Drum roll please!
wait for it.... waaaaaaait for it.....
VEGAN! *cheers and applause and happy tummies and all the benefits that come with veganism*
Yepp, I'm going vegan. After a week of eating nothing but fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and other animal-product-free foods, and after watching a few documentaries (have you seen "101 Reasons to Be Vegan"?), I can't think of anything better for 1) me - my digestion, my skin, my energy level and more, and 2) the planet - you know what I'm talking about.
I'm stoked to start this journey. Up until now, I'd always thought by sticking to a vegan diet, I'd have to kiss culinary excitement goodbye and variety and be forced to restrict myself to just baked potatoes and brown rice protein powder. After this week, not only did that misconception's popularity become evident, but so did its invalidity. Plain old beans, rice, veggies, and fruits make the best foundations for flavor combinations and experimentation! I've made condiments like tahini dressing and homemade ketchup, and by doing so, eliminated weird additives and chemicals.
Veganism brings with it a newfound sense of freedom. I no longer worry about carbs, because I know how much my body needs them and I'm eating the right ones. I don't track my food anymore, because I promised myself I'll listen to my body's cravings and not let "too much fat" or "too many carbs" dictate my food choices.
Oh, and I also watched one documentary - "101 Reasons to Be Vegan" - this week, which practically tugged me by the heart into everything a plant-based lifestyle has to offer. No animal cruelty, no more indigestion, no more unintentionally/unknowingly supporting factory farming, and the list goes on. I have yet to watch more documentaries, because I have yet to figure out how to add more hours in the day, but "Forks Over Knives", "Food, Inc.", and "Cowspiracy" are at the top of my must-watch list.
To sum things up, I'm going vegan and I'm proud and pumped and NO I will not annoyingly push a vegan lifestyle on anyone. Your life = your choices. All I can do is set an example that portrays my beliefs and my life and my choices, and if others are curious to follow, then the vegan community and I welcome you with open arms and open hearts!
Questions, comments, ideas, recipes, etc? Want to give veganism a try? Leave a comment below or email me! I'd love to share my experience and any advice I can with you :) happy eating!