this post has been weighing on me for some time now.
we all have different reasons for doing different things ; i get that.
*and before we get started ; know that there are a few photos that might spark some emotion. nothing terribly graphic ; but you might not love them*
a lot of folks are interested when i tell them im vegan ; but i think a lot of people think i do it for vanity.
or that its a trend. like, im just a cool hipster with a fast bike, mpr playing on my iphone while i judge folks for eating meat.
or that i am just trying to be really cool // alternative // different.
and with all of that ; i try not to judge.
i really, truly, honestly think that a vegan lifestyle is the best thing you can do for your mind, body, future & family.
a lot of people think that its too hard // expensive // restricting // stupid, but it really is the easiest // best thing i have ever done for myself.
i am willing to bet that we spend the same amount [or less than] you do on groceries. we eat local, organic [75% of the time] & sustainable.
people think if you cut out dairy & meat, you have to eat salads & nasty 'faux' meats the rest of your life. disagree. my plate is colorful, full of healthy fats, vitamins, nutrients & minerals. no way did i ever eat this well when i was on my own & eating animals. [it also helps that blake is super creative in the kitchen!] heck, i even wrote a darn e-book FULL of easy vegan recipes!
and can we talk about overall health?!
i have so many friends that talk about feeling run down, sleep deprived, no energy, tons of weight gain, full of bloat & cranky.
is that you?
i pinky promise [honestly!] that if you cut out the crap in your diet [DAIRY! & processed food], you will feel like a whole new women [or man ; i dont judge!]
since cutting out processed food [and animals,
no 3pm crash. no dreaded morning-wake ups. happier, more positive. SO much more energy. and while i dont weigh the lightest i have ever ; i am definitely the healthiest & in the best shape i have ever been.
so, what is the REAL reason i will stay vegan // raise a vegan family // continue to educate folks?
its for the animals!
when i first cut everything out, it was for MY health. i really didnt care about the animals. ive never been an animal lover. sometimes dogs ; never anything else. [my dad is a butcher, remember? i grew up watching him butcher animals & fillet fish]
but now? i read articles // view undercover videos // watch documentaries // read books about the REAL process of animal testing // factory farming & it honestly makes me sick.
*also, the pictures in this link are pretty graphic*
i dont ever want to guilt anyone into cutting out animal products ; but you are doing yourself [and the planet!] a true disservice if you are ignoring where your milk // eggs // cheese // meat is coming from.
*sidenote ; if you do plan on eating meat // dairy, i BEG you to do your research & buy it locally. call around. find a co-op // whole foods // sustainable grocer. ask questions. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
not only are animals from factory farms treated unbelievably inhumane, they are also PUMPED f u l l of chemicals you are then feeding to your partner & your CHILDREN.
i really try to keep this blog rant-free & not super personal, but this is *so* important to me.
we live in one of the most 'available' places in the world.
you really do owe it to yourself & your family to know where your food comes from.
id love to hear your feedback. and, if you are going to leave me a nasty comment [cuz this IS the internet, after all], please leave your email, so i can have a dialogue with you.
also, if you are looking for recipes ; i have TONS on my pinterest board.
thanks for reading, everybody!
I think it's important that you mentioned that everyone has a different viewpoint and that you respect that. I'm not vegetarian or vegan but certainly respect people who are (although, PSA, if I invite you to dinner, you should TELL me or I probably won't have something for you! This has happened to me a few times).
ReplyDeleteI think it's also important to note that sometimes being vegan IS healthier for people, but sometimes not. I have a cousin who was vegan for many, MANY years and was having a lot of health problems after awhile. No one could figure it out, and so she did a whole lot of research and had some tests done and found out that her body actually needs meat. Not a lot, and she definitely doesn't go to McDonalds or anything, but she does incorporate a bit into her diet because of the nutrients SHE needs to have.
As a side note, you'll know you've made it on the internet when people start calling you a liberal hippie communist (or whatever) in the comments!
I'm happy that you did a post like this! It came across in a very nice way and, to me, not like you were pushing it on anyone.
ReplyDeleteI was told I had a dairy, egg, and wheat allergy by a natural health doctor in December. She wanted me to cut all of those products out the SAME day. It was beyond difficult because everything has milk or milk products in it, and I'm also broke. It's sometimes hard to find food that is healthy and cheap. I went to a clinic, and a doctor basically got angry and his voice was raised when I had told him I was only tested for these allergies through a blood test. He went on and on about how everyone has a sensitivity and that there is no accurate way of testing for those allergies.
In short, I've slowly introduced those food products back in to my diet, but eating all that milk really has me concerned about the chemicals and hormones that are being introduced in to my diet again...I want to try juicing!
xo. Nicole
The 3PM crash is totally me... but I don't eat meat and very little dairy --mostly Greek yogurt, maybe a little milk in my cereal, some cheese on my lentil-taco :) -- could even small amounts of dairy lead to the afternoon crash and random crabbiness?!
ReplyDeleteEating vegetarian/vegan is much easier than people think, and it feels so great! Definitely checking out your recipe pinboard!
We eat some meat, but not much (maybe 3 days a week?). We are very careful about where I meat comes from (just say no to Tyson.) We also cut out most dairy and that really helped us feel better!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great and honest post, Diana!