Veganism is not for everyone

Veganism has become a popular lifestyle. You are helping your community become cleaner by making the first step, a vegan meal. Veganism is not for everyone, some people love meat and that is their story, their lifestyle. If you have considered becoming vegan you should give it a try! Cooking is a lot of fun when you are making some delicious food that you know is harming no one. 

Veganism has become a popular lifestyle. You are helping your community become cleaner by making the first step, a vegan meal. Veganism is not for everyone, some people love meat and that is their story, their lifestyle. If you have considered becoming vegan you should give it a try! Cooking is a lot of fun when you are making some delicious food that you know is harming no one. 

When I was a junior in high school I watched the controversial film Food Inc. and became obsessed with my animal product intake. 

I made a decision that would lead me to an unexpected rollercoaster. That day I became vegan, according to my knowledge at least. 

The morning after I told my mom that I had decided to become vegan, that it was my choice and that it would make a difference, a tiny one at least.

Her reaction was not what I expected. She yelled at me saying it was unhealthy, that as a teen you need ‘protein’ to grow. She said that there was no need to cut animal products completely. I was shocked. I had made a decision that could potentially change my life, my lifestyle. At the moment I thought of her as ignorant but she is my mom. She is magical and knows everything somehow, she must be right I thought.

The first couple days were rough since I did not prep myself. I ate corn with seasoning, lay chips, and Oreos. 

Yes, I became a successful vegan for a while, but I was eating more junk than I was before. Veganism is not for everyone. It requires a lot of cooking and planning. You can replace all animal products, but that means you have to cook! I was not ready, I was unhealthy and tired all of the time. I had no source of energy. I became sick and could only drink, so I was a fan of fruit smoothies for that entire week. I was vegan, unhealthy yet skinnier? Since I was abstaining from red meat, I lost some weight. It was a pro at the time but I was feeling so weak, it was not worth it. 

As I moved on from sickness I slowly began eating animal products again. I did not put into consideration that it was my body that I was messing with. I could not intake any dairy products for a while, meat seemed okay. As I was trying to get back to my old diet, my body could not handle it. It was not used to the meat, I hated the texture of it and how heavy it made me feel. I was not ready to be vegan but I was not ready for my old diet either.

I began to wonder because there is a greater population of people who are lactose intolerant. In translation, I don’t need dairy! There are plenty of people who are vegetarian, so I started over as one. 

I wanted to be vegan, I would get there soon enough. I became vegetarian for quite a while and cut meat completely. Meat is not the only protein source! Quinoa, soy and garbanzo beans are some of my favorite proteins. I don’t know if ill ever be the vegan I want to be, but I’m trying and that is enough for me. 

For anyone who would like to try veganism, I say go for it! Plan ahead, slowly cut meat and dairy. Give yourself time and make sure you are ready to jump in. Don’t be like me and become vegan in one day. It does not work unless you can afford all of the replacement items on one grocery trip.  

Also, people will make fun of you and ask you where you are getting your protein. Get used to it, because there will always be someone in the table making meat jokes. 

The vegan community is growing and is so beautiful. People get together and try new recipes, they attend new vegan cuisine restaurants. It is a beautiful healthy lifestyle, plus you are helping the environment, why not try?