veg·an: /ˈvē-gən / A person who does not eat or use animal products.
I am a vegan. Choosing to live as a vegan means that I am choosing to live a healthy life, one that is free of animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering and that also supports a healthy planet. But by choosing to live my life this way, I am constantly being questioned about my lifestyle, with everything from what foods do I eat, to why did I choose to become vegan in the first place. While some people may feel overwhelmed with what may feel like scrutiny, or shy away from answering questions, I feel that most people are simply curious about veganism and just want to learn more. I welcome these questions, and I hope that my answers can help them see that veganism isn't a fad, that it can be super healthy (and delicious!), and that it isn't weird at all.
My personal journey to becoming vegan started in my childhood. I have always loved animals, great and small, and had many pets growing up. As a girl scout, I learned about nature, recycling, and what we can do to help our planet. Spending summers camping and hiking with my family further developed my love for nature and the planet. I stopped eating red meat and pork when I was a teenager, for two reasons: I never liked the taste, and I didn't like the way I felt after eating it (mentally and physically). By my early twenties, I began learning much more about animal cruelty and factory farming, and became a pescatarian, then a vegetarian. I always joked that I could never give up cheese and become a fully fledged vegan, but after years of continuing research, and progressively worse lactose-intolerance, as well as a family history of cancers, heart disease, and diabetes, I took the plunge. On January 1st, 2011, I made a New Year's Resolution to become vegan, and have been ever since.
Being vegan makes me feel happy, healthy, and wholesome. I know that I am not intentionally hurting any animals, and I am making as little an impact on the planet as I possibly can. I hope that by sharing my story with you, as well as a few tasty recipes (which can be seen in my book), I can help you to better understand veganism, and maybe even help you start your own journey, too.
My personal journey to becoming vegan started in my childhood. I have always loved animals, great and small, and had many pets growing up. As a girl scout, I learned about nature, recycling, and what we can do to help our planet. Spending summers camping and hiking with my family further developed my love for nature and the planet. I stopped eating red meat and pork when I was a teenager, for two reasons: I never liked the taste, and I didn't like the way I felt after eating it (mentally and physically). By my early twenties, I began learning much more about animal cruelty and factory farming, and became a pescatarian, then a vegetarian. I always joked that I could never give up cheese and become a fully fledged vegan, but after years of continuing research, and progressively worse lactose-intolerance, as well as a family history of cancers, heart disease, and diabetes, I took the plunge. On January 1st, 2011, I made a New Year's Resolution to become vegan, and have been ever since.
Being vegan makes me feel happy, healthy, and wholesome. I know that I am not intentionally hurting any animals, and I am making as little an impact on the planet as I possibly can. I hope that by sharing my story with you, as well as a few tasty recipes (which can be seen in my book), I can help you to better understand veganism, and maybe even help you start your own journey, too.