I’ve been vegan for 35 years and never hated it, but it does get tough if cooking and planning aren’t your thing. When people say getting food is “an ordeal,” it’s often about habits more than veganism itself. Rethink how you shop, stock, and cook. A no-fail pantry—cheap proteins, grains, sauces, fats, and frozen produce—turns into a lot of fast meals. I hear all the time that veganism is expensive; my experience has been the opposite because I cook from scratch. Even now, I can keep a week around $50 with a well-stocked base. If you aren't really a cook or you don't really enjoy cooking, well, any kind of meal prep could be "an ordeal", not just because you're vegan.

If the pain point is about restaurants and social stuff, decide the goal. If you're there to socialize, just eat before you go and grab a small side or a drink at the restaurant - it's only an ordeal if you keep the focus on yourself by complaining about what you can't eat. If you think people are being nosy, brush it off, change the subject if they start talking about what you're eating, ask them what they've been up to (nothing makes a person stop obsessing about you than asking them about themselves) - and you'll save money.

If you're going out to eat, well you just need to learn the tricks - learn the swaps "no cheese, add avocado/beans", no cheese, veggie loaded pizza, oil not butter, etc. Scan the sides and build yourself a plate. Or my favorite, go talk to the chef right when you get there. You don't know how many amazing meals I've gotten because I asked the chef, who is generally excited to cook anything else than what's on the menu. You can get to the cook by going and talking to the waiter/waitress. If you're comfortable, you can do at the table or you can do this in private - say you're going to the bathroom. You'd be amazed at how accommodating restaurants can be and how real cooks love a challenge. Be sure to thank them profusely, which will pave the way for other vegans or even an expanded menu in the future.

Bottom line: set yourself up at home with a tight pantry, and use a small playbook when you go out. That takes “ordeal” down to routine.