About a year and a half ago I decided to stop eating meat, eggs and dairy. In the year and a half that has elapsed, I have fielded a lot of questions and gone through a lot of changes, both philosophical and physical. Hopefully this post will answer a few questions!
I became vegan almost accidentally. I was up late one night and there was nothing on TV so I was watching the Joy Behar show and Alicia Silverstone was on. She was promoting a new book she wrote called "The Kind Diet". I really liked how she presented herself. She fully admits that she use to love meat and had a hard time giving it up initially. She also presented her book as a tool for people to use to introduce some aspects of vegan lifestyle into their daily lives. Not once did she preach or say that people should do exactly what she did.
The next day I ordered it online from Amazon and anxiously awaited it in the mail. When it came in, I read it front to back. The book is structured so that the first half is research and information, and the second half is recipes.
Although the book was extensively referenced, I wasn't really willing to leave it at that, so I did some additional research. A lot of what I read resonated with me, so I decided that I would give veganism a go for a 2 week trial period. I figured it would be so difficult to follow that I would abandon it soon after that, but hopefully incorporate one or two meals in a week.
So, off we went. Tyler didn't go whole hog (no pun intended!) vegan, but relegated meat eating to the weekends, and still kept dairy in his diet. After a week I could feel a huge difference internally. I just felt...better. I felt cleaner and food was way more satisfying. When I had cravings, they were actually for something that I was missing in my diet (like an apple if I hadn't had a lot of fruits that day).
I was a changed woman. I dropped about 30 lbs (see before and after...now, I know the after still isn't great, but it is a start!).
Here is me in the summer of 2009, before adopting this diet.
Yikes, I know.
Here is me exactly one year later...and also almost 5 months pregnant
A big difference if you ask me. Solely through diet.
Another big difference is that I use to be sick all of the time. I missed so much work, school and general life because I would be throwing up for no reason, have terrible headaches, or generally just be unwell. I caught every single bug that came my way. Now I rarely get sick, which is great!
Now, in a year and a half I have gotten lazy and I definitely don't eat as clean as I use to, and I think I am going to re-read the book so that I get inspired again.
So, what do I eat? Everyone always asks that question with an air of disbelief, as though there isn't a single food on this planet that wasn't produced by an animal. I eat pretty much everything!
Now, there are certain categories of food that are just automatically out. Like baked goods, which is a real blessing in disguise! I also have adapted a lot of recipes for delicious vegan desserts though, like cinnamon buns, scones, cookies, etc. Easy.
To make it easy, here is what a typical day looks like for me.
Breakfast: Raisin toast with peanut butter, coffee with soy milk
Snack: Fruit, a (homemade) muffin, veggies
Lunch: A big salad with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, or a sandwich with veggies, humus and mustard.
Snack: Popcorn, corn chips, rice chips, crackers...something deliciously carb-filled
Supper: Steamed veggies and hearty grain (quinoa, barley, or rice),
Pretty easy! Everything is available at a local grocery store, so it isn't like I have to travel far and wide for my food.
Now, something different about my diet is I don't really like a lot of meat substitutes. The only one I buy is Oh Natural Veggie nuggets, and even Ty says they are just as good as the real thing.
(On the left)
Finally, the big question I get: my feelings on animals. I'll be honest with you, I don't think that any cow is going to be a productive member of society in that they will contribute like a doctor or lawyer. I'm just sayin'. It doesn't bother me that animals are killed for food, but it does bother me if it is done in a way that causes suffering. I am going to leave that subject at that, because everyone has their own personal beliefs and they are entitled to that. Furthermore, ranching and farming is an integral part of our society and economy.
I don't think that everyone should run out and buy Alicia Silverstone's book (although she was voted Sexiest Vegetarian). I also don't think that people should follow my word as gospel. I do think that everyone should THINK about their food at least. I am not going to get into all of the nasty things that meat and dairy does in your body, because frankly, if you have no interest in being vegan it is just a mean thing to do. And like I said, those are my beliefs, not necessarily yours.
If I could answer any questions, make suggestions or provide resources for anyone, I would be more than happy to do that!
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