Veganism, like several other diets, comes with several misconceptions. Whether you see these myths and stereotypes on social media or hear them at work or with friends, doing your own research is the best way to truly understand veganism and how achievable the diet can be for any lifestyle!    “Being Vegan Is Expensive”  When you consider the fact that vegans do not eat meat, one of the more expensive items on your grocery list, you'll realize that veganism is actually very budget-friendly. Some of the staples of a vegan diet are whole grains, rice, legumes, pasta, veggies, and fruits. All of these are some of the cheapest ingredients on Earth. Veganism is actually pretty easy, even on a college student’s budget. Play around with recipes and ingredients - experimenting can lead to some new favorite dishes!  “You don’t get enough protein on a vegan diet”  The idea that you can only get protein from animal products is false. In fact, these animals are fed a plant-based diet. So you are basically already consuming plant-based protein just through dead tissue. There are actually several plant-based protein sources that you can get on a vegan diet. These include oats, quinoa, beans, spinach, tofu, lentils, broccoli, nuts, seeds, and many more. Also, you can get plenty of protein from organic plant-based protein powders. As with any other diet, it depends entirely on what you’re consuming. “Vegans need to drink milk to get calcium”  If all you watch is “Got Milk?” ads then yes, you would believe milk is the only place you can get a solid source of calcium. However, on a vegan diet, you can rely on several foods that offer high amounts of calcium. For example, dark leafy greens (collard greens and kale), soy-based foods, lentils, beans, and seeds (tahini, chia, and flax), are all great sources of calcium to add to your vegan diet.  “Being vegan is too hard and too restrictive”  Making any kind of lifestyle change can be difficult at first but once you get into the groove of things they become second nature. The same can be said for starting a vegan diet. It may be uncomfortable at first but once you have a plan in place, following a vegan diet is actually very easy. Instead of focusing on what you can’t have, focus on what you can have. You will come to realize that a vegan diet actually has many options and substitutes that will open your taste buds to new flavors, spices, and cooking methods.  MYTHS = DEBUNKED Do your research, find what works for you, and give a vegan diet a try!