I was introduced to veganism as a concept early on in life by a cousin. At that time, I thought that animals were only treated cruelly abroad, as most of the short documentaries I was able to watch back then were not based on the Indian context. Moreover, dairy consumption is deeply ingrained in every culture in India, so I assumed the animals would be treated well here. However, I was horrified when I learned that the same treatment, if not worse, is meted out to cattle in India as well. That minute, I decided to take the plunge into veganism.
Another major factor led me to believe that veganism is 100% logical. Any mammal lactates only for a fixed period after childbirth. And how could dairy cows be producing milk non-stop? It sickened me to even think about what could be happening. Moreover, I wasn't very comfortable with the idea of a mother's milk going to any other baby than her own, let alone another species. And let's not mention the fact that adults who can consume solid food, do not need to depend on milk for nourishment.
The ultimate push was just because I was at a very low point in my life. I decided that if I could make a difference in another's life, if not my own, then why not? Ever since, I've been vegan. It's been over two and a half year now! ( since Oct 2nd,2019 ;) )
My initial days of going vegan were difficult. Being a huge ice cream lover, it wasn't easy for me to give it up. Given that I was living in a hostel in a hot place like Mangalore, curd and buttermilk were everyday essentials before I went vegan. Learning to cool my body after I went vegan took a while but I'm glad I did it.
Stay hydrated! I cannot stress this enough. Trust me, it solved most of my non-vegan cravings with regards to curd and buttermilk.
I was a total junk-food vegan at the start. It was unintentional, but when I realised it later, I immediately took steps to change that. I would recommend trying to keep your diet under a watch. Don't eat anything and everything that's vegan. Make sure your meals are balanced until you can get comfortable with them.
Once I shifted back to a more wholesome diet, I realised why people swear by veganism for health reasons.
Also, soon after I went vegan, I found myself constantly having to read labels to check whether certain packaged foods were vegan. There are ready guides for this online and lists curated with off-the-shelf products that are vegan by default, but I always preferred to double-check. Dairy does make its way into the most unsuspecting dishes like chips (milk powder in seasonings) and some seemingly vegan Indian sides (due to the addition of curd/butter).
But once I got used to it, it became second nature for me to check the ingredients before consumption.
To anyone reading this, try going vegan for 30 days! And who knows, you may like it. Maybe because of the variety of new flavours and ingredients you are introduced to, maybe because of the health benefits you noticed, or maybe just because you realise how pocket-friendly it is!
I would like to share a message for transitioning vegans: It's a myth that veganism is expensive. If you're always looking for meat and dairy alternatives, of course, it might be a bit expensive. However, if you learn to cook wholesome meals with whole foods, it's cheaper, healthier, and heartier!
Also, it's easier if you learn how to cook. I'm thankful for my transition to veganism, not just because it did good for my health and the animals, but also because that was the only reason I learned how to cook. And it definitely made me an extremely creative cook. It’s true when they say, constraints promote creativity!
Hello everyone! I’m Bhairavi, an engineer by qualification and profession, but all things creative is what fuels me daily. I'm a Veena enthusiast, undertaking formal training. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking for my family and friends, drawing, and painting. I'm always curious to learn anything new.