I Was Vegan for 2.5 Years: What I Liked and Disliked About My Experience

I was a strict vegan for 2.5 years. That means not only did I not consume meat or animal byproducts, I also didn't wear animal skin or fur; didn't eat honey or wear silk; and used only cruelty-free products. It was all for what I believed was a good cause at the time, to help the animals and not be a part of animal cruelty. Thanks to the growth of veganism in recent years, it wasn't all that hard transitioning from vegetarian to vegan. I had all sorts of plant-based yogurts to choose from along with milk alternatives; I was already accustomed to mock-meats and tofu; and eggs were relatively simple to cut out knowing I could make tofu scrambles. Despite all these vegan conveniences and fellow vegans praising how easy it was to be vegan, I found that this lifestyle choice grew harder to maintain over time.

Going out with friends while vegan always made me feel like an inconvenience. None of my friends are vegan, so finding a place to eat was a hassle for me because I always had to make sure there was something I could eat (which was usually a salad, veggie pizza, or spaghetti). Traveling while vegan also meant that most of the time I was either hungry or eating the same thing for lunch and dinner. In Venice, for example, nearly every meal was spaghetti pomodoro. My hotel didn't have any vegan options other than fruit and tea, so I was starving within 30 minutes after eating. When I lived in Paris, I cooked majorly at home, considering that the vegan restaurants in the city were expensive and not conducive to a student budget. When I would go out with a friend in this beautiful city, we couldn't really go somewhere to eat together—unless it would only be them eating and I'd be stuck with a cup of tea and some bread.

When you're a vegan at a chocolate festival, and your only option is a coconut.

Vienna and London, however, have excellent vegan options. They vary from cheap to expensive, so I had the option to eat out easily and comfortably. There was still the challenge of eating out with friends though, since none of them, again, were vegan. They never made me feel annoying or like a burden, but I felt that way because they always had to make sure I could eat. And again, the options were limited and not very satisfying.

Flying while vegan has become easier with vegan meal options available on most airlines, so I simply had to call in advance and make sure I had vegan meals on the flight. It's great too because your food gets handed out first, so you immediately get to chow down. Your dessert option isn't usually great though (I've always gotten fruit salad), and you look around at everyone eating their brownies and cakes feeling hints of envy.

And if you have a chocolate craving, forget about finding a vegan option at your local grocery store. Nearly every dark chocolate has milk (?), so I would have to find a suitable chocolate energy bar to satiate myself. And birthdays? Whole Foods seemingly only has one vegan option for cake, and tastes like nothing but spongy sugar. Again, I was left feeling deprived of the simple joys of sweets and treats, and enjoying eating something tasty and satisfying with my loved ones. Eating is not only necessary for living, it's also necessary for our emotional well-being in terms of sharing food with people we love. When I couldn't participate in eating with my friends and family, I felt an almost lonely feeling—like I didn't have the opportunity to feel happy with my food and bond with those around me.

In terms of only buying cruelty-free products, this adherence proved very difficult while living in France. There are cruelty-free options available, but they tend to be far more expensive than drugstore brands that are unfortunately tested on animals. With the limited funds I had as an au pair, I had to stick to drugstore brands, much to my vegan dismay. England has far more cruelty-free options, and I could easily switch out products for their cruelty-free counterparts. It all depends on your location, really; some countries have more accessibility to vegan-friendly products than others. Here in the U.S. it's beyond easy to go cruelty-free, so I'm happy to continue buying these products even though I'm no longer vegan. Why not buy a product with a similar price point and efficacy that isn't tested on guinea pigs, dogs, and rabbits?

My body during this vegan time felt pretty good, as long as I ate well. Now that we live in a time when we can buy vegan ice cream, cakes, and candies—it's easy to be just as unhealthy being vegan as it is being omnivorous. I have an insatiable sweet tooth, so the local vegan cafes with sweet treats and pastries along with sour gummies free of gelatin were always calling. With any diet, you have to be mindful of balancing your food so you're not, like me, buying coconut milk ice cream bars every week along with vegan cupcakes. Everyone will feel different on a vegan diet; it's not a cure-all as some vegans have proclaimed. I now believe that however you choose to eat, it all comes down to balance and knowing how your body feels.

Guess what's for dinner

For me, I know that keeping sugar levels down is best for my body, and sticking to fruit a majority of the time to ease my sugar cravings (with of course indulging in sweets now and then; I ate a strawberry Poptart this morning). Dairy has now become a regular part of my diet (which is something I never thought I'd go back to, since I thought it caused my acne), in moderation; I no longer eat as much cheese as I can in one sitting like I did as a teenager. I'll cut up a few cubes of cheddar with apple slices on the side, enjoying a sweet and savory snack. If I have a sweet craving before bed, I'll have plain Greek yogurt with either berries or sliced bananas with some honey drizzled on top. These adjustments, so far, have had no negative effects on my body; I actually feel better than I did before, knowing I can have a protein-rich snack with low-sugar and still enjoy the taste.

Whether or not you choose to be vegan, do whatever feels best for you. For me, I felt being vegan these last 2.5 years was the best choice for my body. I took a break from all the animal products, and now my body actually feels better after eating them (I no longer get stomach aches after eating dairy—odd, isn't it?). Veggies and fruits still make up a large part of my diet (excluding the days when I indulge on McDonald's), and I make sure to stick to lean proteins, especially fish. I feel like I can actually go out now knowing I can eat with friends and not worry about being hungry or having a meal that's either salad or spaghetti. If I'm hungry while out, I know I can grab any granola bar I want from the nearest store without having to read label after label to make sure there's no dairy. I can enjoy an ice cream with my little sisters. And I can't wait for the next family get-together so I can partake in a delicious roast with fresh pie for dessert with my millions of cousins.

I'm glad I was vegan, but now I'm glad I eat whatever I want in moderation. I still have feelings of guilt when eating meat and animal products, and I don't know if I'll ever shake that off. But in the meantime, I'm happy I can enjoy all types of foods with friends and family and not feel constantly hungry when I'm out and about. However you choose to eat, eat what makes you feel good. Especially cupcakes.