Thank you for this article, it’s brilliant! I particularly love your point about veganism being more rational than vegetarianism.

As a plant-based advocate I am eager to help people head in this direction and think a lot about what the barriers are. While some of the barriers are based in misinformation about the ‘need’ for meat and dairy, I think that more often than not, the barrier is a lack of tools. It’s wonderful to see plenty of meat (and dairy) substitutes popping up, as this is the easiest way to take a first step. I love the idea of giving yourself a few days to adjust your tastes because it’s a scientific reality that we can re-train our palettes (in the same way as we can acclimatize ourselves to less salt).

One quote from a former meat-eater that stuck with me is: “I thought I liked meat, but then I realized I liked the way it was cooked and prepared — the salt, the oil, the grilling, the sauces”. All of this can be done with veggies! Coming back to the meat substitutes — in the long run, you may find that you don’t need them, and can satisfy your tastes and your body without them.

PS I had a good laugh at your experience with limited menu options. As a long time vegetarian and more recently, vegan, I am always ecstatic — and sometimes paralyzed — when faced with a whole menu full of plant-based options. This bountiful selection, if fortunately, becoming increasingly common.