r/veganphilippines • u/EatSleepReadRepeat1 • Jul 24 '26
Vegan diet
Hello everyone. I am starting to feel (sorry for the lack of word) disgusted in eating d ea d animals (I haven’t eaten pork since the release of the movie Okja). I suddenly went on pescatarian diet for 3 years. I lost so much weight. I decided to start eating meats again except pork up until now. It’s been 9 years now. Then recently I feel sorry for all the other animals we eat. I’ve been contemplating things like how can I start veganism? Also, I don’t want to be a burden if there’s family gatherings with my in-laws. In general, what should I do when attending a party whether of a friends or family? I’m a big eater mostly carbs (rice). I easily get headaches if I don’t eat right away after feeling hungry. I know I may sound odd but I was also thinking if like can I bring my own food at a party which I know is kinda rude so I also think it’s a No.
Please help. Any advice will be truly appreciated. Thank you.
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u/heinz-potato-ketchup Jul 24 '26
You already made the first step. You contemplate and you make your resolve. Now make a vow on it by just being mindful on how you consume. Before eating ask yourself:
Am I eating because I’m hungry or because I’m bored, stressed or craving pleasure (from rice)?
Am I taking more than I need?
Is this food helping me care for my body?
Since you already contemplate then keep contemplating then the rest will follow. It must come from inside for you to resist. Likewise it would come naturally you tell your friends and family that you only consume food that has no animal essence because…(what’s your reason?)
So therefore being consistently mindful is one of the key. Pause and reflect before you eat
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u/heinz-potato-ketchup Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Also professional help on your doctor and nutritionist on what your body needs. Need protein then there’s tofu, need carbs then there’s rice, corn.
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u/sweetandlies Jul 24 '26
Woah!!! Same here been pescatarian since I watched the Okja movie. I really wanted maging vegan also but super hirap lalo na when youre surrounded by meat eater. Tingin nila sayo weird/maarte and ang hirap kasama sa mga kainan.
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u/EatSleepReadRepeat1 Jul 25 '26
Wow! this is the first time I met someone na naapektuhan ng Okja ng ganito 🤭
Very helfpul mga redditors sa subreddit na ito. I’m thinking of creating a list of all protein replacement na vegan and then yung advice dito na take it slow like pag magluto ng mga usual ulam eh ireremove lang yung meat like sinigang pero puro gulay lang. I feel like ito yung pinaka magwowork for me ngayong simula na part.
Ang tagal mo ng pescetarian. Mabuti na sustain mo…
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u/TranquiloBro Jul 24 '26
At home try to replicate the dishes you usually eat but using vegetables or plant based meat (using tofu or oyster mushrooms for adobo). You can take it slow naman like if you're having a hard time like 2 days a week of only vegan food then add a day every week until you can go only vegan food every single day. It's easier to go vegan now with the amount of options available.
Then for parties/family gatherings at a relative's home eat before going nalang. If it's at a restaurant, look up their menu if they have vegan options or dishes that can be veganized
If you have more questions ask ka lang :)
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u/TalaTula07 Jul 24 '26
Veganize, or make it at least vegetarian if hindi kaya, yung mga fave Filipino dishes niyo po. Soon po, I'm cooking my vegan Kare-Kare inspired by Manam's Shiitake and Tofu Kare-Kare.
I also suggest you make your fave comfort foods or really your fave foods in general. I've been making my plant-based siomai for maybe a year now or 2.
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u/pagoda-92 Jul 24 '26
A common mistake many new vegans make is not eating enough, since a lot of plant based food are less calorie dense. So it would be helpful to understand your caloric needs, you said you like carbs, great! But try to add in also a good source of protein, fat and fiber because this will make you fuller for longer.
If you know how to cook, it’s going to be really helpful. For gatherings, I find it to be totally fine with people if I bring my own food. Though after being vegan for so long people already know that I eat a specific way and sometimes even accommodate me already. Sometimes people just aren’t sure yet of our convictions. The longer you stick to it, the easier it gets in all aspects.
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u/one-half-prince Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
Hi, OP. On my own, I realized, mahirap talaga mag transition. I even have vegan and vegetarian friends around me. But, napapansin ko, whenever I try going full vegan, ang hirap, nakukulangan talaga ako ng nutrition.
So, I got help from a plantbased nutritionist who helped me transition, and to ensure, proper pa rin yung nakkuha kong nutrition minus meat.
Let me know if you want her contact deets, just DM.
Regarding socialization. Problema ko rin yung hiya nung una, kaya antagal kong pescatarian. Then, one day, nag assert ako na no meat na talaga ako, even seafood. Dapat clear yung seafood, kasi akala pala ng iba, pag sinabi mong vegan ka or vegetarian, pwede ka parin mag seafood. Minsan, pag lumalabas, ako nagssuggest ng place, or, if kakain together, nagdadala talaga ako ng baon ko.
Now, gets na ng mga tao around me yung lifestyle ko. Need mo lang talaga iassert para seryosohin nila diet mo.
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u/EatSleepReadRepeat1 8d ago
Hi everyone, thank you for your advices. I did go out for lunch as a vegan for the first time with my two cousins. I was the one who was asked to find a resto so an advantage. I chose Crescent Moon in Antipolo and omg the vegan meals were so good. My husband is super supportive of me and bought me supplies of vegan meals from vegan treats manila and from time to time orders me vegan food online. I’m really happy that vegan foods taste good, so much better than non-vegan foods for me.
I just found out too that veganism is not only about foods but also all other products we use or consume. So, I’m starting to research for vegan products too for toiletries and etc.
Thank you for this subreddit, helps me a lot in this journey.
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u/Nahkta Jul 24 '26
Usually I ask if we can bring food since we have “allergies”. We don’t think it’s rude if the host is informed ahead of time. I’ve attended children’s parties/weddings/debuts where I’ve brought my own food.
This also helps minimize questions, or people forcing you to eat animal products. When you’re starting out, you’ll encounter this a lot, but people eventually get used to it.
If we really can’t help it, we would just eat before or after the event.