Adventures in Veganism?

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What is Veganism? At the heart of Veganism is compassion, it is simply an attempt to reduce the suffering of animals. Vegan diets are therefore derived entirely from fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains and other wholesome non-animal products Recently I have been playing with the thought of becoming Vegan, WHAT!? I know, I know. This new thought isn’t necessarily thrilling for my meat-loving counterpart, but nonetheless, I have his support and feel compelled to try this kinder, healthier lifestyle change. Initially my thoughts about becoming Vegan were inspired by my love for animals, and well, all living things; Perhaps it started when Drew and I volunteered our time and fell in love with CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm back in college. But the thing is, I know of many animal lovers, my mom especially, who aren’t Vegan, so I figured I was just one of them too. Then I started to realize that the thoughts I had before eating my meaty meals were no longer those of excitement or craving, I just felt plain bad. For the longest time I had been ignoring these thoughts so that I didn’t have to deal with the implications of choosing to be different. A few reasons why I resisted acknowledging my desire to embark on a Vegan adventure: 1. I didn’t want to have rules around what I could or could not eat. Society already puts all of this “good food, bad food” pressure on us, why would I want to add to it? 2. What would people think? How would I explain this to them? 3. Drew is pretty much NOT Vegan, meaning that this sort of change wouldn’t necessarily be convenient. 4. I am very active and need my meat, I surely can’t get the Protein I need from a Vegan lifestyle… right? 5. The meat is already prepared to be eaten, so I’m not really making a difference by eating it or not… ? After allowing these excuses and fears to hold me back for quite sometime, I have been finding myself surrounded by more and more people who have made the shift to Veganism themselves. One of the keys that I have been told by all of them is to make sure to educate yourself, or should I say “Vegucate” yourself, to make for a smooth and healthy transition.

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A few reasons not to listen to my anti-Vegan thoughts noted above: 1. With all of the options out there for living a healthy Vegan lifestyle full of substance and variety, I don’t have to see this change as restrictive, I can more so see it as an adventure in getting nourished in a different way. 2. Some people may not understand, but that’s ok, as long as I understand why I am making this change. We all have a responsibility to listen to our own souls and each of us desires something different and that’s a good thing. 3. Many Vegan foods are subtly Vegan, meaning non-Vegans may not even notice the difference, yay! But by choosing to be Vegan I don’t expect everyone around me to become Vegan as well, so if Drew wants to cook up a meaty dish, that is his choice, and I am here to support his needs just as much as he supports mine.

4. Did you know that gorillas, buffalos and elephants, the 3 strongest animals in the world, are strictly plant eaters? A gorilla can pick up 2,000kg, nearly 10 times their body weight! Lesson: You can get all of the Protein you need with out eating anything derived from animals

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Choosing a vegan diet is a daily demonstration of compassion for all animals, some people may care for animals in other ways, while others may choose to do so through their food choices. "Don't do nothing because you can't do everything. Do something. Anything."- Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. I may be 1 small person, but we have to believe that every little thing each of us does makes a big difference, this is what gives our existence meaning! Becoming Vegan is just another way that I can help make a positive difference in this world and in the life of some adorable fuzzy little chicks.

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My friend Lisa, who has just recently celebrated her 3-year Veganniversary, has a awesome blog, called Udderly Vegan, where she shares her insights on living a Vegan lifestyle and also some incredible looking recipes! Another one of my favorite blogs for recipes and such, which was recommend to me by Lisa, is Alicia Silverstone‘s The Kind Life. It’s all about about living your healthiest and kindest life to the fullest, while taking care of mama Earth at the same time! On my list of things to make next is The Black Bean, Sweet Potato and Tempeh Burger, yum!

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As I continue to “Vegucate” myself I am planning to watch these 2 Netflix Documentaries, Vegucated and Forks Over Knives, as well as reading Alicia Silverstone‘s book The Kind Diet. I have also heard that a Vitamix Blender is the best tool a Vegan can buy. And if you find yourself in LA, wanting to try some deliciously Vegan chow spots, here are some of my faves: 1. Mendocino Farms: I wrote about this incredible place in a previous post, Favorite Things to do on Fairfax Avenue. While I am still dealing with the fact that my all-time favorite sandwich, the Not So Fried, isn’t Vegan… 🙁 the Vegan Schawarma is certainly a close second, AND I can sub in a Vegan option to help make my Not So Fried Vegan-friendly! 2. Veggie Grill: It’s fun to trick people who aren’t Vegan or Vegetarian by not telling them that everything is made out of vegetables until after they’ve eaten their Carne Asada Sandwich or Buffalo Bomber Burger (Drew is addicted to this one). Everyone is always blown away! I LOVE the Crispy “Chickin” Plate with a side of their amazing Mac-n-Cheese.

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LoCALI: We haven’t actually been here yet, but our friends went and highly recommend it. I personally cannot wait to try the Hungry, Hungry Hippie or the Vegan Reuben.

Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine: Drew loves this place too, our fave dish to share is the Millennium Special. 5. Real Food Daily: My favorite entree is the Supreme Burrito and for dessert, the Coconut White Cake!

Click here for a full list of benefits in choosing a Vegan lifestyle. As I embark on this new journey, instead of asking "Why?" why not ask... "Why not?!" Here's to a whole new culinary adventure full of delicious kindness :)