Hi there. The title there is a bit demanding, but what I write here should contextualize it a bit, I hope. I’m a 22 year old man, I’ve been eating meat for as long as I can remember. Within the last couple years, I’ve become increasingly aware about factory farming, horrible animal treatment in factories, etc. In short, I know my consumption of meat is wrong and I want to live a more ethical life.
Here’s the main issue for me: cooking. I don’t cook. I don’t know the first thing about dieting. I eat out significantly more than the average person and don’t know my way around a kitchen in the slightest. To be sure, I know the answer to this problem is “just cook more and you’ll figure it out.” But I don’t know where to begin. Vegan recipes seem so difficult and every time I’ve tried I fuck up somehow. I feel as though I can’t become vegan unless I learn to cook properly, but kitchens feel like kryptonite to me.
So, to any of you vegans that have struggled/are struggling with the cooking part of being vegan, any tips? Any pointers?
Isa Chandler’s book I Can Cook Vegan is a great resource for novice cooks. You’ll learn fundamental cooking skills in an organized manner.
The website of Nora Cooks is another more “standard American recipe” resource. “Oh this recipe actually makes sense” makes up for what it lacks in specialty ingredients and complex flavors.
In my opinion, vegan cuisine doesn’t have to be difficult. I hardly ever follow recipes. For me, a dinner consists of frozen veggies, canned beans, jarred sauce, and reheated rice. For variation, add rice noodles and spaghetti.
My recommendation is to cease adding unnecessary complexity to the situation. Pancakes and waffles can be made vegan by substituting bananas, apple sauce, or flax seeds for the eggs. Rice and beans are also vegan. Smoothies, juices, fruits and vegetables, or my favorite vegan-friendly local restaurants in your area.
Take up cooking. Having complete control over your diet, flavor, quantities, and other aspects will significantly enhance your quality of life as a vegan, whether or not that’s something an adult should feel comfortable doing. Many vegans battle with food issues, which essentially go away once you learn to cook.
I suggest the prepackaged vegan products found in most supermarkets. Similar to Mayo? Veggie-style chicken? You can easily combine several of Gardein’s delicious chicken substitutes with other prepared foods. Due to my disability, I am unable to prepare large dinners, but with the variety of prepackaged options available, I can still put together a tasty dinner. Try Gardein’s vegan meatballs or pasta with meatballs. You can start experimenting with vegan ingredients to make larger meals once you feel more at ease. There are tons of delicious readymade meals available to help you with the transition to veganism.
I became a cook after being vegan. It wouldn’t seem much harder than preparing meat that isn’t vegan, if anything it would be simpler because there would be no need to worry about raw meat cross-contamination.
Why not keep eating out and request the vegan choices if you enjoy it? Or is that not offered at any local restaurants?
If not, I recommend watching Fitgreenmind and Derek Sarno on YouTube. They both have some amazing recipes that I’ve tried!
Starting at r/PlantBasedDiet is a good idea. Many of your questions will be answered if you read the sidebar there. It’s not at all necessary to be a chef to follow a plant-based diet. It’s simple to prepare foods like rice, potatoes, and beans.
For simple ideas and meal planning throughout the learning phase, Pinterest was a huge help. Trying out different recipes and collecting became my pastime. I could always search Pinterest for a vegan version of anything I was desiring, like tacos, if I had one. YouTube features some excellent basic vegan lessons. Yeung Man Cooking, PlantWhys, and Sarah’s Vegan Recipes are all great. Cooking vegan cuisine is, in my opinion, simpler because there’s never any need to check the doneness of the meal, unlike with cooking meat. In our city, we also dine out a lot. The restaurants in our neighborhood are always understanding when I tell them we are plant-based vegans.
Don’t berate yourself for not having the skills yet; start small. Cooking is not a natural skill; mistakes are made frequently. Yes, you may end up with something inedible that you have to toss out and feel guilty about wasting food, but eventually you will get the knack of it. Look for some recipes that you enjoy using simple, readily available components in little amounts. If you have the time and resources, consider enrolling in a non-degree, non-credit cooking course provided by the university’s continuing education department.