Top 5 Vegan Misconceptions

Top 5 Vegan Misconceptions 

Number 1: Vegans only eat salads

This couldn’t be farther from the truth! Salads can be delicious, don’t get me wrong, but I hardly gravitate towards making a salad or looking at salads on the menu. A vegan diet does not have to be restrictive. Yes, your greens are important but only eating salads is not sustainable at all. Trust me you can still eat sweets and meals that will leave you satisfied!

Breakfast Ideas:

1. Oatmeal (add peanut butter, chocolate, lots of fruit, nuts, seeds, vanilla, and more).
2. Breakfast burritos (rice, beans, tofu scramble, soy chorizo).
3. Breakfast sandwich (tofu scramble or JustEgg).
4. Toast (peanut butter/almond butter toast, avocado toast).
5. Bagels (vegan cream cheese can be expensive but if you’re willing to splurge I highly recommend Miyoko’s).

Snack Ideas:

1. Dark chocolate.
2. Trail mix.
3. Chips (Lays, Kettle Brand Potato chips, Takis, etc).
4. Popcorn (my favorite is Boom Chika Pop).
5. Fruit, nature’s candy (Pro tip: add Tajin).

Lunch/Dinner Ideas:

1. Soy Chorizo scrambled with beans or potatoes (I make tacos or a burrito).
2. Falafel bowls (with pita bread, quinoa/rice, hummus, and tahini).
3. Pasta (most pasta is vegan. You can make your own sauce or buy the classic marinara sauce).
4. Make your own soup. (I love mixing anything I have on hand and making a soup out of it. Vegetable broth exists, no need for chicken or beef broth).
5. A tofu stir fry (tofu, rice noodles, sriracha sauce, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce)

Number 2: A vegan diet is not filling/satisfying

Along the same lines, people tell me vegan food is not filling and that they end up hungry quickly. In my experience, there is some truth to this. So when was this true? When I only ate fruit and vegetables. I was neglecting the other food groups entirely. I totally believed misconception number one of this list! Now, I love incorporating grains, legumes, and fats into my meals. 

My favorite grains: rice and quinoa.

My favorite legumes: I eat beans mostly everyday. And I cannot go a week without incorporating chickpeas to my meals.

My favorite fats: peanut butter, hummus, avocado and I cook with oil.

Personally, even when I am eating other food groups, I still had to learn with being okay with eating a bigger serving than what I was used to. It came down to the fact I was eating other types of foods than what I was used to.  It’s just about listening to your body! 

Number 3: Vegans don’t get enough protein

People actually say this! So much I even started to overthink my protein intake myself, but then I did my own research. You can get protein anywhere. I started to realize I ate quite a bit of protein for every meal. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Peanut butter. 
2. Other nuts and seeds. 
3. Tofu or any soybean based food/drink. 
4. Chickpeas.
5. Lentils.
6. And of course, protein powder.

Nutrient deficiencies can happen with any diet, the important thing I learned is to go to my doctor and know what deficient in. Those gaps can happen with any diet, not just a vegan diet. Supplements can fill in those gap. 

Number 4: It’s expensive to go Vegan 

Yes, meat alternatives are expensive. And vegan restaurants are expensive, too. In my opinion this belief and effect is linked with “white veganism.” A bigger topic for another day but something that needs to be acknowledged. Veganism has been around for a long time and it’s something many cultures practice. It is not a trend rich people are participating in right now. Despite this, it is important to acknowledge the privilege that comes with the ability to be able to afford vegan food at this time. But I don’t want you to think it is inaccessible to you! You don’t need to shop at WholeFoods to be vegan. There is no need to buy expensive bread, rice, or snacks from WholeFoods or any other overpriced shop. You can buy this food anywhere. You can make delicious and affordable food at home. A lot of the meals and foods I’ve listed here are affordable.

Number 5: It’s only about the diet. 

Veganism is a lifestyle change and not just a diet change. It’s coming to terms that you’re going to have to stop buying leather, wool, or any other animal derived items/products. DISCLAIMER: Please don’t take this as a definitive rule. As I’ve pointed out in the misconception number 4, veganism has become extremely expensive and unattainable to many. But I did want to make this point: if you have the means to buy vegan and cruelty free items please do. You don’t have to throw out non-vegan items you have already purchased. Do the best you can in switching products you use and overtime you’ll notice a difference. I live with people that are not vegan, so I use products that aren’t vegan such as soap or cleaning products they purchased. If I have the money and it’s my turn to buy the product I make an effort to buy vegan and cruelty free products. The smallest change makes a difference overtime, so if you have the means I urge you to consider stopping buying animal derived products and items. It is overwhelming learning about all the products that are not vegan friendly but when you can make the switch when you notice a product needs restocking.