What they don't tell you about going vegan

Hi friends, what’s the most surprising thing that happened when you went vegan?

The cultural element is so under-discussed! I'm a vegan Arab and I was basically eating chicken, rice, sandwiches, and salads for every meal. Now that I'm vegan, I've started actually exploring Arab cooking and have taken the time to learn how to best cook the meals my parents always made.

Because of this channel and Pick Up Limes, I've found ways to reduce my consumption of animal products and incorporate more vegetables into my diet. I'm not vegan, but I have learned some tasty substitutions to replace dairy and meat products. Thank you for your work on this channel and the lovely recipes.

I'm not vegan, but my cholesterol was also high (and iron on the low side). Your videos helped me eat more plants and my cholesterol has noticeably deceased! And you also help me use my instant pot. And bond with my brother who is 100% vegan.

Thank you for this. I am 69 years old and have been a vegetarian since 1972. Things have come a LONG way since then for those of us who don't want to eat animals. It was particularly rough in the midwest, where I live. Today, there are way more choices and more restaurants who accommodate us, and also fewer questions, fewer "jokes", fewer people getting defensive about their own eating choices. I remember answering one woman who asked "why" by telling her I didn't want to kill animals. Her response was "But, God ate animals."..... There are also WAY more cookbooks. The first one I remember is Ten Talents. I remember some good things, but also some pretty awful stuff too. Like soy bean loaf made with whole soy beans. Then Anna Thomas came on the scene with her Vegetarian Epicure books. She took vegetarian cooking to a whole new level, but looking back on them, they were super loaded with things like butter, cheese, cream to add umami. I am still a vegetarian, but kind of a vegan wannabe. I love your channel and I have your Instant Pot cookbook. It's a well used favorite. Thanks again, Nisha.

What surprised me most was how much I actually love vegetables whenI learned to cook them as the star of the plate

I made your red lentil curry this week after beginning my vegan journey. It is SO FREAKING GOOD. Meals like this make me feel like being vegan won’t be as overwhelming as I originally thought.

I've been vegan for 4 years now. Was lacto-ovo vegetarian for 10 years before that. Yes to everything you've shared. :) And its creative chefs such as yourself and others like Sadia who help me stay interested and satisfied with my daily food choices. Thanks for all you do.

As an older dude...veganism has been much easier on my aging digestive system, plus the benefits you mention in terms of more consistent energy levels and not feeling as 'bogged' down and lethargic after meals vs meat based diet. Also alot easier to clean up after cooking vegan dishes. Cleaning up animal fat after cooking is just nasty!

Going vegan pushed me to learn how to cook. Because of this I've developed a lot of confidence in being able to take care of myself once I'm on my own. Learning how flavors work and making things for myself and the people I love has genuinely brought a lot of joy and color to my life.

I've been Vegan for 3 years now and I'm 65 and people still judge me, but I'm healthy and look young for my age. I'm Proud of myself.😊

I went vegan 2 years ago. The most surprising thing for me was starting at 58 years old, being a prior big meat eater, and finding that going vegan was so easy! Oh yeah, my cholesterol levels also dropped over 40 points and is in the healthy level! Love your videos, Nisha!

Couldn’t agree more with point 4… My meals when I ate meat were soooo bland and boring. I look at my meat eating friends now and the food they prepare and I am not the least bit envious. Turning vegan has made me 1000x better at cooking because it has forced me to become more creative and watch channels like yours for tips, tricks and recipes which I use regularly now every week! Thank you for everything you do

When my young adult daughter went vegan two years ago, I pretty much reacted as your parents do in this video: skeptically, critically, and negatively. I had no idea how to cook a vegan meal; I pretty much cook l lacto-ovo vegetarian and occasionally have fish or chicken, but I was kind of stuck in a cooking rut: pasta+salad, rinse, repeat. I enjoy cooking new recipes and healthy eating, so I went looking for ideas. I found your website, which is now my go-to when I want a delicious meal idea even when my daughter is not around. I am still not vegan, but I have added many plant-based meals into my cooking repertoire and have completely changed how I view vegan eating. Thank you!

I've been meat-free for 1.5 years and all I can say is living this way has tremendously improved my mental well-being, my energy levels and my physical strength for my workouts. I'm 26 but feel so so much better than when I was 21-24! Thank you for the videos you make, it has helped me througout my journey :)

Nisha is one of my absolute favorite vegan YouTubers....she is adorable and genuine. She actually looks like she's having fun and not just here to try and make money. So happy she's inspiring people to adopt a compassionate lifestyle and realize that you're not "giving up" anything by going vegan, but gaining so much more ....helping the animals, helping the planet and improving your own health at the same time! It really should be a no brainer!

Hi Nisha! I am currently a Physician Assistant student and have been on a path of discovery of how and why vegan diets seem to be able to reduce the risk Type II diabetes and the severity of that and other chronic ailments in folks. I know that once I am working in the field, Type II diabetes in America is an extremely common diagnosis and so I want to be able to recommend actual resources for diet changes that people can explore as a way to help with their diagnosis. Your website PLUS the companion videos are truly essential to helping others (who really do not have the time due to work, family constraints, ect) to explore this vegan option in a way that is easily accessible and flavorful! I am excited to try your White bean with kale soup recipe tonight. :) Thank you for sharing your work!

You mention vegan versions of Mexican and Japanese and Indian foods, all of which are great and I enjoy, but I was raised in the Mennonite tradition, and I have found few vegan versions of traditional Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, so I’m trying to make my own! So far I’ve managed to figure out a vegan version of the traditional potato dinner roll, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, and mincemeat pie, but many dishes still present challenges, for example liver wurst, sauerbraten, or head cheese. I have learned much from your videos and use what I learned in my own culinary experiments, as well as making your dishes pretty much exactly as your recipes instruct. Thank you for good food, good entertainment, and especially your boundless positive energy!

It sounds so silly to write down responses to people questioning your choice to go vegan but it’s honestly such a great piece of advice. After having many frustrating conversations where I just rambled and lost people’s attention I’ll definitely be making a script of sorts 🤣 I want to present veganism the way it deserves

Not vegan but have gone vegetarian and the big one that resonates with me is how much better my cooking has gotten. Meat being the centre of the plate was definitely a major crutch and I love how much more varied my diet is now that I've gone vegetarian. Your recipes have been such a big help and I particularly love the long, fancy meals like tofu Tikka masala and chili.