![]() I quickly found that cheeseless pizza wasn’t nearly as good as the real thing, but it did the job, and over time, I came to tolerate (and even like) Daiya. But it didn’t take long to discover that when I replaced the cheese with nuts or crackers, these foods were just as satisfying for their saltiness between sips, and I felt a lot better ten minutes later. I thought I’d miss cheese as an appetizer, with a glass of wine or a beer. Life without cheese takes some adjustment, especially if you rely on it as an essential part of the few vegetarian dishes you can order in “normal” restaurants. ![]() I’m not saying that losing the cheese is easy. Giving up the cheese isn’t nearly as hard as it seems. Laugh them off, or take the opportunity to explain how important your diet choices are to you. “Want me to throw a steak on the grill for you? Oh, that’s right … hahaha!”Īn uncle once presented me with a single piece of iceberg lettuce on a plate and announced, for everyone to hear, “Hey Matt, look. My dad’s favorite line, when he tries some of our food: “This would be great with some meatballs!” It’s a joke, of course, and the fact that he says it so often has itself become a joke.īut just about every family or friendly gathering yields a joke from someone who must think they’re the first to make it. So get used to them, and understand that they don’t necessarily indicate a lack of respect. So whenever they give us the promised time machines and jetpacks and I get the chance to go back and talk to that guy, here’s how I’ll help him prepare: Years later, now that this once extreme lifestyle now feels familiar, I have just enough perspective to wish I could go back and give my pre-vegan self (or someone else in my shoes) a few pointers. ![]() But when the time was finally right, there was no question about it. ![]() In the end, it took two full years before I completely cut out eggs, milk, butter, and cheese. The commitment to officially say “ I’m vegan” (after going vegetarian two years prior) was a decision I deliberated about for a long time. I knew that I wanted to quit eating animal products but just couldn’t imagine making it work. I had even tried a vegan diet for a month, only to learn in the process that I wasn’t ready. Even after I became vegetarian, I turned this question over and over in my mind. ![]()
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