Hippie Chick

January 9, 2014. That's the day my new life began. I think that there are many new beginnings in ones life but this particular new beginning has been cause for lots of conversation, arguments, unintentionally hurt feelings and surprisingly, despite all the conversation, much confusion and misunderstanding.

January 9, 2014 I decided to stop my consumption of meat and animal by products. That day is so funny to me because for dinner I ate at Chick Fil A and was planning a weekend sushi date. Later that night I watched a youtube show that my friend asked me to watch and just watch it just to learn about why he lives the way he does. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4&feature=youtube_gdata_play
Watch it if you want or don't watch it if you don't want to. Just know that there are some things you will see that you can never unsee and some things you learn that you can never unlearn. A quick summary of the video: it outlines the moral and health reasons to go vegan with video footage of the cruelty with which animals raised for milk, eggs and meat are treated with. I am so grateful to have watched this video because it has literally changed my life.

After watching this video I turned to my husband with a look of horror and anguish on my face. I burst into tears and buried my face in his chest. He just held me and said, "Do you want to go empty out the fridge of our animal by products?" Immediately I got up and did just that. Yes, this was a very quick and rash decision. I don't regret it.

The following days and weeks have been a mixture of this transition being easy and very difficult. I go through phases of wanting nothing but a extra cheesy pizza or a hot dog or whipped cream or frozen yogurt.. I still think that meat tastes delicious and I love omelets and milkshakes... but I'm not only doing this because I was shocked into it. It may have been the initial reason behind this choice but since changing my eating habits I have done much research in regards to the effects of a vegan lifestyle on ones health and the environment.

Yes, I love animals and do not want to participate in cruelty and suffering just because I think they taste good..... but there are so many health reasons behind going vegan! There is nothing you can get from eating meat, dairy and eggs that you can't get from a whole foods, plant based diet. (Unless we're talking about heart disease and bad cholesterol.) Here's a very helpful link that answered a lot of questions about the health of a vegan lifestyle. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=30gEiweaAVQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D30gEiweaAVQ

The number one thing that people say to a vegan is "Where do you get your protein?" Where do I get my protein? Where do I get my calcium? Where do I get my iron? Where do I get any of the nutrients that I need to live and be healthy cause we all know that fruits and vegetables have no protein or calcium or iron in them at all. (I'm sorry for the smart ass remark but it's what runs through my head every time I'm asked this question.)

Calcium: broccoli, any of the 7 dairy milk substitutes, kale, lentils, pinto beans, quinoa, brussel sprouts, tofu, chickpeas

Iron: edamame, lentils, quinoa, tofu, spirulina, pumpkin seeds, dried peaches, prune juice

Protein: Nuts, legumes, grains, tofu, fruits, vegetables

B12: fortified milks, nutritional yeast, multivitamins

Clearly, I will not be lacking in my nutrition so no need to worry about my health. It's no big secret that people don't generally eat the right amounts of fruits and vegetables, I know I didn't use to. It's also no secret that fruits and vegetables are good for you. So why are people so concerned with where I get my nutrition? You didn't used to care about my nutrient intake before I was vegan.. I'm still waiting for an answer because I don't know.

I've had people, upon hearing that I was going vegan, say to me that it was the dumbest thing I could ever do and I was going to be missing out on SO MANY foods that give me SO MANY necessary nutrients... I've been shocked at the things some people have said to me and all I said was that I'm changing my eating habits.... I am choosing a different diet. That's it. I'm not revealing a dark and twisted secret. I am making new choices as to the things that I put in my body. I know that my thoughts and opinions may seem controversial or strange to some. Just because someone thinks or acts differently than you do does not give anyone the right to judge and think that that person is not capable of being a smart and independent individual who can take information, process it and make decisions based on their own thoughts and convictions.

I don't want to come across as some bitter, plant eating hippie. I have only been eating vegan for a month so I do know what I thought of vegans and vegetarians before I chose it for myself. Please feel free to ask me questions because I really do enjoy helping people understand what I do and/or why I do it.

I understand very well that this is not a life choice for everyone. I know very well that in some areas of the world a vegan diet is not even an option. I don't want to make people feel like I'm trying to convert them to veganism. I hope this post has answered some questions you have as to why I do what I do and how I came to my conclusion.