5 things to do if you have a dairy craving

Cheese, curd, milk, and ghee.

These are some of the foods you can't seem to give up. No matter how hard you try, those creamy, cheesy, and indulgent dairy-based dishes beckon.

Well, we have some good news! Managing those cravings and staying true to your plant-based diet is easy. But we get it, it's something we all had to go through. (It's one of the reasons we make plant-based dairy alternatives!)

So in this blog post, we want to provide 5 tips for you to follow so you can conquer your new vegan lifestyle like an expert!

1. Re-think food: Allow your cravings to happen.

So you're having a craving. So what? We can have multiple cravings per day, and one of them might be dairy, or a dish that contains dairy.

Luckily for Indian vegans, most of the dishes you're craving are either already plant-based or can be easily veganised. Let's take a look at some examples:

• Masala dosas.
• Idlis. 
• Samosas. 
• Chana masala.
• Masala poori.
• Dal and chapatis.
• Chutney.
• Sambhar.
• Veg noodles & veg fried rice.
• Poha
• Fries, chips & oreos.
• Bisi bele bath.
• Gobhi/aloo/mushroom/babycorn manchurian.
• Onion pakoras.
• Lemon/coconut/tomato rice.

For most of these foods, you don't need to double check if they're vegan or not. Often in Indian cuisine, the dairy is added at the end, or some things are fried in ghee. All of this is pretty easy to avoid, and you won't feel like you're missing out. 

2. Recognise your wins every step of the way.

A vegan lifestyle is a journey for everyone - even for vegans who have lived a vegan lifestyle for decades.

The truth is that a vegan lifestyle is filled with moments of triumph and an occasional setback. But every time you choose a plant-based meal, you're having a real impact on your body, the number of resources it took to create that meal, and the life of an animal who didn't want to be your meal.

Celebrating the small wins sounds cliche, but over a lifetime they add up to significant, tangible changes in the real world. One person does make a difference. 

Facing challenges and weaknesses is not abnormal. Instead of dwelling on what you can't seem to resist, focus on what you have achieved. A successful transition to veganism happens in stages.

3. Add, don't subtract.

Going vegan is far from deprivation; it's an invitation to explore a world of new and old flavours.

You're never giving anything up. Instead, you're gaining. Let us explain.

There are over 20,000 species of edible plant foods in the world! It would probably take an entire lifetime just to explore all the fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds out there.

By comparison, people generally eat a handful of animal-based products. 

But let's say you're craving cheese. You can make or try countless types of plant-based cheese, made from ingredients like watermelon seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, tofu, or potatoes, each offering their own distinct texture and taste. 

We know that eating a greater variety of foods can come with an adjustment period, but that is far from living a restrictive lifestyle.

4. Think of your why.

What made you interested in veganism in the first place?

Was it a book you read? A movie or documentary you watched? A conversation you had with a family member or friend? An animal you connected to? 

The vast majority of vegans today were not born vegan, and did not become vegan for no reason. At some point, they made a connection.

Thinking about your inflection point is the anchor that will keep you grounded. Only you know what to revisit to regain your inspiration and try again.

5. Find your support.

New vegans are much more connected in their experiences than not. Sharing these experiences, funny situations, or even feelings of cravings isn't just a part of your journey: it's empowering!

A supportive community makes all the difference. When many feel like they cannot continue a vegan lifestyle, or feel defeated in general, lack of support from friends or family members is often cited. 

But you're not alone in your experiences, questions, or challenges. Reaching out to fellow vegans is easy to do with social media, and you'll find there are so many more people like you than you ever thought.

Subscribe to a vegan Youtube page, follow a vegan instagram account, join a FB group (or create one), search vegan hashtags, follow vegan organisations, follow brands, find vegans on forums like Quora or Reddit, attend vegan conferences, join vegan potlucks, join vegan WhatsApp groups, read vegan blogs, hang out at vegan restaurants and cafes, and the list goes on!

Conclusion

Above all, veganism is a transformative process. You'll wrestle with all kinds of things, like dairy cravings.

But once you master it, it'll never be a problem ever again.

For many vegans, living a vegan lifestyle is not something they actively think about. It's normal to them! And they couldn't imagine life as a non-vegan. It's so freeing.

We hope that these 5 pieces of advice could make a positive impact in your life, so that you can go forth and make a positive impact in the world around you.

If you're still in need of help, check our our vegan beginner's guide and vegan recipes!