Ask the Editor

I have been strongly considering going vegan but it seems too difficult since everything out there seems to have animal products in it. How on earth do people do it? Do you have to read labels all the time? How do you go out to eat? What stores do you shop at? Please help! – Mary

Dear Mary,

It's not at all difficult to be vegan once you know what you're doing. And it doesn't take long to figure it out. Go through VegFamily's list of Recommended Reading and start becoming knowledgeable about what it means to live a vegan lifestyle.

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Most vegans shop at natural foods stores such as Whole Foods or Wild Oats. Check for a health food store in your neighborhood. Many vegan items are now clearly labeled as vegan so look for the Vegan Certification seal on the products in these stores. The mainstream supermarket won't have too many specialty products, but you can still shop there for some basic items.

Going out to eat is easy once you know what questions to ask. If you can find a vegan restaurant in your neighborhood you will be very happy since you won't have to ask any questions.

Read my book Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World for a more detailed discussion of eating out, knowing what products are vegan, and how to handle the social and emotional pressures of being vegan in a non-vegan world.

Good luck to you!

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