Why I Became a Vegan

Going vegan could be one of the most important decisions you ever make. It certainly was for me.

There are a host of reasons why people are going vegan. It could be for personal health, the welfare of animals, the environment, or even spiritual reasons. Some say veganism is a lifestyle and a radical one at that. I don’t have that mindset.

For me, it’s not a lifestyle, it just…is. It’s a cruelty-free, healthy, smart choice to make, but not an alternative. If it was an alternative, that would suggest that it’s difficult, merely an option worth considering.

Those who know little about veganism sometimes ask me with a puzzled expression, “So…you’re vegan. What do you eat?” And I give a detailed response, because I genuinely want to help, but often, what I’m tempted to say is, “I eat food. What the f*** do you think I eat?”

I don’t believe that meat and dairy and eggs are food. Food is what’s natural, what grows, not something that once had a heartbeat. Others are conditioned to believe that their source of energy and vitality must be animal derived. The only reason we live lives that are dependent on animals is because we’re raised to think that’s OK. I did my own research and found otherwise. Nobody can make the decision to go vegan for you. You have to care enough to do it. That’s it. If you do, the transformation will be easy. You’ll have no problem because your willingness is already there. One great site worth checking out is called Happy Happy Vegan. They have a great nutritional guide that is easy to follow.

Veganism is not a religion; going vegan is not something to be preached.

Those who are vegan shouldn’t look down on those who aren’t. In fact, they’re so overjoyed with their improved lives that they strive to promote it by encouraging others to try it.

So you’re thinking about going vegan. What’s the first step? Not panicking. The best thing you could do is to make an appointment with a registered dietician who specializes in vegan nutrition. They will make a special meal plan that’s tailored for you based on your age, weight, preferences, etc. Fear not, because everything that you love to eat exists in a vegan version whether it’s meat, milk, cheese, yogurt, butter or even weird things like haggis.

Take it slowly if you need to. It’s not a race. Making drastic diet changes can be difficult, but it doesn’t need to be. The bottom line is: get professional help from a dietician, hang out with your vegan friends more (as they can help you), do some research on veganism, ease into it, and enjoy it! You’ll be glad you did.