I was raised as an omnivore. In my family, we ate meat with every meal, and dairy was a staple in our refrigerator. Growing up, I didn’t give much thought to what was on my plate because many people I knew ate the same way. However, I do recall a time as a small child when our family had Chinese take-out for dinner. I reached for a packet of sauce to put on my food. I was just learning how to read, and I saw that the package said “duck sauce.” Horrified, I put it back because I immediately thought of Daffy Duck, and I didn’t want to eat him. From that day on, I always chose soy sauce.
How My Diet Contradicted My Views
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For as long as I could remember, I have always loved animals. I have pets, and they are like family to me. Whenever I heard about people hunting lions and elephants for sport, I became outraged. Watching funny videos and GIFs of adorable baby animals always makes my day, and some days I wished I could get away and swim with the dolphins. Even though I was against animal cruelty, my diet, however, proved to be hypocritical. When reality sets in, you realize that your dinner isn’t just dinner, but was a life.
My dad grew up on a farm, and he would tell stories about raising chickens and pigs for food. I remember asking him if he ever got attached to any of the animals. He told me no that he did not see them as pets; he saw them as food. For a long time, I, too, had that same mindset.
The Beginning of My Vegan Journey
My nephew is responsible for the drastic change in my lifestyle. One day he sent me a text urging me to watch Vegucated, a documentary that followed the lives of three people from different walks of life as they went vegan for six weeks. My nephew had already been a vegetarian for six months and wanted the family to do the same. Just to humor him, I agreed to look at it.
My daughter and I watched the movie together later that evening. After learning how animals suffered at the hands of cruel farming factory practices, I decided that I no longer wanted to eat meat. At the time, I had some chicken baking in the oven while we were watching the movie, and by the time it was over, I chose to eat only vegetables and rice for dinner that night.
The Disconnection We Have With Our Food Supply
Although many of us are aware of where our food comes from, there is a huge gap between what we see displayed in the meat section in the supermarkets and what really goes on behind the scenes. When there is a T.V.commercial showing a happy talking cow who tries to persuade you to try her brand of milk, we are presented with an illusion of how our food is obtained. Whenever we order barbecued ribs from a restaurant, we don’t think of it as being part of a cow or a pig, we just simply think of it as a rack of barbecued ribs. That shows how out of touch we are with nature.
Taking The Plunge
Before removing animal products from my diet, I ate mostly chicken and turkey. Sometimes I would eat meals prepared with beef, such as burgers, pepper steak, beef patties, and oxtail. I ate pork occasionally, usually whenever I went out to eat, or during the holidays. I have never been a fan of fish or seafood. Also, I never ate lamb chops, duck, or exotic meats such as elk, bison, or buffalo, nor was I ever interested in doing so.
I dove into this new lifestyle headfirst; It was a no brainer for me. I was always intrigued about becoming a vegetarian, but I didn’t know how to go about it. When I envisioned my future self at her best, she was a woman who did not consume meat.
Mostly Vegan
Originally, I intended to become a vegetarian, not to transition to a vegan diet. Eliminating meat was one thing, but getting rid of dairy and eggs meant I could no longer indulge in certain foods. I did not eat eggs (actually, I hated them), but I loved cakes, pies, donuts, and other pastries, and they were often prepared with them.
My biggest weakness was dairy, and I didn’t plan to, nor did I want to give it up, so I adopted a mostly vegan diet. However, it did not last long because my body could no longer tolerate my favorite foods such as pizza, ice cream, and most cheeses. Never in a million years did I think that I would stop eating dairy. Giving it up actually wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. Besides, learning about animal cruelty in the dairy industry gave me the extra push I needed to eliminate it from my diet.
Swapping out animal-based products for vegan alternatives wasn’t as challenging as I assumed it would be. I exchanged the meat with chickpeas, lentils, and beans. Dairy milk was replaced with the almond and hemp version. Butter and yogurt were swapped with their plant-based counterparts. Imagine my surprise when I also discovered that there were vegan alternatives to cheese, pizza, cookies, burgers, and ice cream.
Not Very Satisfying At First
I’ll be totally honest, my new diet was bland at first. Breakfast was the most satisfying meal of the day and usually consisted of either cereal, an English muffin with fruit and non-dairy yogurt. On the weekends, I would eat vegan pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal. However, lunch and dinner lacked in variety and would contain steamed vegetables, plant-based protein, and either rice or quinoa. I eventually became bored with the food I was eating, but I was determined to see this through. I went on YouTube and Pinterest and found some new recipes to shake things up. Also, I learned how to veganize my favorite traditional and cultural meals and even discovered some new seasonings and spices.
At the beginning of my journey, I experimented with tofu, seitan, tempeh, texturized vegetable protein (TVP), and other plant-based meat alternatives. I was concerned about consuming too much soy, so I stopped using them after six months. However, occasionally I will indulge in them when I order take-out.
Other Changes I Made To My Diet
I added more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to my diet. Once I started drinking smoothies, fast food quickly became a thing of the past. Although many restaurant chains are starting to offer plant-based alternatives, there is the possibility of cross-contamination with meat during food preparation. Also, foods that are naturally supposed to be vegan, such as french fries, are often prepared with lard or beef flavoring. Need not to mention that even though they offer plant-based burgers, they never have the vegan cheese to go with it.
Going Out To Eat
Eating out can sometimes prove to be a challenge. I live in New York, where there are plenty of vegan restaurants; some even offer vegan and vegetarian options. However, many restaurants are not vegan friendly. I usually avoid those places, but when you are out with family or friends, unfortunately, they may choose those to eat at those establishments. I have learned to look at the menu and study it ahead of time. I also ask for any substitutes or make adjustments to my meal that is best suited to my needs. In some cases, I either have to eat before I leave the house or keep some snacks handy.
Applying My Vegan Diet to Other Aspects of My Life
Veganism isn’t only about what you eat; it also extends to other areas of your life. Excited about my transition to a vegan diet, I wanted to change the products that I consumed. The first issue I wanted to address was my wardrobe and accessories. I was relieved that I didn’t own any clothes made with animal products, but my bags and shoes were leather. I decided to keep them but vowed that going forward, I wouldn’t buy anything made from silk, wool, feathers, fur, or leather. I kept good with that promise so far.
Next up was my makeup stash. I was delighted to discover that the majority of my makeup was cruelty-free. Then there were also beauty, wellness, and household products that I wanted to swap as well. Over time, as they ran out, I replaced them with cruelty-free and vegan alternatives.
Reactions From Others About My Vegan Diet
I’m sure that my transformation may have surprised those around me because it happened so suddenly. I gave no warning, I just went ahead and did it. I have been met with mixed reactions from others when I disclose that I follow a vegan diet. Some are curious about it, and ask questions, while others oppose and try to convince me that I need to eat meat. Then there are those who may not agree with my decision, but they respect it.
My family and friends have been supportive of my transition to veganism. They consider my diet whenever we go out to eat. Also, my aunt makes delicious vegan meals whenever she hosts Thanksgiving dinner. While my close friends are not vegan, they have either given me positive feedback or expressed interest.
How Going Vegan Has Impacted Me
Veganism has had a significant impact on many areas of my life. I now view the world through a different lens. My compassion for all animals has helped me show more kindness for myself and others. Standing firm in my beliefs about veganism has helped me to stick to other principles that I hold dear to me. Also, I have learned how disciplined I can be by staying consistent with my diet.
I’ve noticed a shift in my mindset. I look forward to each day and am determined to make it better than the last. My outlook on life has become more positive and I feel optimistic about the future.
I am more conscious of what I eat and how certain foods affect my energy levels and mood. For example, eating a delicious pitaya bowl with lots of mangoes brings me so much joy. When I have a salad, I feel refreshed and energetic, while eating a heavy meal makes me feel sluggish.
Going vegan has also changed the lives of some of those around me. My sister and daughter, who follow mostly pescetarian diets, now implement more plant-based meals in their diets. They also have expressed the desire to go vegan or vegetarian one day.
Final Thoughts
This journey has been and continues to be an amazing ride. Despite the challenges that appeared along the way, overcoming them made the experience bittersweet. For me, veganism is not some bandwagon that I hopped on; it is about me discovering a newfound connection with nature. It sparked my knowledge of self. Going vegan was the best decision I made, and I haven’t looked back since. The only regret I have is that I didn’t do it sooner.
Have you made the transition to a vegan diet? If so, I would love to hear about your experience in the comments.
Thank you for reading.
Yours Truly,
Tracy
