, but it's frustrating that people really buy into that and still will make comments, even if well intentioned, that "Oh that's why you are anemic because you don't eat meat". And of course there are still the questions about where do I get protein. Thankfully it doesn't happen a lot but I honestly eat healthier, and a wider variety of food, than 98% of the people I know. They are so concerned about these things but don't blink an eye at people eating the SAD or loads of processed food.
My biggest peeve that people say about veganism is that it's limiting, or saying, "You can't have . . ." On the contrary, my diet has gained more variety since I became vegan over 2 years ago, and I'm not talking about vegan products, of which I barely use, preferring to prepare most of my food myself. I eat more plant foods than ever before. There's nothing I can't have, either; I don't want animal products and if I want a hamburger or whatever, there are better options such as a lentil burger!
I hear you! My diet has become so varied and I really love all of the different ways to make a meal now that I'm vegan. I think a lot of it is mindset. For me, I don't see animals as food anymore, so it's not limiting for me. But I do understand that it's hard for some. Especially if they're allergic to certain plant foods or they don't like certain foods. It can be an adjustment, but I really believe it gets easier and so delicious with time and creativity 😊❤️
My ex-wife's cardiologist put her on the wfpbno, so I was wfpbno for 3 1/2 years. I wasn't 100% due to my food allergies. I couldn't always find a wfpbno alternative that was safe for me to eat. I've been back on sad for 2 1/2 years, and I feel terrible. I'm now transitioning back to mostly wfpbno because I felt better eating that way.
I am always trying to get to wfpb 😭 It is challenging mostly because my family is NOT vegan whatsoever. Well Your World is a great resource though. They have endless recipes and a great community.
I have to say: THANK SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO. I turned to be vegan 7 months ago like 0 to 100%. Some days I ate fish or dairy and used to feel terrible after that. Now I start to understand that is a process. I ate 3 or 4 times not-vegan food in the last 7 months and I realized that I should congratulate myself instead of feel guilty. Step by step, we can try our best. ❤
Yes! Compassion is what it is all about. The animals. Yourself. Others. I appreciate your suggestion on checking with a registered licensed dietitian. That is important. There is misinformation and extremes out there in plant based world. I think people mean well but a registered dietitian can work with a person’s particular needs. BTW You make food delicious Nikki. Thank you.
Hi Nikki thank you for making this video. I've been following you since before you made the channel name change and you have always sent a positive message about veganism. You have helped me a lot. Am I perfect no but little changes everyday is what keeps me going ❤❤❤
Several Plant based doctors say that you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need from a plant based diet. But you should think about taking Vitamin D, B-12 and vegan omega 3s. And veganism is a tough change!! I’ve been plant based/vegan for 1 yr and 3 mos.
That eating vegan is totally healthy when there is so much vegan junk food. I love this video because it makes me feel better about the mistakes I make on this journey.
When I switched to a vegan diet I followed all the vegan influencers and watched aaaallll the videos with all the slaughterhouse footage - BIG MISTAKE! It broke my heart in the inside and on the outside it made me angry, judgy and a pain in the ass for every non-plant-eater around me. I think it hurt myself the most to be and feel that way. When COVID hit I was honestly disgusted with a lot of vegan influencers that turned out to be anti-vixx, anti-science... the whole "clean" diet-skincare-lifestyle and fear mongering "everything is toxic"-celery juice for breakfast - wave didn't help either. And don't get me started on the newest antisemitic trend in this bubble. I unfollowed and blocked so many people in the last couple of years and questioned everything over and over again. I'll never eat meat again but I'm more relaxed about dairy and eggs, especially when I'm on the road, out with family/friends, travelling.
Thanks for making these very important points; I recall a very well-known vegan blogger being utterly attacked in her comments section many years back after stating that she would allow her (mostly plant-based eating) husband to occasionally feed their child some of his non-vegan dishes. People were saying she should divorce him, even though neither of them were vegan when they married and he *did* alter his diet dramatically towards veganism. We're not winning anyone over with this approach. To one of your other points: It always rather annoys me that people never question the person they see eating hamburgers and hot dogs constantly about how they're getting all their nutrients? You know, say the nutrients that come in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains... As to big lies about veganism that i *still* hear, one is that we basically only eat salads or processed foods meant to taste like meat (I rarely eat either) and that all vegans eat super healthy. Just as you can eat a (relatively) healthy or unhealthy diet as a meat-eater, so you can also eat a healthy or unhealthy diet as a vegan (and I've definitely done both).
I didn't go vegan all at once I dropped red meat first I never enjoyed it so it was easy next I went Pescatarian. The hardest things for me were not eating cheese and fish. Honestly I have a better relationship with food now that I am vegan. It is definitely hard to be perfectly 100% though but I made all the lifestyle changes I can.
Hi Nikki, I wanted to get your opinion. I have hypothyroidism and my endocrinologist told me that all soy products tend to weaken my thyroid. in France we don't have many varieties except almond. Do you have any advice?
This is 100% not medical advice but I also have hypothyroidism and I will share that my endocrinologist has told me it’s okay to eat soy. He just advised me not to eat it within 4 hours of taking my Synthroid.
It's the commitment to our individual vegan journeys in this non vegan world that will ultimately change it and inevitably ourselves! Day by day, conscious thought by concious thought ♾️
I feel like veganism is about doing your best. All people have different issues. Whether it be income, environment, availability etc. Just do your best!
Great video! A lot of non vegans think that vegans think they are better than other people. This includes my husband. Turning vegan has taken the biggest toll on my marriage. Ive been married for 31 years and my husband is a stubborn as an old bitter man. But i must say he allows me to cook vegan meals (no meat allowed in my house anymore) and if he likes them he will eat it. With that being said many of these meals are made with mock meat that are unhealthy. He just can’t stop basing his plate around meat. 😢
So sorry for his attitude but it's nice that he enjoys the meals. I've been vegan for about 12 years, but in my 20's when I first went vegetarian, my then, now ex-husband didn't say a lot about it although did complain a little, but he seemed to enjoy most of what I made. Bear in mind there was still some dairy in the meals. I told him that he could buy and cook meat if he wanted, but I was no longer going to do it. When we got divorced, one of his gripes was that I wouldn't cook foods that he liked (meat). I reminded him that I had always told him he could buy the meat and cook it for himself. Not sure if he had forgotten that part or just wanted to complain :) Keep doing what you know is right for you.
only thing that happened when i was going 100% vegan overnight was my surprise at how easy it actually is. People make it out to be such a huge difficult change, and this video affirms them. Nikki probably doesnt even know how easy it is, bc she didnt try to do it overnight. I also quit smoking and was like "damn, what a joke. Going vegan was a billion times easier " You might get some bloated stomach in the first 2 weeks tho. If you have a very sensitive stomach, it might be better to strategically phase out animal products And ofc, you need to educated yourself first, otherwise you will run into problems either way Also, there is no diet where its easy to actually get everything you need. It doesn't seem like veganism makes it any harder. You just cant be on autopilot and dont care about nutrition at all. Just a little bit of education required to have a better nutritional profile than the average carnist, who is btw also deficient in some things
When I used to be on fb, I once posted a picture of me eating a technically vegan chocolate bar on a vegan group and oh my.. the moderators on that group and their followers almost ate me alive because I did so. They told me that how could I do that knowing that the brand of that bar also made chocolates with "real" milk. And so I asked them if they only shopped at vegan health food stores and not drove their cars so they wouldn't run over insects or if they now hated their mothers or fathers because they continued to eat meat. I'm vegan since 1990 and I live in a non vegan world. We do the best we can and you're exactly right- the more we act that way the more we drive people away from this beautiful way of living. Of course I would love to see this entire planet live in a cruelty free world but sadly, that's just not the case. I've been accused many times of not being fully vegan because my rescued cats eat meat, For Example but I have to continue to remind them that I'M the vegan one- they're not.
I think I know which group(s) you’re talking about. Some people are only happy if they are cutting others down. And unfortunately, social media (and these groups in particular, tend to attract peace pirates like the ones who attacked you over a candy bar.. 😩 I’m sorry you had to go through that.
@@toniwatson8401 Thank you so much- and that's why I decided to quit fb. One of the major reasons, anyway. Social media sites can be very helpful when it comes to awareness but also very damaging. When I first went vegan more than 30 years ago I will admit that I was very preachy but it got me nowhere. Now that I'm grown I know better, ha. And I've had many people change because of it.
This reminds me of when I was on Facebook in vegan groups, I once mentioned I bought and donated blankets from a thrift store to an animal shelter that was in need... I was criticized for not making sure they were not made from wool. I remember first going vegan as a very low income person posting things from a Dollar Tree shop and despite everything was vegan I was criticized for how unhealthy it all supposedly was... despite it was things like tortillas, canned beans, tater tots/French fries etc. Criticized all because it wasn't solely WFPB completely unprocessed vegan food. This was constantly a thing, people criticizing people's VEGAN meals "Ohh that's so unhealthy" as if veganism has actually anything to do with that... I remember people fussing over whether their trash bags were vegan. It got to be too much and these groups almost felt competitive. Who can be the "better vegan" aka most likely translating to "better person"... among fellow vegans of all people though 🤦♀️. Leaving those groups personally was the best thing I could have done for my own vegan journey.
By that logic, simply paying taxes would make you not vegan, since the government funds animal agriculture. It's so counterproductive to criticize others for doing the best they can and can turn them away from the movement all together. Besides, purchasing vegan products from non-vegan brands shows them that there is a demand for it :)
@@victoriah.20 It's almost as if it's: Who's the most vegan competition. Ridiculous, I know. I'm sure we're not the only ones with these "vegan group stories." And not only there, our personal lives as well. And again and again, that's why many look at us as just crazy people. I became vegan at a time when I didn't even know that the word existed. We called it "strict vegetarian" back then. And I've made mistakes, of course. As many have said on here that no one can be 100%...We try the best we can in a non vegan world.
I love this video so much! In the last 6 years I’ve been WFPB, vegetarian, vegan(ish,) pescatarian, etc. Now I’m just untitled, & mostly plant based. That means I use plant based milk at home, but I’ll use creamer in a restaurant. I don’t eat meat, but I feel much better at this stage of my life if I eat omega 3 rich salmon 1-2x a week. This is what feels sustainable and I can make changes as I see fit.
It’s difficult to find my place in the plant based community. Videos like this are super helpful & reassuring. ❤
Nobody can be 💯 vegan in this modern world. We try the best that we can do. I love how you represent the movement in such a positive manner. I have been vegan for 9 years and I’m just trying to minimize animal suffering in the best way I can. Thank you for this video.
? isn't it easier than ever not to consume animal flesh and secretion with all the vegan options available today if you miss the taste of certain carnist products? It's not possible to be perfect and never cause harm but it's VERY easy not to eat meat/dairy/eggs and avoid buying leather/wool etc. The point is to stop paying for deliberate exploitation, and that's so easy it almost makes me weep how easy it is.
You are so right!! I love the taste of meat but I can't bear the thought of how it gets to my plate.
Veganism doesnt demand the impossible, so its definitely possible to be 100% vegan for everyone
Lol...your plantbased not vegan!
"Where do you get your protein!" It's a classic! I always reply "where do you think the largest land mammals get theirs from?" Plants!! Loved this video xx
It’s better for everyone to be doing a little than it is for a small group to do it all .
So true!
Very well said
Actually the minimum one should do which is actually super easy to do is not consume flesh (all meats) and secretions (dairy and eggs). We can't be perfect but not consuming flesh and secretions is SOOOOO EASY. Especially with all the vegan alternatives out there. Perfection isn't possible but this much is bare basics, not even perfection.
Doing little IS not consuming flesh and secretions of animals. It's soooo little that everyone should be able to do it
Great video Nikki, I've been plant based for 3 years my goal is as vegan as possible (the least amount of harm) but that extends to the people around me. So some times eating great Aunt Polly's lasagna that she made "just for you" because you don't eat meat is far more compassionate then telling her no. Using up what you already have before buying a new vegan lotion just makes sense.
I relate to this so hard!!! I was vegetarian when I was a teenager but when we had Sunday dinners at my Italian great aunt Mimi’s house, I ate her meatballs and whatever else she cooked because cooking for family meant the world to her and the concept of not eating meat was not something she could wrap her head around. I’ve been very vegan for 6 years but if Mimi’s ghost showed up in my kitchen, I’d do the same thing today 😂
Ofc you use the lotion if its already there, but you tell your Aunt to make vegan food if she actually cares for you or for the animals, so that she doesnt cause any more damage in the future. Even if it makes her sad, thats obviously not comparable to what the individuals in her cooking pot went thru
Lol.....
So we'll said! I definitely consider myself a vegan. However, I have to use several self care/beauty products that are not vegan or cruelty free because I have several allergies to very commonly used preservatives and emulsifiers in these products. Plus, like all fragrances. I have a very short list of products that are safe for me to use so it's just not always an option. But I know that doesn't make me less of a vegan. Thank you for putting that out in the world! I would love to see a follow up to this video!
One step at a time is so much better than a leap and then a fall. Great to hear such a well-balanced approach.
The problem is that it makes it sound like some very hard thing to do, confirming that misconception about veganism
If people were to just make that leap, bc its the ethical right thing to do anyways, they would notice that there is no fall
i think the fall might rather come from not actually being convicted about the ethics. Like if you say you beat your wife less, one step at a time
So many good points! Most people will not or do not want to be vegan but small choices and changes like a plant based meal instead of meat or a a cruelty free beauty product is a win!
I commented on a vegan post years ago of how a vegan diet helped my sister with her multiple sclerosis a great deal. It kept her off med's etc and mine and my husbands health had improved. I got a lot of nice comments but the only one I remember is the hateful one from one person saying that being vegan has nothing to do with health and that I should use proper wording of how my Sister's health improved because she is WFPB not vegan. They ranted on and it really upset me a great deal. If we didn't do the vegan WFPB diet for health reasons and just went vegan for ethical reasons this one person could have drove me back to my old ways of eating. T
Well said! I havent eaten meat in 25 years but do eat fish once in a while.
Most difficult for me is giving up cheese; its my lifelong favorite food! Plant based cheese has come a long way but doesn't offer much nutritive value. At least the industry is leaning more towards tastey vegan options.
Cheese isn’t bad in moderation. Find a local ethical dairy that treats their cattle well, and enjoy your cheese.
This was a very helpful video. Sometimes I get feeling really stressed out because it seems the animals are hurt everywhere. I read that even toilet paper, wall paint, tires, even the lcd screens of tvs and phones aren’t vegan. That gives me so much anxiety especially with my ocd on top of that where I can’t be vegan. But then I try not to worry about all those things because that’s just the way it is but we can still just do our best and show compassion to animals and use vegan products the best we can and eating vegan meals.
This content is really helpful to me. I struggle with talking to non-vegans without making them feel guilty so I just stopped practically talking to them about veganism because I realised I was being aggressive and that that wasn't helping the animals... I became vegan overnight and, I suppose, it's not as easy for me to understand that most people can't do it. I lost weight (even though I didn't need to) because I didn't know what to eat. I didn't know how to cook and this was 6 years ago in Brazil, where we always have a lot less vegan ready options than in the US... Your channel was one of the first ones that I found, because I had I lot of gas hahaha... The joyful vegan says "don't do nothing because you can't do everything"... Changing habits is so difficult, I know that, but when I found out about the torture and totally inhumane practices in the farm industry, besides the killing, of course, I mean... it's difficult for me to be compassionate towards non-vegans who know about this and keep on eating animal products... and there are those who don't want to know... and there are those who don't care at all... I used to have a really bad diet, with practically no greens or vegetables and all of a sudden I'm vegan. If I could do it, so can anyone!!... but no. People are different. I'm still not ok with this, but I think your video helped. The important thing is being able to help the animals and my aggressiveness or judgemental behaviour does not help the animals, I know that much. I struggle, but I'll get there. Thanks, Nikki!
💯❤️ I completely agree with all of this! I think it’s important to celebrate any moves someone is making in a plant based or vegan direction rather than looking for perfection. I’ve been vegan for 6 years now, and it didn’t happen overnight. I had to learn how to feed myself, basically. The thing that helped me most was watching TH-cam videos, especially your videos 🙏 Your recipes and “what I eat in a days” inspired me so much and helped me learn, and I am so grateful to you! I know you’ve reached many many people in the same way. Thank you!!!!
These where great points, when I went plant based I quickly realized the difference btwn plant based & vegan, I was curious abt plant based diet for abt year before I transitioned , and what made it official for me was the advice of a health professional to better my health.
Over the past 15 years, I have transitioned from a pescatarian to a vegetarian. Now, I have been naturally “leaning into veganism”. Your videos have helped me accept myself. At times. I have felt like a misfit, being the only plant based person (including yoga and meditation😂) among family and friends. Thank you.
Great points! When I first went vegan I followed a blogger who posted she was going to start to confront people in public who said they were vegan but not vegan enough for her. I unfollowed her and explicitly told her why. Reprehensible for her to decide she was the vegan police.
Love this video! Conversely, I think the biggest fact about veganism is that a small population give the term vegan a bad name. It’s a reason I sometimes refer to myself as plant based instead of vegan when discussing my diet with die hard carnivores. Like you said, nobody is perfect so we have to encourage everyone to do what they can, it’s so much better than nothing at all! Also, as someone who shares their home with furry little friends who are obligate carnivores, I have to purchase animal products to give them a diet that will sustain their lives so does that make me non vegan? I don’t think so.
Thanks for this! I think that a lot of us have posted on vegan Facebook groups, and been told that we aren't vegan enough. It's very hard to get the message across when we are all imperfect people, but someone is always trying to make you feel bad for making an effort. I believe I have deleted at least 2 or 3 posts in the past because someone made me feel like I wasn't trying hard enough.
This fall with be 7 years I haven’t had meat. I think that was the easiest part. The rebalancing of what I was eating and learning to incorporate other things that was more of a learning curve. I did enjoy it but it was also a little overwhelming if I think back to that time. I became part of the FB group forks over knives which was helpful and got a bunch of cookbooks and recipes to help with the transition. I had online support but no one in my life changed their diet with me. No one in my household or family eats the same as me. That is something else to navigate but it can be done. It gets easier over time when they realize this version of you is here to stay.
One thing to help with success is to prep something each week and I’m not saying to spend 8 hours on a Sunday in your kitchen each week- I’ve done that and don’t anymore. Just prep things like grains, potatoes, veggies, sauces, beans, etc…whatever is important to you and that you think you can incorporate into meals in the week. I think cooking so there is leftovers is also going to be a great idea . Leftovers you can either freeze for later or eat as a leftover that week for one of your meals. There are so many different ways to manage your meals for the week but you have to find what works for you.😊
100% agreeeed! If only we could switch the name from veganism to "Compassionism" I think we would get less eye rolls! Do you recommend any tracking apps that you used? I want to track my protein (and I am adding pumpkin seeds to my shopping list now!) Thank you as always, love your videos as a Sunday reset ritual :) xx
I use the one that came with my fit bit but cronometer is free and much better at tracking macros. myfitness pal is super popular too.
Thank you for this video-it allows so many of us to breathe a sigh of relief. I have struggled to stay fully plant based for the last 4 years (I’m the only one in my family that prefers this way of eating) and now I’m working through some unfavorable nutritional labs and trying to figure out where to go from here. You are one of few I rely on when I need inspiration.
Well said Nikki 💚
Part of me agrees with point 1, and part of me disagrees. I need to hang with it a bit to decide. I did once (I'm 8 years vegan) take a vegetarian friend to a vegan group event. Someone came over to talk with my friend and when she shared that she is vegetarian the person said "well keep trying I'm sure you'll get it right eventually" Yikes. I apologized to my friend but she has declined coming to events with me since.
Oh wow, I mean I always try to remember that most vegans are truly coming from a good place. But that's questionable.
Wow Nicole, I love your content. And so agree with what you are saying, 6 years ago when I went vegan I discoverd that I was allergic to soy. So I moved back to eating eggs for a couple of months, trying to figure out the hows and the what for proteïn to stay vegan in the long run. I'm so happy for that step and can say pround I'm 5,5 years fully vegan now!
Oh and the quote 'vegans only eat grass' Is getting me kind of anoyed by now. In the beginning it was funny but nowdays there are still people who think this, thats crazy
p.s. please be kind English is my third language, I've not fully mastered it yet.
Another awesome video Nicole and thanks for debunking these lies. I didn't go vegan overnight and I try not to pressure people into being vegan because everyone has the right to make their own lifestyle choices (even if others don't agree with them). Love 🥰 the video and love ❤ Nicole.
Thank you for saying this and "all or nothing" is never sustainable when friction makes it harder to continue the journey. Better to take to slow/steady and make changes that work best for you...stop the labels.
Alright now, Nikki said it's Sunday, let's go to church....Preach....I am so proud of you! Love this channel!❤🙏🏽
Amen! I consider myself vegan but I hesitate to say it out loud because I'm not 100% with my clothing and maybe once a month I dip my fries in a regular mayo based sauce.
Wonderful video.
The biggest thing and lie is that you can’t get enough protein.
Also, I’ve had coworkers come to me and say you must get sick a lot because you don’t eat meat. That one has been funny because everyone is different and has a different medical history so how can they know lack of meat is the reason why I get sick ? 🤧 cold, flu, Covid etc
@NikkiVegan well said, we all start somewhere. I ate Pescatarian for a decade and eventually made the decision that I no longer wanted to eat animals. Kudos to speaking up and discussing it’s hard to switch over night and that’s ok. As always can’t wait for more videos!
Love this, this is truthful and welcoming, than you
I am plant based, I still eat honey and my kids are technically vegetarian because their grandparents kept giving them things with dairy and eggs in them. In my 7th year being plant based. I try to only buy vegan and cruelty free products too, as well as it being non toxic. I bake vegan cakes, have vegan parties for my kids bdays. But let them have the bday cake at their friends party. My husband sometimes gives them chicken nuggets from Mac Donald’s, at this point in time, I just told them don’t tell me you had it cause it upsets me.
Loved this video! Made me like you even more! I love your perspective. Ive felt guilty for having whey protein in my smoothie after trying a bazillion plant based protein powders and all made me not feel good. It’s the only thing I eat that is not plant based. But since I deal with a lot of health issues, I needed a smoothie with extra protein. Thanks for making me feel not so bad!
Such a great video, those vegans who are aggressive in their approach and use pictures of animal cruelty really do turn people away. Personally I think if vegans show alternatives for meat and the benefits more people would turn to a plant based way of eating. I've been vegan for 9 years and live with a farmer who shows his animals a huge amount of love. X
When I went vegan 4 years ago I definitely went through something similar to the 5 stages of grief… I had to make a conscious decision to be happy and not let it affect my relationships with my kids and other people I wanted in my life. And they are closer to my way of thinking now… I definitely planted some seeds.
Iron deficiency can definitely be really dangerous. I recently experienced the worst symptoms due to mine, thought I was going to die or end up with an irreversible health condition as a result. I was having near fainting episodes, heart palpitations and fluttering, blood pressure dropping low. Wave abnormalities on an EKG when I went to the hospital about my symptoms. Mine seems mostly an absorption issue. Was the scariest thing. I've had vitamin D deficiency for years and the symptoms of that were nothing in comparison. Even when I wasn't vegan or even vegetarian it looks like my iron itself was low end of normal, plus iron saturation low end too. So probably easy if I'm not careful for it to drop below. I think I need more than the RDI for it at this point to get towards higher end of normal. It does feel very hard to do plant based if you're not eating very specific foods and every day if someone has iron issues. Recently I was so scared due to my symptoms I was piling in the processed fortified cereals, forgetting the vitamin D in them is often not vegan. I don't consider myself not vegan now though. I think temporarily I'm going to rely on those, ie eat what I bought until I can buy a specific type of iron supplement (liquid/sublingual) since I have stomach issues.
I know you said it's an absorption issue...but one thing that worked for me when I was pregnant and it got to 10.5 was adding in spinach or kale or other dark greens to literally every meal. It went from 10.5 to over 14 in a couple months! It really saved me because I bled out in labor and they said the only reason I recovered easily and didn't lose consciousness was because of my crazy high iron. Go greens!! Even with malabsorption hopefully that could help.
@@annaburke8537 Thanks, I am definitely doing that and have lots of bags of frozen spinach in my freezer now. Though being low income, the fastest quickest and also cheapest way I knew was fortified cereals where some actually have 100% DV. Almost as much as or more than some supplements (there are way too many and types to choose from lol). For the last month I ate those cereals adding in blueberries and drank large glasses of orange juice with every bowl, since vitamin C increases absorption. Unfortunately, I didn't even check if the orange juice was vegan which I know some are actually not... sadly that's the sort of world we live in. Being on the low end even when I was eating meat, to be on the safe side I will still be buying a supplement too. My doctor says only take it every other day which means it will last longer and save me some money.
@@victoriah.20 good plan
Thank you so much for this video! I have a family member that puts me down because I am not perfect in my transition. This helps me to be happy with the progress I have made. Bless you 😊
I always thought I'd be vegan for the rest of my life and I really want to be, but truthfully I might start introducing fish and maybe a little dairy sometimes, because its been hard for me to thrive eating completely vegan. I've been vegan for almost 8 years but some parts of my health may be affected. I haven't experimented with fish and dairy, and I eat many varieties of plant protein like tofu, edamame, beans, nuts and seeds, quinoa etc and eat often. My weight is healthy and so are my labs. I would still like to make a difference and this is hard for me to move past because I really wanted to make it work and I feel really guilty about it
Words of wisdom for sure. It’s all the lies that kept me from being vegan long ago. It’s been 7 yrs. for me now and I wish I had done it sooner. But we can only move forward. Right?Its the best decision I’ve ever made and I’m so grateful that I’ve found my way and thankful for the truth that is spoken ❤
What a great video Nikki. As someone who eats a vegan diet but is an avid backpacker I do wear wool socks. I know most will say that I’m not a true vegan but do use ethical sourced products and don’t think I should have to justify myself. We all do the best we can and I’m proud no animals have been on my plate for over 30 years.🐷
Can't stress the importance of this video enough 😍☺️ I agree with you
Compassion and comprehensive, always ✨
great video! i know as vegans we see the harm that is being done to animals sooo crystal clear, but most of us have also previously been in a place and mindset where we were blind to it. ive been vegetarian for five years before i started transitioning into veganism, and i never knew how bad the dairy industry was, or the egg industry. i think it's way more important to do our part in showing these things, spreading awareness, standing up for animal rights, and not to demonise anyone who wasn't yet aware of it.
also, i wanted to add, i VERY recently learned (from a certified vegan dietician, her name is cookingforpeanuts) that bananas aren't ideal in blueberry smoothies! blueberries contain flavanols, which lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and much more, and bananas break down those flavanols! since you showed of your amazing smoothie i wanted to drop this info. :)
Becoming vegan for me, wasn't really hard. I already didn't consume animal flesh, but I was a dairy person. They have delicious alternatives though. So it really worked out for me
I went cold turkey WFPB, from a standard American diet. The first 3 weeks I suffered while my body adjusted. Then I flourished. I lost 25 lbs. I felt fantastic and I no longer was pre-diabetic. But my family had a hard time with it. So I went back. But I include more veggies and fruits and plant milk. I am ok with it. I think, like you do if people are willing to change somethings in there diet that are healthy we should root them on!
I completely agree👏👏👏
I love that you said nobody has to be 100% vegan, as I see it, you do whatever you can do it's better than nothing at all.
Yes 👍🏽
Great message!
Just chatting with people about how much healthier you feel going vegan creates interest. This gives you an “in” to tell them more if they want to hear more. 👍
Well stated! It's not always just about compassion for everyone though either. For me when I was growing up I never really liked meat that much. There was always an ick factor there for me. I slowly became a vegetarian as I was transitioning into adulthood and didn't enjoy handling animal flesh, I can't compartmentalize like most people do. As I'm getting older I'm starting to get the same ick factor from dairy and eggs and have found myself becoming more and more plant-based. Ironically the longer I've been vegetarian the more compassion and respect I have for all creatures and I just cannot see animals as food and I suffer inside when I see cattle trucks or beat-up chickens etc. I also don't like how animals are treated so that we as humans can consume what was meant to feed a baby cow etc. For the time I still wear leather because most of the world still eats meat and as long as it is that way I don't want to see the hydes go to waste.
I went from eating meat to vegetarian overnight and became a vegan in a week after, I've been vegan since the lockdown, it was part of the reason why I went vegan, feeling trapped at home made me realise this is literally life for animals after that it was easy for me to switch. After binging videos from Earthling ed and Joey Carbstrong they really changed my perspective. I do agree with you, the all or nothing mentality can be overwhelming and discouraging and for most people small changes can slowly make a snowball effect.
I really appreciate this video, and the advice to consult with a registered dietitian for advice on how to make a plant based diet balanced!
Thank you so much for this video. I've been vegan for 7.5 years, and I totally agree with you! Things have and need to change in the vegan world. We're all doing our best. And I especially loved what you said about people not automatically knowing how to get all of the nutrition they need. Especially today with so many processed vegan options. It was easier 7 years ago, but I still tracked all of my macros and micronutrients in the beginning until I felt comfortable. It only took a few months.
Something as important as our nutrition should be worth a little bit of effort. But not so much pressure that we throw in the towel.
One of the biggest lies I heard was that being vegan would solve all of my health issues… no it did not! In fact it made some of them worse. I have food allergies and some other issues with food digestion. For instance…I’m allergic to eggs but the same protein enzymes I’m allergic to also reside in most legumes..so eating especially dark beans can make me really sick. Also some vegetables like bell peppers, onions and broccoli can also make me really sick so…yeah eating an all vegan diet will not work for me. I can manage to eat my breakfast vegan and possibly lunch a few days a week but I can’t be vegan. I can’t eat half the foods I would need to get enough protein and nutrients.
Great talk! 💜
Any change you can do helps!
If 90% of humans were 90% vegan… I mean that would be awesome!
I love who you are as a person. Thank you for sharing these important messages.
I’m not Vegan but I do believe in the power of food to heal so I try to eat plant based most of the time. I watch your videos because I want to learn how to make delicious nutritious meals. So I appreciate your acknowledgment that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Yeah I would like to see a part 2 on this video please;
Thank you for making this video I really needed to hear this sometimes I get down on myself for simply being tempted to eat like I used too but I been vegan for 2 years now.and I feel like a better person everyday!
I have some digestive issues that reduce my absorption of iron and B12. People still think that you need to eat meat to get iron. My issues have nothing to do with being vegan, but it's frustrating that people really buy into that and still will make comments, even if well intentioned, that "Oh that's why you are anemic because you don't eat meat". And of course there are still the questions about where do I get protein. Thankfully it doesn't happen a lot but I honestly eat healthier, and a wider variety of food, than 98% of the people I know. They are so concerned about these things but don't blink an eye at people eating the SAD or loads of processed food.
My biggest peeve that people say about veganism is that it's limiting, or saying, "You can't have . . ." On the contrary, my diet has gained more variety since I became vegan over 2 years ago, and I'm not talking about vegan products, of which I barely use, preferring to prepare most of my food myself. I eat more plant foods than ever before. There's nothing I can't have, either; I don't want animal products and if I want a hamburger or whatever, there are better options such as a lentil burger!
I hear you! My diet has become so varied and I really love all of the different ways to make a meal now that I'm vegan. I think a lot of it is mindset. For me, I don't see animals as food anymore, so it's not limiting for me. But I do understand that it's hard for some. Especially if they're allergic to certain plant foods or they don't like certain foods. It can be an adjustment, but I really believe it gets easier and so delicious with time and creativity 😊❤️
I agree 100%
Like anything ….there will be fanatics! These are the ones that damage the vegan movement, as far as I’m concerned. Love your channel ❤
My ex-wife's cardiologist put her on the wfpbno, so I was wfpbno for 3 1/2 years. I wasn't 100% due to my food allergies. I couldn't always find a wfpbno alternative that was safe for me to eat. I've been back on sad for 2 1/2 years, and I feel terrible. I'm now transitioning back to mostly wfpbno because I felt better eating that way.
I am always trying to get to wfpb 😭 It is challenging mostly because my family is NOT vegan whatsoever. Well Your World is a great resource though. They have endless recipes and a great community.
Great video! While I don't think it's easy to get all nutrients on a plant-based diet, but I actually don't think it's particularly easy on any diet!
great insight Nikki
I have to say: THANK SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO. I turned to be vegan 7 months ago like 0 to 100%. Some days I ate fish or dairy and used to feel terrible after that. Now I start to understand that is a process. I ate 3 or 4 times not-vegan food in the last 7 months and I realized that I should congratulate myself instead of feel guilty. Step by step, we can try our best. ❤
Well said! Great perspective to share and put out into the world. Liberating and empowering! Thank you!!
Yes! Compassion is what it is all about. The animals. Yourself. Others.
I appreciate your suggestion on checking with a registered licensed dietitian. That is important. There is misinformation and extremes out there in plant based world. I think people mean well but a registered dietitian can work with a person’s particular needs.
BTW You make food delicious Nikki. Thank you.
One of the kindest and loveliest people on TH-cam!
Hi Nikki thank you for making this video. I've been following you since before you made the channel name change and you have always sent a positive message about veganism. You have helped me a lot. Am I perfect no but little changes everyday is what keeps me going ❤❤❤
I love this sentiment, we live in the real world and veganism will never be 100% perfect!
I subscribed because of this video 😊
Love this!
Several
Plant based doctors say that you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need from a plant based diet. But you should think about taking Vitamin D, B-12 and vegan omega 3s. And veganism is a tough change!! I’ve been plant based/vegan for 1 yr and 3 mos.
I love this video so much ❤
That eating vegan is totally healthy when there is so much vegan junk food. I love this video because it makes me feel better about the mistakes I make on this journey.
When I switched to a vegan diet I followed all the vegan influencers and watched aaaallll the videos with all the slaughterhouse footage - BIG MISTAKE! It broke my heart in the inside and on the outside it made me angry, judgy and a pain in the ass for every non-plant-eater around me. I think it hurt myself the most to be and feel that way.
When COVID hit I was honestly disgusted with a lot of vegan influencers that turned out to be anti-vixx, anti-science... the whole "clean" diet-skincare-lifestyle and fear mongering "everything is toxic"-celery juice for breakfast - wave didn't help either. And don't get me started on the newest antisemitic trend in this bubble. I unfollowed and blocked so many people in the last couple of years and questioned everything over and over again.
I'll never eat meat again but I'm more relaxed about dairy and eggs, especially when I'm on the road, out with family/friends, travelling.
Well said!
Thank you!
Thanks for making these very important points; I recall a very well-known vegan blogger being utterly attacked in her comments section many years back after stating that she would allow her (mostly plant-based eating) husband to occasionally feed their child some of his non-vegan dishes. People were saying she should divorce him, even though neither of them were vegan when they married and he *did* alter his diet dramatically towards veganism. We're not winning anyone over with this approach. To one of your other points: It always rather annoys me that people never question the person they see eating hamburgers and hot dogs constantly about how they're getting all their nutrients? You know, say the nutrients that come in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains... As to big lies about veganism that i *still* hear, one is that we basically only eat salads or processed foods meant to taste like meat (I rarely eat either) and that all vegans eat super healthy. Just as you can eat a (relatively) healthy or unhealthy diet as a meat-eater, so you can also eat a healthy or unhealthy diet as a vegan (and I've definitely done both).
Beautifully said, wish more people had an open mind like you 👏🏼
I didn't go vegan all at once I dropped red meat first I never enjoyed it so it was easy next I went Pescatarian. The hardest things for me were not eating cheese and fish. Honestly I have a better relationship with food now that I am vegan. It is definitely hard to be perfectly 100% though but I made all the lifestyle changes I can.
Hi Nikki, I wanted to get your opinion. I have hypothyroidism and my endocrinologist told me that all soy products tend to weaken my thyroid. in France we don't have many varieties except almond. Do you have any advice?
This is 100% not medical advice but I also have hypothyroidism and I will share that my endocrinologist has told me it’s okay to eat soy. He just advised me not to eat it within 4 hours of taking my Synthroid.
It's the commitment to our individual vegan journeys in this non vegan world that will ultimately change it and inevitably ourselves! Day by day, conscious thought by concious thought ♾️
I feel like veganism is about doing your best. All people have different issues. Whether it be income, environment, availability etc. Just do your best!
As a vegan myself, this was very well articulated… great message and awesome reminder for everyone!
Overnight gang checking in. ✌
Can you please make weekly grocery hauls? Since I am new to Vegan it will be helpful.
Thank you for this. I agree 💯
Agreed! Thanks for making this video, Nicole!
Yes!!!🙌
Nicole you're so sweet. You are truly compassionte.
All great info!!!
Great video! A lot of non vegans think that vegans think they are better than other people. This includes my husband. Turning vegan has taken the biggest toll on my marriage. Ive been married for 31 years and my husband is a stubborn as an old bitter man. But i must say he allows me to cook vegan meals (no meat allowed in my house anymore) and if he likes them he will eat it. With that being said many of these meals are made with mock meat that are unhealthy. He just can’t stop basing his plate around meat. 😢
So sorry for his attitude but it's nice that he enjoys the meals. I've been vegan for about 12 years, but in my 20's when I first went vegetarian, my then, now ex-husband didn't say a lot about it although did complain a little, but he seemed to enjoy most of what I made. Bear in mind there was still some dairy in the meals. I told him that he could buy and cook meat if he wanted, but I was no longer going to do it. When we got divorced, one of his gripes was that I wouldn't cook foods that he liked (meat). I reminded him that I had always told him he could buy the meat and cook it for himself. Not sure if he had forgotten that part or just wanted to complain :) Keep doing what you know is right for you.
YES! All that! Excellent video Nicole
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So well said 🎉
only thing that happened when i was going 100% vegan overnight was my surprise at how easy it actually is. People make it out to be such a huge difficult change, and this video affirms them. Nikki probably doesnt even know how easy it is, bc she didnt try to do it overnight. I also quit smoking and was like "damn, what a joke. Going vegan was a billion times easier "
You might get some bloated stomach in the first 2 weeks tho. If you have a very sensitive stomach, it might be better to strategically phase out animal products
And ofc, you need to educated yourself first, otherwise you will run into problems either way
Also, there is no diet where its easy to actually get everything you need. It doesn't seem like veganism makes it any harder. You just cant be on autopilot and dont care about nutrition at all. Just a little bit of education required to have a better nutritional profile than the average carnist, who is btw also deficient in some things