
283: Plant-Based in Public — Self-Advocacy for Vegans
Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age
Self-assessment prompts
Michele leads listeners through questions to identify where they avoid asking and the costs of silence.
Hey kids — it’s Michele.
This episode starts with a tiny restaurant moment (lemon… table… shade) that turned into a big coaching insight. If you pride yourself on being “easy” and low-maintenance, you might also be practicing a lifelong habit of not asking for what you need.
And here’s the twist: plant-based consistency in the real world isn’t mostly about food. It’s about asking. Asking questions, requesting swaps, clarifying ingredients, and tolerating a few seconds of social awkwardness without abandoning yourself.
If you’ve ever eaten something “just to keep things simple”… this one’s for you.
In This Episode
- The difference between being “easy” and self-silencing
- Why asking can feel like “making a scene,” even when it’s totally reasonable
- The nervous-system reason you choose discomfort over disapproval
- How this shows up at restaurants, with family, at events, and while traveling
- A simple progression to build the “asking muscle” (without apology spirals)
- The Lemon Challenge: one small ask per day for 7 days
Key Takeaways
- Asking isn’t being difficult. It’s self-advocacy.
- Not asking means saying, “No,” to yourself.
- If your identity is “I don’t ask for things,” veganism can feel harder than it needs to.
- The win isn’t a perfect meal. The win is: “I didn’t sacrifice myself.”
Try This: The Lemon Challenge (7 Days)
For the next week, make one small request per day—at a restaurant, with a friend, at work or home, anywhere.
Rules:
- Keep it simple.
- Skip the apology spiral.
- The goal is making the ask, not getting a yes.
If you do it, I want to hear what you asked for and what you noticed.
Mentioned
- Café Sapori (West Palm Beach, FL) — a vegan-friendly restaurant shout-out
How you go vegan is how you do everything.
See you next week.
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For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit veganatanyage.com or email info@micheleolendercoaching.com
Music, Production, and Editing by Charlie Weinshank. For inquiries email: charliewe97@gmail.com Virtual Support Services: https://proadminme.com/


