After years of eating a vegetarian diet – no red meat, no poultry, a splash of fish here and there, eggs, and cheers – I committed to eating and living a vegan lifestyle on January first of this year.
For me, it was a natural and easy step. A transition that just felt right.
I've been researching it for years. Studying pH levels of food. Uncovering what my body truly needs to survive, feel good, and carry on.
I've been reading books and VegNews articles. Watching documentaries. Attending seminars, meetups, talks.
Experimenting.
Learning the science.
I've been quite dedicated, actually.
I didn't take the decision lightly.
With my decision came a lot of questions and a little ignorance – "What do you eat now? Cardboard?"
No actually, i eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. And they are delicious, filling, and I've never felt more energized, thank you very much.
"What are you drinking? Liquid dirt?"
Actually, it's beets, kale, cucumbers, and apples. (fruit of the earth!) And it does the body good.
(It looks like mud but it tastes like health)
"Aren't you taking this a little too far?"
I don't think so. I don't need to exploit animals to survive. I feel better than I have ever in my life. My palette has changed and I really appreciate the taste of things.
"Where do you get your protein?"
There's no such thing as a protein deficiency. So don't worry. I'm totally fine. Lentils and spinach get me by.
"Don't you miss cheese?"
Yes. All the time.
Especially on pizza
But they pump cows full of hormones to make them generate milk for humans and, personally, I think that's kinda mean and I don't really want to consume hormones in my cheese.
So I'll enjoy my cashew "cheese", thank you.
And you can make fun. I'm cool with that.
the thing is: I'd love an ice cream cone, a slab of lasagna, turkey on the farm, and mom's french toast.
But something switched in the last few months. In my brain. Upstairs.
A lasting switch.
The way I look at food has changed completely.
And I think it's kinda cool.
It's not about taste and cravings and filling myself to the brim.
It's not about chocolate cookies to satiate my loneliness or grilled cheese sandwiches to quell my nerves before the next big pitch. It's about choosing the right fuel to help me achieve my goals on a daily basis.
The moment I started looking at food as fuel vs fun, was the moment that being vegan felt so right, easy, and perfect.
And my body sighed relief.
A mentor of mine said: If you were a Formula One race car driver, you wouldn't take your million dollar car to Petro Canada and fill it up with 89 octane fuel, would you?
Exactly.
I feel really passionate about the way I eat now.
But I feel equally passionate about not judging others.
It's hard not to seem elitist when you're a vegan. Or to come across as preachy.
Sometimes, I feel I've been lucky enough to be "enlightened" and I want to share share share. I want everyone to know what I know. Because it has changed my life. Literally!
But I also believe in my heart that what you eat is your own damn business.
And if you want to eat a slab of meat in front of me while I dine of red cabbage and kale, I am actually, totally 100% cool with that. You've gotta follow your heart.
So I'm passionate, but I'm not judging (I swear).
I've cooked a steak for many a boyfriend.
I've baked cakes with rich milk chocolate icing for my friends.
I texted my sister-in-law to bring home pepperoni for the pizza.
I stand behind my big brother and his farm with every ounce of love that I have in this little heart.
I believe in him and what he does.
Who am I to judge?
Nothing is a for sure thing in this crazy world except that you have to do what's right for you.
So I'm going to each vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
Because it feels right to me.
Because my skin glows and my stride is strong.
Because I wake up with a fire in my belly and energy bursting at the seams.
Because there's something so nourishing and gratifying about green juice in the morning.
Because it works for me. Like really works for me.
And I feel like I found what was missing.
