“When I was a little
girl, my father was really into hunting. I grew up in a small
community where hunting was classified as a pass time. I swore to
myself that one day I was not going to contribute to the suffering of
animals just so I could eat. And that is what I did. Becoming vegan
will always be one of my greatest accomplishment, and I believe that
from the bottom of my heart.”
I want to start off by saying that this
post is not being written to convert you to veganism. This post is
for people who want to know about my diet, or are thinking about
making the lifestyle switch. I am not saying that how other people
eat is wrong, I am only sharing with you what feels right for me and
my body.
I was a vegetarian for eight years. I
was having problems with my gallbladder, and I had no idea why. I
started to do research on the subject, and it really opened my eyes.
I did not realize how much fat and cholesterol is in eggs and dairy
products. That was the day I decided to go vegan. I am not a health
professional, but I am telling you that veganism made it so I did not
have to get my gallbladder removed. I also did not want to support
any industry that exploited animals for my food.
You might be wondering how I started
off being vegan. I started off slowly. I already did not eat meat, so
that just left a few other things. The first thing I gave up was all
dairy products. I remember how good my stomach felt. I felt so much
lighter, and I wasn't sick all of the time.
The people around me worried about my
protein intake. It is so easy to get protein on a vegan diet. Quinoa,
beans, hemp seeds, and tofu are packed with protein. There are a lot
of other really amazing sources of protein as well.
I have been vegan for awhile. I have
noticed a lot of changes in my body, for the better.
Health Benefits/Things I Have Noticed
Since Going Vegan
- My gallbladder pains have went away.
- My eczema has cleared up.
- I have more energy.
- Better digestion.
- It is not hard to lose weight, and keep it off.
- I do not get sick half as much as what I use to.
- When I do get sick, my recovery time is a lot faster.
- I do not get stomach pains after eating. When I am full, it is a comfortable full.
- Clear skin.
Those are just to mention a few.
Becoming vegan does not have to be
difficult or restrictive. You don't just have to just eat veggies.
There are so many delicious, and satisfying foods out there that are
vegan. Personally, I like to eat healthy. I try to avoid oil and bad
fats. When I cook, I always steam or bake my food. But you do not
have to go about it this way. It's all about personal preference.
Just make sure to do your research, and find out what vegans have to
avoid. Make sure to always read the labels.
One thing I found helpful when I first
became vegan was watching “What I Eat In A Day” videos on
youtube, or reading blog posts or books that showed you sample meal
plans. I am going to share with you what I ate a few days ago. I
wrote everything down so you can get a good idea of how simple and
easy it can be to be vegan.
Breakfast: Tofu scramble.
To make this, all you need is:
- Extra firm tofu ( You can use a half a block, or a whole block. I use the whole block and save the leftovers for the next day.)
- One tomato
- One onion (Whatever kind you want to use. I used a normal yellow onion.)
- Tamari (Or whatever you want to use for soy sauce.)
- Turmeric
- Pepper
Add your onion to the pan with a bit of
water, or oil if you choose to use it. Saute until they are almost to
your desired texture. Add your tofu with your spices, and tamari.
Before everything is done, add your tomatoes.
This is my favorite breakfast, and it
is so satisfying. It keeps you full, and is very healthy. If you
like, you can add nutritional yeast as well.
Lunch: Quinoa with a side of roasted
squash, and steamed broccoli.
Snack: Two pieces of vegan hemp bread,
hummus ( I make my own oil free hummus), and avocado. Sprinkle with
black pepper.
Dinner: A big green salad and a baked
potato. To the salad I added:
- Romaine
- Ice burg lettuce
- Red onion (Minced)
- Nutritional Yeast
- Sunflower seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Raw pumpkin seeds
- Avocado
- Lemon
I have heard some people say that when
they tried a vegan diet they were always tired, or did not feel well.
I really believe that it was because they were not eating enough, and
not being mindful of their nutrient intake.
If you are new to veganism, make sure
you do your research. Read and watch everything you can on the
subject. Make sure you eat enough and get everything you need. It is
not hard, you just have to be aware. I always try and be mindful of
making sure I get enough iron, zinc, protein, and b vitamins. You can
get all of those successfully on a vegan diet.
If you are starting out, or are
thinking about becoming vegan, do not be afraid to reach out to other
vegans and ask questions. If you ever want to talk about veganism, do
not hesitate to contact me on any of my social media sites, or on
here.
I want to end this post by saying how
amazing I feel. I cannot even begin to explain it. I feel like a
completely different person. There are so many health benefits of
maintaining a healthy vegan diet.
I wish you all the best of luck on your
journey.
Thank you so much for reading. I will
talk to you in my next post.
XO
DISCLAIMER: I am not a health
professional. I am not saying that if you have gallbladder problems
that a vegan diet will fix it. I am only sharing my personal
experience. If you are having health issues, you should seek medical
attention.
