OK, I admit it, I slipped
I've been debating about whether to confess this or not. It's not something I'm terribly ashamed of, but I don't want to lose my credibility in your eyes. On the other hand, I'm blogging about my vegan experiences and I'm sure I'm not the only one who's fallen off the vegan wagon.
I was in New York this weekend, watching the Giants on TV with a bunch of my friends. Go Giants! What do guys consume while watching sporting events? Beer and Pizza. And yes, not only did I consume the non-vegan Guiness (see this post for the shocking details on beer - it's not quite what you think!), but I also had the pizza. I know. How can I call myself a vegan? What can I say, I slipped. Pizza was a much beloved staple in my life until recently. So when the pies arrived from my favorite pizza parlor (nothing beats NY pizza), it didn't take much encouragement from the guys for a slice to wind up on my plate. And then another, and finally, a third! And if I'm having pizza, I've got to have beer to wash it all down.
Was it delicious? Yup. Did it make me want to give up my vegan ways? Nope. Did I feel guilty? Just for a moment, but I rationalized...It was a cheese pizza, so I wasn't consuming any animal flesh. (Note: I do not support the factory farming practices of the dairy industry.) Halfway into my second slice I had an indication that maybe my digestive tract and my conscience weren't going to be happy later on. Sure enough, that's what happened.
It's funny, as a vegan, when you're discussing your dietary restrictions, almost every vegetarian will say to you "I'd go vegan, but I couldn't live without the cheese." Jane and I have found that we miss dairy (specifically milk, cheese, and ice cream) more than any other non-vegan food. After six months without cheese, eating that pizza was sublime. So far we haven't come across any vegan product that is a viable substitute for real cheese. But we'll keep looking.
So I had pizza on Sunday. I've forgiven myself. Have you?
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!RELATED POSTS:
- A Small Vegan Experiment
- Vegan Questionnaire
- Vegan Babbles
- Tonight Show Comic Disses Vegans
- Living The Vegan Life
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
25 comments
Benjamin Jones on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at
Thanks for sharing your story! Everytime I’m in the line for food at the dining hall I pass the pizza and have a yearning. In 1.5 years I’ve not slipped yet, but I wonder if will happen one day.
Keep fighting the good fight,
Brian on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at
The hardest thing, I think, about being vegan is the lack of convenience food. If I want pizza, I can’t just ring up the local pizza delivery. If I want donuts at 3am, I have to make them myself. It can be frustrating, so I understand the temptation.
But my stomach made the decision for me with regard to dairy. Before I cut it out, I always had stomach discomfort after eating. I never knew it was the dairy until I started cutting back and realized I wasn’t experiencing the same problems.
chris on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at
I’m so glad you decided to share your story — if anything, it gives you MORE credibility, I think!
I had a similar slip not long ago, with pizza as well, and boy, was my digestive system unhappy with me afterwards! I’m going to try and keep that in my memory for next time I’m tempted!
Lisa on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at
Ha! That will teach you to drink macro beer… I only consume beers from craft breweries - they tend to be purists and believe only in the basic 4 ingredients.
I slipped a few months ago too - nothing drastic, just grabbed a little bit of salmon dip on my way through the grocery store. Darn habits are hard to break!
lane on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at
I knew I wasn’t the only one to slip, but I’m glad to hear from you all. It certainly makes me feel better.
For me, it will always be the cheese that is hardest to stay away from. Usually it isn’t something I even think about, but in those moments of weakness…
Lisa - are you sure about your craft breweries? Guiness isn’t adding a non-vegan ingredient to the beer itself… it’s actually the way they “clarify” the beer, that’s why you don’t see “isinglass finings” as an ingredient on the packaging. (And some sugar manufacturers use Bone Char to refine sugar; not an ingredient in the package, something used in the refining process - which is why most vegan purists will not use white sugar.)
– Lane
Elaine Vigneault on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at
Thanks for confessing. I slipped a few times, and still do with beer, sugar, and a few other things here and there. It’s a process, you know?
That’s funny about cheese. I’ve heard a lot of people say how much they love cheese and it just wasn’t that big of a deal for me. I have more of a sweet tooth than a cheese craving.
When I went vegan I missed convenience more than any, specific food item.
lane on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at
Hi Elaine,
Yes, it’s a process. For example, Jane and I consider ourselves to be vegans, but until now, we’ve not been sniffing out every last ingredient which might not be strictly vegan (ie - sugar).
As we learn things, we incorporate them. If the packaging information would tell you about non-vegan ingredients used in processing…
Finally, yes, convenience is a huge issue. Thankfully things are easier now than back when I was vegetarian 20 years ago, but there’s still a long way to go.
– Lane
John Eckman on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at
Unless you’re in an environment where you completely control food prep and ingredients purchase, everyone slips from time to time.
But think of the impact you’ve had by eliminating >95% of your consumption of dairy and other animal products - that’s what you should stay focused on, rather than what mistakes you’ve made.
lane on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at
Hi John,
You’ve made an excellent point. And our philosophy is that we do the best we can. We know that, most likely, we’ve inadvertently eaten animal product while eating out (how much can the waitstaff really know about the ingredients which comprise your meal). We make the most logical choices we can. What troubled here, was that this was a conscious decision to eat cheese. But I’m human…
I’m actually researching a post on the impacts of not eating meat, versus other behaviors which claim to reduce global warming. I’ve touched on it a bit in this post.
Raphaël AJ on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at
The last time I slipped was 2 years ago, at McDonald’s. Oh my, am I not proud of myself! But since then, no mistake (which I have been aware of, at least). I am “only” a vegetarian but I am turning vegan at home. It is socially difficult to be a vegetarian in France, and when you turn vegan, you get quite violent reactions from other people. They call you crazy and they really think you are going to die. Oh my.
lane on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at
Wow, McDonald’s… I think the only vegan thing there is the coffee!
I’ve been told I’m crazy too. And EVERYONE asks me if I’m getting enough protein. It gets a little annoying at times. But it’s a very different way of eating than what most society practices, so I guess it makes sense that others would look cross-eyed at what we’re choosing to do.
Compassion Will Cure More Sins than Condemnation | Vegan Bits on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at
[...] vegan thread yesterday and was told, for the second time, that I’m not a vegan. Apparently this post, where I mention that I slipped, disqualifies me. Then there was the indirect attack thrown at me, [...]
Dawn on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at
Yeah people slip. Dairy is like crack so it can be so hard for people to give it up.Also some people don’t seem to know that dairy is more cruel than meat.
I never tried a soy cheese I didn’t like. I feel horrible eating it since all soy products are tested on animals. I found this out recently. I’m shocked yet at the same time I’m not since so much cruelty happens in this world.
Lane on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at
Hi Dawn,
Yes, I’ve been reading the China Study and there’s a lot of truth to that (dairy is like crack).
Interesting that you enjoy the soy cheeses. We’ve heard a lot of conflicting reviews. Personally, I’m starting to like them more the longer I’ve been away from real cheese.
I was not aware that soy products are tested on animals. I’d like to do a bit more reading on the topic. If you don’t mind, would you send me link or book title? Thanks
Wanda on Thursday, July 31, 2008 at
Actually, most cheeses have rennet in it. So when slipping up with the cheese pizza, you are actually consuming animal gastric juices, stomach and enzymes! Yep, that’s right. People misunderstand that cheese is just not a dairy product.
B. on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at
Hooray for Wanda’s point, which I was just about to make. I’m not going to congratulate you, Lane, for coming clean, or offer some platitude about how “everyone fucks up.” These “slips” can be serious if you don’t immediately go back to your strict vegan diet. It’s a “slippery slope” if you will–and suddenly you’re a mere vegetarian again.
Lane on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at
Hi “B”
I’m not asking you to congratulate me. I’m blogging about my experiences as a vegan. Obviously you and I come at this from different points of view and you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I believe in being compassionate about slipping up.
tina on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at
i slipped for the first time today.
I HAD A CROISSANT. i ordered my coffee this morning and really wanted something plain to eat. so i asked the waiter if there was egg or dairy in the croissant, and he just looked at me like i was a freak and laughed, completely un-helpful and rude. they couldnt even reccomend anything else to eat. it was so upseting and dissapointing.
so i had it anyhow hoping there wasnt any animal products even thou i had my susspicions. i dont know why i did that but i feel really bad and i wont ever do that again.
was i weak in my decision. ?
Lane on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at
Hi tina,
Jane and I feel that it is impossible to be a perfect vegan if you live in today’s society. If you drive a car, your tires have animal byproduct. The sheetrock in your house has animal byproduct. Crayons contain animal byproduct. We strive to do the best we can.
More than likely, your croissant contained animal product (butter). Should you castigate yourself over this? No! You feel bad, you’re not going to do it again. But more importantly… you’re vegan 99.99% of the time. One step off the path doesn’t mean you’re not vegan. (And it’s not like you had a steak!) Now other people don’t agree with our philosophy. Basically, you have to decide what works for you.
We feel that we are doing more by being vegan all year with the exception of our two slices of pizza when we’re in NY, than most of the rest of the population. We’re comfortable with our decision. It’s your life, you need to decide what works for you!
You do the best you can, and that is all you can do. Hope that helps.
tina on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at
thank so much for your response. i do feel im giving it 100% of my effort so, i feel good all the time, i love the way i feel as a vegan and thats what matters.
cheers and great day to everyone!
tina <3
Daniel on Friday, July 24, 2009 at
I slip about once a month.I don’t make a lot of money to afford cheese substitutes and other vegan luxury items.I try the best i can, but sometimes we run out of grocery’s and or i feel an urge and i give in.
Lane on Monday, August 10, 2009 at
Hi Daniel,
If you have the time, many of the vegan “luxury” items can be made at home for a fraction of the cost. Cashew cheese, seitan, even vegan ice cream. But it’s not always practical or convenient.
You have to do what is right for you. We save pizza for our trips to New York. They aren’t that frequent, so it doesn’t start us down a slippery slope. I think if I had it more frequently, I would give in to temptation more often, and ultimately wind up being an omni again.
tina on Monday, August 17, 2009 at
its real hard to find a decent looking pair of shoes or boots that are VEGAN, in Melbourne. can anyone point me in the right direction?
tina x
Lane on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at
Hi Tina,
There’s always mail order…. It might take a while, but here’s a link that you may want to browse: women’s pumps
tina on Friday, September 11, 2009 at
hey not bad. thanks lane.