[beerbajay]

I've been vegan for over 15 years. While a vegan diet is generally more healthy than the standard American diet, there are many healthy (easier) diets than veganism. Basically (imho), veganism is only compelling for ethical reasons.

Eating a vegan diet has however never been easier, especially if you live in a major American city; there is wide availability of reasonable replacement products, vegan options at restaurants, plus a general awareness of what veganism is with less of the reactionary responses that you might have gotten years ago.

How to become vegan? Just start slow; you don't have to do everything at once, learn to replace your standard dishes and ingredients one at a time.

Harder: how to stay vegan? Recognize that you can never be completely sure about ingredients and that trace amounts of animal products don't present any ethical issues. Be willing to eat out and chance some milk or eggs a dish, especially when dining with others. Veganism shouldn't be about making your own life an unlivable burden but about reducing harm.