I've always been a cheese lover. My high school boyfriend asked me to prom by offering me a one pound block of cheddar cheese and a single tulip. Needless to say I accepted. It never crossed my mind that I would choose to give up all the creamy deliciousness of my favorite food to become a vegan, but here I am, meat, cheese and dairy-product free.
It all started one night when I was browsing Netflix. I came across a nutrition documentary called Forks Over Knives. I'd recommend it to anyone. Forks Over Knives suggests that animal products lead to chronic illnesses. It said I'd feel better physically and mentally and that I'd get sick less often. Who can argue with that? I decided to give it a try. The first day of my vegan diet was, ironically, Thanksgiving, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. In fact, it hasn't been hard at all.
Cutting out meat was easy, I'd only ever eaten it at restaurants or barbeques and while I missed cheese, the documentary was right, I did feel better. Instead of putting cheese on my sandwiches, I add avocado which is just as creamy and filling. A few months after the switch I got a cold but it went away after a day or two, and it was the most comfortable cold I'd ever had (how many times have you heard that?!). My mind didn't feel cloudy and my nose wasn't as congested or runny. Overall, I just feel better.
But I call myself a mostly vegan for a reason. I decided to become a vegan for health reasons and I promised myself I wasn't going to feel bad if I slipped up or changed my mind. Eating is a social thing and I love to make dinner or go out with my friends. I know that when I eat out there's going to be butter and cheese and all sorts of yummy things snuck into my food, and that's ok. I gave myself two exceptions, sushi (I love sushi) and half and half for my morning coffee. As time went on I realized I didn't want a lot of animal products. When I had a slice of pizza with cheese on it, I felt heavy and uncomfortable. After a while the half and the half in my coffee felt like too much and I switched to coconut milk. I never needed to hold myself accountable, my body acclimated to the switch, and I liked it.
When I first became a vegan I was worried about letting people know. I knew my family and friends would be supportive but it was the new people I was worried about; the cute boy on our first dinner date, going out with new co-workers. I thought they'd think I was high-maintenance or just plain crazy. But that hasn't been the case. The word "vegan" has some pretty strong connotations, but we're not all tree-hugging, paint-throwing, fanatical activists. I just feel better cutting some foods out.
It's about listening to my body and being healthy, if I eat butter or cheese one night, who cares?
I haven't met a lot of other mostly-vegans. Do you know a mostly vegan? What do you think? Willing to give it a try? Comment below.
I really dislike self-righteousness. Don't you think that YOU might be one of the reasons why more people are not becoming vegan?! People tend to avoid us because they are afraid of being judged! And seeing some comments below, they are no wrong. Isn't veganism about love and acceptance? Try to have some love and understanding for fellow human species too otherwise you are getting it wrong!
If your kid draws a picture for you, you don't say "I will not accept it; you went over the lines here and there"? No! It is the effort that counts! Embrace it!
I love when people try all in the pursuit of making their lives healthier, our planet greener, and our consciousness cleaner.
Think of all of the animals that did not die because someone chose cheese instead of meat and the animals that did not suffer at all because someone chose avocado instead of aforementioned cheese! I look at them as vegans-in-the-making. And, a lot of the times eventually they become vegetarians or vegans.
It would be beautiful if everyone was vegan but it is not the reality of today so fellow vegetarians and vegans should stop discouraging people and be happy that yet another person wants to make a difference, whether their reasons.
Vegans! Stop preaching! Stop judging! Lead by example!
The biggest surprise in giving up that one last meat was how enjoyable and satisfying vegan sushi is. I can still eat with my pals, and I get just as much sense pleasure from my avocado-and-whatever sushi as they get from their salmon. It hits the pleasure center of my brain just as well as the fish sushi ever did. It's just weird how people want to appropriate the vegan label when they're not even vegetarians. It's not like it's cool to be either of those things -- mostly we're the only ones we know who don't eat meat, much less eggs and dairy, and mostly the people we do know think we're just doing it to inconvenience them.
It took about 4-5 days for me to start to feel a big change. After about 11-12 days it was amazing. I am now 7 months into my new lifestyle and couldn't be more pleased with how I feel physically and mentally.
I would say that I am also a "Mostly Vegan.". Why? I eat Greek yogurt every morning.
Challenges-
The word "Vegan" does come with a stereotype. I have spent way too much time trying to explain and sometimes justify my choices. It drives me nuts when someone says "oh ya, you can't eat that can you?". I simply say "sure, I can eat anything I want. I just do not want or choose to eat it."
I dine with clients and coworkers often. Ordering can draw unwanted attention which can lead to unwanted questions. "Are you on a diet, are you a vegetarian, are you diabetic, etc." It remains a challenge.
Regards,
Michael from Arizona
I loved being a vegan, but after being diagnosed with Celiac and going gluten free, after 6 months I gave up veganism. It was because way too stressful for me personally. I know some that take on the vegan/gf diet an do it well, but for me, it was too much.
"Humanity's true moral test, its fundamental test consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals. And in this respect humankind has suffered a fundamental debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it." Milan Kundera
Oh, I don't know - maybe the cow who has her milk and her babies stolen - you know, the babies who either end up like their mother (enslaved females) or as veal calves (male calves) simply to satiate your ever-so-edgy (yawn) love of cheese? All of them end up being exploited, abused and slaughtered in the end.
Please don't call yourself a vegan. Unless, of course, you want to call yourself a "Vegan of Convenience" - or something to that effect - something which relays the notion that it's more of a momentary, hipster thing. It's a pity that compassion for animals plays not part in your choice to eat a plant-based diet. Guess "compassion" just isn't hip enough, huh?
your Uncle,
Suhail
My philosophy is that every bit counts. If I get a salad with blue cheese in it, I'm not going to stress about it, but I'll try to eat the way I feel is more ethical (and healthier) when I can!
It sure does result in confusion though when I have friends who visit and see my vegan fake-cheese and soy milk...