Why I Decided To Go Vegan

A few days ago, I had the honor of speaking at the "PETA2 Experience" conference in Los Angeles. The day started early at the new PETA Los Angeles headquarters, with hundreds of kids and young adults filling the first floor of the building. I was so excited that I had been asked to speak about why and how I got involved with PETA and when I made the choice to go vegetarian (and eventually, vegan).

When I was 12, I first made the decision to go vegetarian after a co-star's line "I don't eat anything with a face" suddenly shocked me into reality. I had never thought about it like that before. Up until then, meat had always been something that came from a plastic package at the grocery store, not from a living, breathing animal with a face and a mom. My mother, on the other hand, was resistant. She didn't like the idea of me not eating meat at first. I promised, however, to take my vitamins and to make sure I was eating a nutritious diet -- not just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

The more I read and watched about the meat industry, the more determined I became to keep meat out of my diet. The things I saw in slaughterhouse exposes made me feel sick and I refused to just ignore what I now knew. Sure, I've heard plenty of people say that it's just a lot easier to 'not think about it' and go on eating meat, but I wonder, if those same people were forced to slit a struggling calves throat or throw a live chicken in a pot of boiling water, whether they'd still have the stomach to eat their dinner. Years went by and I liked how I felt in my new vegetarian lifestyle. I didn't get tired after Thanksgiving dinner, or feel gross and greasy like I did when I was eating ground beef. Almost 10 whole years went by before I decided it was time to take it to the next level and choose a solely plant-based diet for myself. About a year ago now, I realized I wanted to go all the way. I had heard a lot of stuff in the news about all of the antibiotics in milk products and how dairy cows are forcibly impregnated to produce milk, and I was ready to give it up. Eggs were never really my favorite, so giving them up never really seemed like a big deal to me. Fortunately, I had a partner to explore this strange new territory with me -- my boyfriend Tommy. Up until then, he had been a full-time carnivore, but he offered to do it with me for the first month while I figured out what to cook and what to order when I went out to eat. I found out that the website where I had been a long time 'street-teamer' had a bunch of great lists up on their website to help newbie vegans.

Now, almost one year later, we're BOTH still vegan, after we figured out how easy it was and how much healthier we felt after we made the change. I was so excited when it was finally my turn to speak and I told my story. The day had already had a lot of highlights, like MTV's Steve-O talking about his journey into veganism and fight for animal rights. I was really impressed. I was even more impressed with how the days ended, when I got to participate in one of the largest "McCruelty" protests EVER! I've always believed in standing up for what you believe in, and getting a chance to share my voice along with hundreds of others against the cruelty of factory-farm conditions was an absolute honor. If you're a young person and interested in learning more about going vegan, check out PETA2.com to order a free vegetarian starter kit!

Be sure to tweet me your thoughts and questions at @Renee_Olstead. If you have something on your mind that you'd like to see me write about, I'd love to hear your ideas! :)

 

 

 

Comments

[robroy777]

07:38 PM on 05/02/2012

I admire your commitment to reduce animal suffering but your health will likely suffer unless you take a lot of vitamin supplements (and there's evidence that these are absorbed less well than vitamins in food).

[greendaygal540]

02:08 PM on 04/14/2012

Let me throw a 'Hell Yeah!' to a vegan sister! (; Though I will say that I take a dietary supplement to make up for a deficiency of B12.

[DrP]

10:40 AM on 04/13/2012

I can understand your "moral and ethical" motivations, but they are not worth destroying your health. As Gary Taubes says in his book "Why we get fat," the moral and ethical questions are valid and deserve attention, but "have no place in scientific and medical discussions" of what constitutes a healthy diet. Many of my family members tried periods of veganism, and the health consequences were so significant (depression, insomnia, obesity, bulimia, chronic fatigue, ADHD, drug addiction) that not one is still vegan - in fact, we have all changed to low-carb, high-fat paleo lifestyles with spectacular results.
So, if this works for you in terms of health, than continue with this plan. However, if your health suffers, then at least try to find a high-fat, low-carb version of the vegan diet (The New Atkins for a New You has menus - they are still too high in carbs for my family).

[Heywood Merton]

03:32 PM on 04/13/2012

If you're harboring the notion that veganism causes drug addiction, I'm afraid that your ability to evaluate evidence of any sort is sorely in question.

[robroy777]

07:40 PM on 05/02/2012

It might cause addiction if the nutritional deficiencies of veganism affect the brain. If humans evolved to eat meat and you suddenly stop eating meat, why wouldn't that affect the brain?

[amateurmommy80]

08:22 AM on 04/14/2012

I would like to see the research that says veganism can lead to any kind of mental illness-- depression, bulimia, ADHD or drug addiction. As for insomia, obesity and fatigue, there are healthy ways to follow a vegan diet and UNHEALTHY ways to eat vegan. It sure sounds like your family members were not ensuring that they got the right nutrition while eating vegan.

[Rachetwench]

08:40 AM on 04/13/2012

I applaud her efforts, but I suspect that tossing the term 'vegan' around makes a lot of people feel better about themselves, and that's all. Sounds like this kid found she didn't hate being a vegetarian - good for her! But, just because you choose not to eat meat doesn't mean you're going to make an impact on the economic or environmental health of the planet. And having PETA as your sponsor certainly won't help - they destroy nearly 98% of the animals they claim to be 'saving' - but PETA has never been far from the handout line at Hyprocrisy Central, either.

Just FYI: "Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only. Another form, environmental veganism, rejects the use of animal products on the premise that the industrial practice is environmentally damaging and unsustainable." (From Wikipedia)

[Cody30]

07:58 AM on 04/13/2012

It is easy to go meat free, and you really do feel better once you detox.Due to population and the demand for cheap food the feed lots will never go away.People want the dollar menu foods,and don't care what it took to get that food to their bag or plate.

Soylent green anyone?

[Rachetwench]

08:41 AM on 04/13/2012

If we could eat the stupid we could eliminate starvation on this planet. ;-)

[Sunie Dae]

09:41 PM on 04/15/2012

But... but... noooooo... we can't do that because you are what you eat. ;)

[talus16]

05:34 AM on 04/13/2012

I've been vegan and oil free for a year now. At 57 my blood pressure was beginning to flucuate and since there's a history in my family, I thought it was time to act. I feel liberated actually, because I don't have to think about what I consume in the the course of a day in terms of calories, sugar, salt or fat. I eat as much as I want and enjoy the process once again. It's not hard - you just have to be mindful as does anyone who wants to stay away from processed and fast food. My family gives me a hard time, but they're all fat and struggling with medical issues that I don't have. Ditto a few of my friends....most however, are respectful of my choices. I have alot of respect for this young lady's thoughfulness and decisions at such a young age.....she'll do well in life.

[Rachetwench]

08:42 AM on 04/13/2012

Don't you mean vegetarian?

"Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only. Another form, environmental veganism, rejects the use of animal products on the premise that the industrial practice is environmentally damaging and unsustainable."

[talus16]

06:03 PM on 04/14/2012

No, I am vegan. I say what I mean and mean what I say. But thanks anyway for your definitions.

[Greg BIS]

11:46 PM on 04/25/2012

Also a vegan. No animal was raised for the sole purpose to die today for my plate, my clothes, my soap, cleaners or drink from starbucks. And I am plenty ok and healthy with that. :)

It isn't really that hard to understand.

[khanti]

03:18 AM on 04/13/2012

Sir Paul MacCartney vegetarian message.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1105032286593.13882.1850351082&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1463619571051&set=a.1105032286593.13882.1850351082&type=3&theater

[VasuMurti]

12:25 AM on 04/13/2012

I'm thinking PETA must be sending out thousands of "Vegetarian Starter Kits" per day, week, or month. But some persons act like they've never encountered a vegetarian before... even in "blue" states like California!

[Ashley Charron]

11:03 PM on 04/12/2012

For the life of me, I don't understand why people on both sides of the spectrum feel the need to vehemently defend their lifestyle/diet choice and/or try and convert others. We all have the choice to live how we choose. Everything we do has impacts and consequences. Respect others for their personal choices. It's that simple.

[VasuMurti]

12:27 AM on 04/13/2012

Yes, but what if one's "lifestyle choice" infringes upon someone else's rights? Many vegetarians and vegans, for example, equate meat-eating with cannibalism. Would you "respect others for their personal choices" if they choose cannibalism?

[Tabre]

03:06 AM on 04/13/2012

Only if a choice for cannibalism is known so I can steer clear of them when they are hungry!

[TomP100]

09:59 AM on 04/13/2012

Equating eating the meat of another species with cannibalism is not a rational position. You cannot have a productive discussion with someone who holds such a position.

[Sunie Dae]

09:37 PM on 04/15/2012

I know riiight!?

[jenniferkizzy]

05:33 PM on 04/12/2012

accepting other's for who or what they even are mean's you are in tune with humanity not accepting human being's for or what they eat mean's you have a social problem

[kcrom]

03:43 PM on 04/12/2012

So darn good!

[BRlongview]

03:04 PM on 04/12/2012

I recently decided to go vegan for a number of reasons. It's amazing to me how defensive people get in discussions of veganism. And I'm not talking about the vegans themselves. Many of the friends I've told about my new lifestyle have taken the opportunity to lash back with insults and warnings. "You're being ridiculous," "Humans are naturally omnivores" (which I agree with), and "You'll never get enough protein" (I was already a thin guy). On some level, I'm sure the comments come from a place of concern. They're my friends. They want me to be healthy. But on another level, it seems like my lifestyle choice actually THREATENS them. I certainly don't preach. I don't try to "convert" people, so why would they protest?

[Karen Aherne]

04:08 PM on 04/12/2012

I hear the same things. People keep telling me that I am "too thin" now. LOL! I am FAR from too thin! I think it's jealousy sometimes. They wish they could do it but are too lazy.

[Michelle Rich1974]

01:49 PM on 04/17/2012

Right? These comments usually come from those friends and family members who are unhealthy, overweight, obese... We are not too skinny, we are NORMAL. Perception of "average weight" in America has changed in the age of processed food and overconsumption.

[Thaag Tidestalker]

08:19 AM on 04/12/2012

Nutrition, like religion, can't be cookie-cuttered. I'm glad the author is enjoying her vegan diet and that it's easy on her sense of morals. I have hunted, fished, and helped slaughter a farm animal that I later also helped eat. I don't have a problem. I also eat cows because I wish to help protect large predators: were we to leave cattle on their own again, large predators would experience a huge population spike and that is a recipe for 2 things: disease, and sudden starvation once they run out of helpless cattle.

[karen1p]

01:25 AM on 04/12/2012

I ate vegetarian in college because the only thing palatable in the dorm cafeteria was the salad bar....and was my lightest weight ever for my frame. I have now turned 50 and have again decided that I am giving up meat. My decision to get back to a vegetarian diet has been a great thing for the amount of stress in my life right now. It seems that eating vegetarian is so much better for digestion! Don't know if I could go vegan, but I am sure glad that I don't eat items with faces and Mommys anymore.

[ViktorN]

12:48 AM on 04/12/2012

Veganism and vegetarianism don't have a significant impact on life expectancy. Most of us are going to die between the ages of 70 - 90. Eat what you want.