♥ ReLove Plan.et's "Going Vegan Guide"! ♥

"Your Go To Guide on Everything you Need to know about Going Vegan"

Just a quick update to share that my "Going Vegan Guide" is finally all finished and up in the etsy shop (as of Sept. 4th). Really the cost is to cover paper supplies, etc, I'm not making money off this guide, I just want an accessible guide for my lovelies interested in going vegan. I get questions almost every day about going vegan, people looking for advice, or asking common questions so I thought making this guide was the perfect solution. 

ReLove Plan.et's "Going Vegan" Guide is your go-to guide whether you're making the transition or are still in the beginning stages and still have a lot of questions or are finding yourself struggling a bit. It is specifically prepared to get you started, informed, in the right direction, and to make your new vegan life fun and spectacular--and easy! 

(**What this guide isn't is a horrific fact sheet on the cruelty of animal-based industries. While I do think that you should be educated and informed on such topic, there is far too much to cover and share, and that is not what this guide is for. There are however links and suggestions at the end of this guide for you to look into those topics yourself. ;) **)

My hope is that after you have this guide you will be armed and ready to go out into the world, eager and excited to embrace the spectacularly rewarding lifestyle of being vegan! ♥

Some things you can find inside? Things like, what to eat in a day. Making the transition. Food suggestions and meal replacement ideas. Product suggestions. Staying on track. Being a healthy vegan. Things to expect, and so forth! Lots and lots of useful information that is fun to read (since I know how boring "how-to" guides can be to read). But you know how ReLove Plan.et is, upbeat and fun! Weeee! And there are cute ReLove artwork inside to make the guide extra fun and entertaining! ;) 

This Guide is:

26 pages

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Will make you Love being vegan! ;)

Anyways, I won't bore you talking about the guide, I'll let you grab a copy yourself. ;)

-----> Buy it here in the etsy shop! <-----

Or in the "Shop section" above!

Dedicated to all my lovely readers who are interested in the vegan lifestyle and want to make the most positive change in their lives that they can. 

Much Love as always from me to you! 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

❀ Meet Vegans! ❀

These lovely "interviews" are with other fellow vegans, to inspire and share their stories and lifestyles and love for all things vegan. Oh, and to prove we don't eat grass and have a ton of kick-ass fun! ;)

  

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Meet Mary! 

Name: Mary Ciesynski

Age: 26

Country: United States

Vegan Since: 2005

Pets?: Kitty 

Website: www.gothcupcake.etsy.com

A bit about yourself: I was born and raised in Rhode Island and moved across the country 4 years ago to live in Arizona. I traded the ocean for mountains! I love baking, hiking, and everything artsy fartsy. I have my own business, Gothcupcake, where I sell my handmade accessories and my vegan cosmetics, Zombify.

What did your diet look like pre-vegan? Whatever my parents cooked for dinner. Meals that had a protein (meat, ew!), veggies and a starch. 

What does your diet look like now? Any fun new foods you had no idea existed until becoming vegan? My diet now is much healthier as I make sure I get my veggies and fruits throughout the day, make sure I have grains and proteins where I would eat junk food most of the time when I lived at home before becoming vegan (my choice, my parents weren't big snackers!). Tons of new foods! I never knew what Kale was, or rather, I never thought of eating it as a snack or in a salad or in mashed potatoes. I never knew about the wonders of tofu or seitan or quinoa! I'm much more adventurous with my spices these days and always up for trying new things! 

What is your favourite food or meal to eat now? I've never been good at picking a favorite! It really depends on my mood! Comfort foods are always good, vegan mac and cheese is an occasional indulgence :D

What made you become vegan? It was strange, because all my life I was brought up to love and care for animals. When I was 2 or 3 my Mom said I used to talk to the birds and one day, after my morning chat with the birds outside our apartment, I found a bird that had fallen out of its nest and hurt its wing. My mom said I put it in my doll house and they drove to the local animal rescue to see if they could mend it. I'd always felt a little pang of guilt eating animals too. When I was a little older I had a crush on an actor that was vegetarian and it made me more interested. It wasn't really until I met my friend Scott that it really struck me to take action though. Scott was a vegan and I was interested, I asked him questions and visited the "GoVeg.com" site that was embroidered on the back of his "Vegan" baseball cap after the first time I met him. I decided shortly thereafter to go vegan. 

How long was the transition, and were there any slip-ups? April 19th 2005 was when I first considered myself officially vegetarian. I was vegetarian for less than 2 months before becoming vegan. I used that time to let my body adjust to being weaned off of dairy and my parents to get used to the idea. I started cooking my own meals and buying my own food. There were a few times when I first went shopping that I would buy something thinking it was vegan and then get it home and realize it wasn't, so I learned really quickly to read labels! It is an expensive lesson!  

How do you feel since going vegan? (changes in your health, mood, body, etc.) I've become more open-minded, I feel better (I used to get sick more often before I became Vegan), I've maintained my weight since going Vegan. I feel great!

Biggest challenge about making the switch? How did you get through it? My family and friends did not support the diet change at all at first. Everyone was very against it, or thought it was a phase and would act disappointed that I wasn't eating what everyone else was or annoyed when I would read labels. My friend Scott was there for me to vent to and helped me through, he used to say "Remember you're fighting the good fight," and that became my mantra. Slowly when it became clear that it wasn't a phase and when I wasn't getting sick any longer my family became more supportive and even tried some of my foods and my friends began to make sure there was always something for me to eat when we would get together.

Do you have any other vegans in your life? (family, significant other, friends, roommates, etc.) How do they handle your veganism and how do you handle them? My Vegan friend Scott eventually became my boyfriend and we've lived together for going on 4 years now. Since he was the one who pretty much taught me how to be Vegan our ideals of Veganism match up pretty well. We can openly discuss things without it being an argument. It's nice. I believe that each person has their own journey with veganism though and there are some areas where not all vegans meet eye to eye. I am a more peaceful Vegan, so if another Vegan expresses an opinion different than my own I live and let live. We're both on the same team, so arguing and fighting with one another will only hurt our cause.

How do you deal with ignorant/annoying/difficult people and questions about your decision? I'm honest and answer their questions truthfully. There will always be people that just, for whatever reason, want to fight you on everything or who want to put a stereotype on vegans as having this better-than-thou persona. I just do my best to be me and if they want information I provide it. I've met a lot of people who want to pass judgement on me for being vegan: but I don't pass judgement on those who aren't. I am quick to point that out if they get nasty with me. 

Favourite Vegan product? (whether it's food, beauty, clothing, etc.) This is a tough one, but I think I have to go with Strawberry Hedgehog bath and body products. They are all vegan, natural and organic. I use her products almost exclusively now! I love them :)

Favourite part about being vegan? Making a difference in the world and sprinkling seeds of thought with my vegan baked goodies. 

Any tips for others thinking of going vegan? Learn as much as you can and don't just rely on a single source for your information. Be open-minded, there are so many amazing foods to explore and projects to become involved in if you look. Make sure you eat well-balanced meals and get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy and remember that vegan doesn't always equal healthy (Oreos are vegan, but that doesn't mean you should eat a whole package!) and cruelty-free does not always mean vegan too.   

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

❀ Meet Vegans! ❀

These lovely "interviews" are with other fellow vegans, to inspire and share their stories and lifestyles and love for all things vegan. Oh, and to prove we don't eat grass and have a ton of kick-ass fun! ;)   

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Meet Nicole! 

Name: Nicole or Nixx :)

Age: 32

Country: U.S.

Vegan Since: May 2010

Pets? 4 kitties: Boris, Duncan, Sally (aka PeeWee), and Natasha (get it? Boris and Natasha!)

Website: www.eyescreamindustries.com

A bit about yourself: I rock. Sometimes I roll. I love food, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer! I am convinced someone in my family lineage was a vampire hunter.... :)

What did your diet look like pre-vegan? Crap. McDonald's, lots of mac-n-cheese, burgers & chicken, pasta with meatballs, Chinese buffet evilness, eggs, lots of processed crap...I didn't shop in the produce section very much, that's for sure!

What does your diet look like now? Any fun new foods you had no idea existed until becoming vegan? Lots of veggies, grains, beans, nut butters, and veganized versions of my favorites! And cookies. I love cookies. :) Nearly everything now can be veganized, and although it kinda weirds me out if it tastes too close to meat or dairy, I am thankful there are so many options out there now! A few foods that I had never tried or heard of before going vegan that I now love: kale, daikon, quinoa, brown rice pasta, agave, and all the awesome vegan milks and cheeses! 

What is your favourite food or meal to eat now? I love roasting veggies, and making yummy casseroles! Also, vegan mac-n-cheese, and vegan pizzas!! I also enjoy a loaded, kickass salad from time to time :)

What made you become vegan? Learning about the horrors of the meat/dairy industries...it's disgusting, cruel, and just makes no sense to me to treat animals the way we do. They are here WITH us, not FOR us. I love animals way too much I guess, and wouldn't eat my cats...so why would I eat a pig? They're no different.

How long was the transition, and were there any slip-ups? I started a vegetarian diet for about a month, then switched over to vegan...I donated stuff in my fridge and freezer to friends who needed it, then restocked with lots of vegan goodness :) There were a few accidental slip-ups, as I learned more about ingredients and realized my Veggie Slices had casein in them (grrr!)...and the time my stepfather made me meatballs out of vegan "meat" but used an egg to bind them together so they wouldn't crumble...The only intentional slip-up I had during my first year was on my wedding anniversary trip to Hersheypark on Halloween, where I spied a decadent chocolate mousse dessert and HAD to have it. (Hello, I was in Chocolate World!!) I fought with myself for a minute then decided to get it anyway. I regretted it. I had been vegan for 5 months at this point, and I got halfway through this chocolate mousse and felt so sick to my stomach. I let my husband finish it, and felt like crap (both physically and emotionally) for the rest of the day. I now bring my own vegan chocolate to Hershey when we go ;) 

How do you feel since going vegan? (changes in your health, mood, body, etc.)  Awesome! My body feels much lighter (and it is!), cleaner, less bloated, and I have more energy. I don't get breakouts nearly as often as I used to. And I generally feel happier, like I'm doing such a great thing for the world :)

Biggest challenge about making the switch? How did you get through it? Reworking routines & researching restaurants before going, creating more time in my day for preparing meals to make sure I get all the good stuff I need to stay healthy. I got through it (and still do) by telling myself I have no choice! :) The animals are counting on me.

Do you have any other vegans in your life? (family, significant other, friends, roommates, etc.) How do they handle your veganism and how do you handle them? My husband is vegetarian, so that's helpful. A co-worker went vegan for a little while after I did, and we had fun bringing each other goodies for lunch ;) My other vegan friends are far away, sadly.  But my Mom is now using soy milk instead of cow's milk, so that's a start! :) My family is pretty understanding and are used to it by now. Co-workers can be hard to deal with sometimes, but others are usually pretty eager to try the things I make. I am working on not being pushy about being vegan, and that helps people want to explore it further.

How do you deal with ignorant/annoying/difficult people and questions about your decision? I usually just try to be as informative as possible without being pushy...sometimes it's hard though. Sometimes I want to shake people and give them a smack to wake them up. I almost always include inserts of pigs being no different than dogs, and how wonderful it is to have the choice to change your life for the better.

Favourite Vegan product? (whether it's food, beauty, clothing, etc.) Food: Daiya cheeze!!! Good lordy, I love pizza. And So Delicious ice creams! YUM. Bath/Body: Deep Steep lotions & body wash, and Lush shampoo bars. 

Favourite part about being vegan? Feeling like I am helping the whole world!! (as well as myself!) Trying vegan restaurants when I travel.

Any tips for others thinking of going vegan? Jump right in! You CAN do it, as you can anything, you're just choosing not to. Find the one thing that makes you want to switch the most, whether it be health, animals, the world...and use that as your focus point to keep you grounded. Research! Find out what is in the food you're using to fuel your body now...you probably won't like what you find. Find others who enjoy being vegan, and share information. "Be the change you want to see in the world."

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

❀ Meet Vegans! ❀

These lovely "interviews" are with other fellow vegans, to inspire and share their stories and lifestyles and love for all things vegan. Oh, and to prove we don't eat grass and have a ton of kick-ass fun! ;)   

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Meet Kylie!  

Name: Kylie

Age: 33

Country: USA

Vegan Since: April 2011

Pets? Two rescue dogs: Henry & Willow

Website (optional): www.fabulouslyfierce.com & www.fellowshipofthevegetable.blogspot.com

A bit about yourself: I'm a happily married dog-mom living it up in Los Angeles. I like to embroider and make things. 

What did your diet look like pre-vegan? 

It was pretty awful. I ate too much fast food and way too much processed food.

What does your diet look like now? Any fun new foods you had no idea existed until becoming vegan? 

I still eat out a lot, but luckily I have a lot of vegan places nearby. I eat MUCH better, lots of fresh veggies and grains. Kale and quinoa were new to me when I became vegan and I love them both.

What is your favourite food or meal to eat now? 

I love sauteed greens. I use veggie broth and garlic to cook them up. soooo good.

What made you become vegan? 

A couple different reasons. One being that I have always loved animals and felt a connection to them. Once I took an honest look at consuming them and supporting the exploitation of them, I just couldn't do it anymore. The second reason was my health. Like I said, I ate like crap and I knew a vegan diet would be much healthier for me.

How long was the transition, and were there any slip-ups? 

There was no transition from me. I went from omnivore to vegan overnight basically. At first, I committed to trying it for one week. About half way through that week I decided it was something I wanted to stick to. I have not had any intentional slip ups, but I have eaten things that I found out later may have contained some dairy.

How do you feel since going vegan? (changes in your health, mood, body, etc.)

I absolutely have more energy. I used to struggle through the afternoons to stay awake, but now my energy levels stay pretty even throughout the day. My skin is also brighter.

Biggest challenge about making the switch? How did you get through it? 

When I became vegan I didn't live in a place where there were many restaurant options so I was still eating a lot of processed vegan food. Now I am surrounded by healthy restaurants and farmers markets, so it makes life much easier!

Do you have any other vegans in your life? (family, significant other, friends, roommates, etc.) How do they handle your veganism and how do you handle them? 

I have vegan friends, but they all live far away. My husband recently made the switch, so it's nice to have a partner in crime now! Luckily all my local friends are awesome and love eating vegan with me. :)

How do you deal with ignorant/annoying/difficult people and questions about your decision? 

I have yet to face any really ignorant or annoying people. I do get asked a lot of questions and I just answer honestly. 

Favourite Vegan product? (whether it's food, beauty, clothing, etc.) 

My sexy vegan boots!! 

Favourite part about being vegan? 

I feel good about doing something kind for animals, the planet and myself.

Any tips for others thinking of going vegan? It's not as difficult as it seems! With all the blogs, books and websites out there, anyone can easily become vegan these days! If you are toying with the idea, commit to a week or two of being completely vegan. You will notice that you feel so much better after only a few days and it makes the choice to stick with it that much easier. :) 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

❀ Meet Fellow Vegans! ❀

These lovely "interviews" are with other fellow vegans, to inspire and share their stories and lifestyles and love for all things vegan. Oh, and to prove we don't eat grass and have a ton of kick-ass fun! ;)   

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Meet Ebba! 

Name: Ebba 

Age:  20

Country: USA

Vegan Since: 2006

Pets? Three cats: Big Al, Theo, and Emeelee

A bit about yourself: I'm studying Psychology at Indiana University, I'm deaf, and I'm married to a US Marine :) 

What did your diet look like pre-vegan? 

I was a vegetarian for three years before switching to veganism, but prior to that, it was a pretty standard omnivorous diet.  I come from a meat-and-potatoes kind of family.

What does your diet look like now? Any fun new foods you had no idea existed until becoming vegan? 

I eat a ton of fruit, and seriously, a jar of peanut butter a week.  I sneak kale and spinach into my fruit and soy yogurt smoothies :) I'll have raw weekends just for the fun of it, but I've had trouble eating a raw diet and getting enough calories to sustain my physical activity.  Quinoa is a food that I found after becoming vegan, and it's now one of my main staples. 

What is your favourite food or meal to eat now? 

Lately I've been on a stir fry kick. I make them out of whatever veggies I have lying around, some cashews, and rice. 

What made you become vegan? 

My first year of high school, my bio class dissected fetal pigs, and when I pulled ours out of the bag, it felt like a human baby in skin texture, weight, and in the bones.  Something sort of clicked with me regarding the interconnectivity of the animal kingdom. I figured that it wasn't my place to contribute to the horrible conditions under which animals raised for food are kept. Plus environmentalism played a big role.

How long was the transition, and were there any slip-ups? 

I didn't really have a transition; I just switched.  It wasn't too hard. Most of my slip-ups came from family and friends trying to cook for me without realizing what is and what isn't vegan.  Honey and sugar processed with bone char seemed to be the biggest obstacles. Makeup and toiletries were bigger issues because I didn't know what all of the ingredients were, but finding beauty products that passed turned out to be very rewarding :) 

How do you feel since going vegan? (changes in your health, mood, body, etc.) 

My mood has improved, and health-wise, I never feel overly bloated.  And my skin is always clear!

Biggest challenge about making the switch? How did you get through it? 

The biggest challenge came from not having supportive friends and family.  My husband and parents were really not into it at all.  I got through it simply by persisting. By year 4 of veganism, everyone finally settled into the fact that I was committing to a lifestyle and not in just a teenage phase. 

Do you have any other vegans in your life? (family, significant other, friends, roommates, etc.) How do they handle your veganism and how do you handle them? 

I know a few vegans, but I don't get along well with them because they look down on anyone with a non-vegan diet. I feel like the superiority vibe is counterproductive since no one wants to change to become like someone who makes them feel bad about themselves. I'm not close friends with any vegans, though my husband eats vegan food at home since it's easier to cook one meal for the two of us.  

How do you deal with ignorant/annoying/difficult people and questions about your decision? 

I don't meet too many of them. Because a lot of the vegans around here aren't very nice, people usually are totally cool with my veganism when I give them rational reasons for my switch. The key is just to make it clear that you're a completely reasonable person and not to be pretentious about it.

Favourite part about being vegan? 

I feel good about alleviating some of the burden on the environment!

Any tips for others thinking of going vegan? 

Don't be pushy about it.  Also, if you're going to someone's house, tell them in advance that you're vegan. It's just as bad to throw it away the food as to eat it.

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

❀ Meet Fellow Vegans! ❀

These lovely "interviews" are with other fellow vegans, to inspire and share their stories and lifestyles and love for all things vegan. Oh, and to prove we don't eat grass and have a ton of kick-ass fun! ;)


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Meet Stacie! 

Name: Stacie 

Age:  26

Country: USA

Vegan Since: December 2010

Pets? 2 Kitties (Piper and Jasper) 1 Siberian husky (Peanut) and 1 quarter horse (Skittles)

Website: www.sweetlilmonkey.etsy.com

A bit about yourself:  

I'm some what a cross between a Punk, Hippie, Indie chic who plays the drums in a band, as well as crochets cool vegan friendly creations. And I live on a farm. :)

What did your diet look like pre-vegan? 

Pre-vegan I grew up farm life so it was always meat and dairy every day. 

What does your diet look like now? Any fun new foods you had no idea existed until becoming vegan? 

My diet now is 100% vegan.  I had no idea how amazing some foods tastes til becoming vegan. I absolutely love vegan candy bars :) mmmm.... :)

What is your favourite food or meal to eat now? 

My favorite meal to make myself now is Vegan Lasagna. It's so freaking delicious! :)

What made you become vegan? 

I became vegan because my body actually stopped being able to digest animal proteins.  At first was freaked out and then got introduced to the wonderful work of a vegan diet and I'd never go back ever!

How long was the transition, and were there any slip-ups? 

My transition was fast because I was actually in a hospital for like a week straight trying to figure out what was wrong with me. When eating the vegan diet I didn't go back I knew I could do it! And there were not really an slip ups because meat and dairy just made me so sick I didn't want to touch it. 

How do you feel since going vegan? (changes in your health, mood, body, etc.) 

Being vegan is awesome! I feel way more energetic and excited to do things! I also became a more happy person inside and out and everyone around me noticed. It also felt great to not feel horrible and be able to go out and enjoy life. 

Biggest challenge about making the switch? How did you get through it? 

Biggest challenge was my family. Trying to get my family to see why I made the switch. It wasn't the fact that it was hard to give up anything because I am extremely open to it. It was the fact that my farm family couldn't see how I could do it. I basically got through it one day at a time offering them to try my new vegan dishes daily. 

Do you have any other vegans in your life? (family, significant other, friends, roommates, etc.) How do they handle your veganism and how do you handle them? 

No one else around me is vegan. (besides the wonderful Bianca :) ) My parents, well my mom, accepts my decision and she tries my foods. My father thinks I'm gross and it looks horrible but I just tell him it's way better than the stuff he's eating. My friends are amazing and they support me and my healthy life style, they also came to terms that maybe they can do it after they eat my cooking. I have had at least two friends I know now starting to try out a vegan life style due to supporting me, which to me is amazing! My boyfriend's also super supportive of it too, he will try my food with an open mind and I couldn't ask for anything more than that. 

How do you deal with ignorant/annoying/difficult people and questions about your decision? 

Dealing with the annoying questions and people about my decision is quite easy for me since I got through it almost on a daily bases with my farm family, I basically kill them with kindness. There's no point into letting them get to me, in the end it's my life my choice. 

Favourite part about being vegan? 

Cooking! I love cooking up new vegan ideas! That and everything tastes so much better! 

Any tips for others thinking of going vegan? 

Being vegan is awesome I know two of my friends who are trying and there hardest thing to cut is cheese so to them I say slowly work the vegan cheese in your diet and eventually you'll love it more. :) 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.