As you can imagine, metropolis areas tend to have more vegan options than smaller towns. So, what if you happened to live in a rural area, does this mean you can’t be vegan? Of course not! You can follow a cruelty-free and plant-based lifestyle virtually anywhere.
Several factors will determine just how easy it is for you to be vegan.
At the top of the list, you will discover that where you live can play an important role.
This makes sense – after all, it is a lot easier to lead a plant-based lifestyle if you live in a vegan-friendly city.
At the same time, there is no denying that you may have to get a little creative if you would like to enjoy a more comfortable vegan lifestyle.
If this is something you are interested in, these tips can help you out.
Focus on What You Can Eat
When most people think of a vegan diet, they just focus on the foods you have to remove from your life.
However, when you think about it, meat, eggs, dairy, and other animal-derived products make up a small portion of your diet.
After all, there are only so many types of meat that people can really eat!
On the other hand, there are many different types of vegetables and fruits to choose from.
You will find a wide selection regardless of where you live. So, don’t think about the restrictive elements of veganism.
Instead, start making a list of all of the foods that you can and should eat.
This includes black beans, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, chickpeas, nuts, seeds, and any fruit or vegetable that you want!
As you can see, this list can go on and on. Once you have figured out what you can eat, you can guarantee that you will feel a lot better about your situation.
Grow Your Own Food
So, let’s say that you prefer a few more protein-dense vegetables to choose from and aren’t happy with the selection in your town.
In this case, it is time to look into growing your own food. Of course, you will be limited by certain elements such as space, soil, and the weather.
Nonetheless, with a little research, you will be surprised at just how many plants you should be able to grow in your own home.
Since you may only need to feed yourself and the members of your family, there is no need to go overboard.
Simply grow just as much as you will need.
There is an additional benefit to growing your own food – you can reduce your overall carbon footprint as well.
This means that you will be doing even more good in the world!
Find a Health Food Store
If your town is quite small or far away from the main cities, it is unlikely to have a vegan store.
This doesn’t mean that vegan foods are out of your reach, however.
Instead of just limiting your search to vegan stores, consider a health food store as well.
You will find that health food stores are a lot more common than vegan ones.
Despite this, they are sure to carry a few options – even just supplements.
Regardless, it is something you should check out. Keep in mind, even if there isn’t a health food store in your town, there may be one in the next town.
Make Monthly Shopping Trips into Bigger Cities
Just because you can’t get vegan products on a daily or weekly basis doesn’t mean that you have to give up hope.
Instead, do a little research to figure out whether the towns close to yours have stores that sell vegan options.
Some of the more well-known chains that offer vegan food are Trader Joe’s, Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, ALDI, Dollar Tree, and Ralphs.
So, see if any of the nearby areas have these stores. If they are present, you know where you need to head to.
You should make it a point to stock up on non-perishable items so that you don’t have to make as many trips in the future.
If you want to take fresh food home with you, make sure to take a cooler and throw in some ice packs as well.
This will help to sustain them until they can be stored properly.
Shop Online
In case you don’t want to go out of your way too much, then shopping online is your next best option.
There are plenty of more prominent online platforms like Amazon as well as smaller businesses that can quickly ship you a wider variety of items.
Of course, do a little bit of price comparison to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible.
It is a good idea to buy these items in bulk as well. While this may seem like a pricey option, it will actually help to cut down on shipping costs later on.
You should also keep an eye out for sales, discounts, or even coupons. These can all help to keep the costs of shopping online low.
Consider Subscription Boxes
These days, there are now more vegan options than ever before. Thus, it can often seem like you are missing out if you don’t have access to such items.
The good news is that there may be a way around that. This is all thanks to vegan subscription boxes.
There are plenty of online companies that look out for vegan ingredients, snacks, and more.
They then package your preferred items and send them to you. This way, you will be able to test out vegan goodies with minimal hassle.
What’s nice about this option is that it helps you switch things up and keep taste testing all the vegan goodies out there.
You can set up your account so that you can receive new and exciting foods each month.
Make Your Own Treats
Now, there are some treats that you just can’t do without for too long. These include cake, ice cream, and more.
Well, if you feel like a craving is about to hit, it is time to whip up some vegan goodies for yourself.
Although this may feel like a rather daunting affair, it is actually relatively simple to do.
Many vegan snacks and desserts only require a handful of ingredients.
Not to mention, when you make your own, you have complete freedom to get as creative as you like. Plus, these are great projects for the whole family.
So, don’t think you have to do without something just because it isn’t readily available.
Simply look up some recipes and get to work. It is as easy as that!
Mix and Match at Restaurants
Of course, you aren’t always going to cook for yourself. Sometimes, it is nice to join friends and family members and eat out.
If you are at a restaurant, then you may have a bit more wiggle room. In case you can’t find something vegan, see if you can substitute or remove certain ingredients.
With just a few changes, you could have a delicious meal.
If you are at a fast-food joint, then there should be at least one veggie burger. If this doesn’t seem too appealing to you, load up on sides.
There is a lot more to choose from here, and several options are actually vegan.
Make sure always to ask if there are any vegan options on a secret menu, just to be on the safe side.
Consider Setting Up a Vegan Venture
If you are tired of having to go out of town for essential vegan ingredients, you may not be alone.
Do some investigative work and see if there are any budding vegetarians or vegans around.
At the very least, try to find out if there are people interested in adopting a more plant-based lifestyle. After all, you don’t only have to cater to vegans.
If you discover that there is a moderate demand, then this could be your opportunity.
Crunch the numbers and do your research to see if you can open up a modest vegan store.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but you can offer the most fundamental ingredients for a vegan diet.
At the very least, work together with others who are considering becoming vegan.
Perhaps you can figure out a way to make the town a little more vegan-friendly.
Keep in mind, any effort that you make will be worth it – you just have to take that step in the right direction.
While being a vegan in a more rural area can be tough, it doesn’t have to be an impossible feat.
With a little effort and the right ideas, you can live a comfortable, plant-based lifestyle. Who knows, you may just end up encouraging others to make an essential change in their own lives too!
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