Our Vegan Journey

I'm entering, along with my 3 daughters and 1 son, week number 3 of a Vegetarian (Vegan) life. We took this on for a number of reasons, and I'd like to share those reasons, I hope you will read further.

1. To reduce the suffering of animals. You probably don’t want to hear about the horrific treatment of animals that are raised for food, even before they are slaughtered for our benefit. There are great amounts of suffering involved, and by cutting out meat, you are reducing your involvment of suffering upon animals. Wish to learn more? Read more here.

2. To help the environment. There are actually numerous ways that the meat industry harms the environment, from a waste of our resources (animals raised for food eat enough grain to feed the world), to a waste of fuel, to the pollution caused by their waste matter, and much more. Read more here.

3. To lose weight and become a healthier person. While as a vegetarian, we can eat extremely unhealthy foods and actually gain more weight. But if we incorporate healthy eating habits the weight can shed off of us and our health will greatly improve. A great book to read to get a better grasp on how and why a vegetarian lifestyle will increase your wellbeing and shed weight is "Eating to Live" to see more about this book click here.

4. Reduce chances of food poisoning. Food poisoning gets millions of people each year — and many of them from meat, which is a good breeding ground for harmful bacteria, especially if not stored, prepared or cooked exactly right. Cut out meat and you lower your risk of food poisoning (especially if you also cut out eggs and dairy, but that’s optional).


Do you want to learn more on how to become a Vegetarian? I have some tips that will make your transition easier.

1. Have a good reason(s). If you become a vegetarian just because someone else is doing it, or just for fun you most likely will not stick with the plan. Not because it's hard to stick to, rather a new lifestyle or habit takes motivation. It's something you really need to believe in, in order to stick it out...so have good reasons or convictions.

2. Study. Before you make the switcheroo, read up and study as much information that you can. Just like other new habits, you must read to understand and believe. There are tons of websites out there that you can access information on, you can borrow books from a friend, or from the library. A great place to start is at http://www.goveg.com/

3. Find good recipes. Collecting recipes that sound good or are a variance of the real thing will help you stay committed to your new life. No need to go out and buy a bunch of cookbooks...well if you want to that's ok too, but you can find recipes on the web or in books at the library. A few places I go to get some good recipes are goveg.com or http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/ and http://www.vegsource.com/

4. No red meat. If you can't give all, then start with removing red meat from your daily diet. Try eating no red meat, or just replacing one of your weekly meals with a vegetarian meal. And gradually work up to cutting all animal proteins.

5. Go all the way if it's at all possible. When I decided to become Vegan, I went all in. I'm not one that likes to just sit and slowly work on something...if you do that's ok too. While this takes a little more determination than the gradual solution, it’s not that hard, really. It should only take a few days to get used to it, and then you’ll have very little trouble after that. The only issues you’ll have to work out, once you’re used to going without meat, are things like eating out, eating at others’ houses, and other similar issues.

6. Avoid Junk food. you can be a vegetarian and be very unhealthy, by eating way too much junk. Being a vegetarian is not a license to eat junk food. Try to stick with fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, soy protein, low-fat dairy and other nutritious foods for the most part.

7. Cook ahead. Another problem is when we don’t have any vegetarian food ready to eat, and so we resort to whatever is easiest (if we don’t feel like eating or are too hungry to wait). Instead, you could cook a big pot of vegetarian chili or soup or something, and have it in the fridge for when you’re hungry and don’t have time to cook. I just cooked a huge pot of bean soup...it turned out WONDERFUL. I have left overs of soup and rice....and can heat them up if I'm feeling munchie or whatever.

8. Have fun. Most of all, don’t make becoming a vegetarian be a restrictive, grueling ordeal. If you feel like you’re depriving yourself, you won’t last long. But if you feel like you’re doing something good, and trying out some great-tasting food, you’ll stick with it for much longer...hopefully for a lifetime. Now get out there and have fun and be healthy!!!!!

Some great sites to visit and learn more:

http://www.goveg.com/

http://www.vegsource.com/

http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/03/12/how-to-become-a-vegetarian/

If you liked this article, please leave a comment and let me know.