This post has been a long time in the works. Veganism is such an integral part of my life, and yet, every time I think about writing a post to address why I choose this lifestyle, I find myself too overwhelmed to write. I actually think it’s because it’s so important to me, I worry that my words won’t do it justice, I’ll turn away readers (it is a very polarizing subject), or I’ll somehow miss something big in my explanation. Totally my perfectionist tendencies taking over, and it’s time for me to just get over it. Here goes…
When I was fairly little, my family switched from a typical omnivore diet to a vegetarian style of eating. This was driven by my mom, who decided she couldn’t stand the thought of eating the animals she loved so much. I was too young at the time to make the connection between what I was eating and where it was coming from, and so I periodically ate meat at friends’ houses or when we would go out for meals. It wasn’t until college that I really started to think about my food choices outside of calories and fat grams.
Similar to my mom, I’ve always been extremely passionate about animals. I can still remember going to get our milk from the local dairy and making a beeline for the cows. I refused to drink the milk (and would always crinkle my nose, saying “it tastes like cows!”), but I could have spent hours hanging out in the barn. I even had a favorite cow, Pearl, who was the inspiration behind the name of one of my childhood dogs. But even then, the connection between Pearl and the steak I was eating didn’t resonate.
Just feeding Pearl some hay.
I started to get really into nutrition after my sophomore year of college, fueled by the desire to lose the weight I had put on the previous year. Reading Fast Food Nation was the first tipping point for me. I was horrified at mainstream food practices, and I went vegetarian immediately. But my decision was still mostly self-involved – how gross to be eating meat that was dirty, tainted, fattening?! And so, I still ate the occasional fish, and dairy and eggs didn’t even really cross my mind. It’s not like my eating frozen yogurt, cheese, and omelets was really hurting those animals, right? Ignorance was bliss.
The next tipping point happened when I picked up a copy of Eating Animals. This book, probably more than any of the many others I’ve read, rocked me to my core. It was extremely difficult to read, but I forced myself to face the reality of how the vast majority of animals are raised and slaughtered. The only chapter I skipped was the one on pigs. I read the first page and just could not bear to read any more. I had a massive mental shift when I started thinking about farm animals the way I think about my dogs. That is when veganism clicked for me.
My first day with Honey. Love at first sight.
A few months ago, I watched the Vegucated documentary. I went into the film thinking it would just be a reiteration of everything I had read in Eating Animals, and it was for the most part. But what I was not prepared for was the complete emotional breakdown I had seeing those animals endure such truly horrific existences. Those images are highly uncomfortable and terrible to watch, but I firmly believe it is our responsibility to seek out this information, not to turn a blind eye.
And so that brings me to my last point in this post – compassion. I love the health and environmental benefits that I believe a vegan diet provides, but that’s not what keeps me committed. Without question, my deepest connection to veganism is emotional. I am so incredibly fortunate to have a choice when it comes to what I eat, to be able to cast a vote with every dollar I spend. I know our food system is complicated and there will always be room for improvement in making more ethical purchases, but doing my best to act in a way that benefits animals, my surroundings, and also my health…it’s a win win win.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading. It seems I have more to say than I initially thought. I might need to turn this into a series of posts…
xo
Amanda
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
i love your journey to veganism. i think there are so many reasons that people choose to make the switch, but the bottom line is that you did it. my journey was part “i don’t like eating red meat and i’m lactose intolerant”, part “i want to eat healthier”, and the part that had me completely switch over was “i don’t want to contribute in any way to the suffering of animals”. thank you for sharing your story and look forward to the possible series
I totally agree, and all of those reasons for making the switch are valid. I love that going vegan aligned with everything from my health to my ethical beliefs. I just generally feel good about it all around.
I find it so interesting to read about people’s different paths to veganism, healthy eating, etc. and what keeps them committed (or not). Definitely a difficult subject to tackle because it has to be done so thoughtfully. So thank you for this post! A series would definitely be welcome
Thanks, Erica! I think this was the first post I actually felt slightly anxious to hit “publish”, but I hope that I’ve written about veganism in a way that’s thought-provoking and conducive to conversation.
this is such a great topic and although I am not vegetarian or anything – I am on my way towards it. I have seen couple movies and read books and its seems so cruel, unethical to think about it but unfortunately I crave meat every now and then (only chicken and lamb). I have started with meatless monday its been a year and I am loving it. Hopefully I will someone be able to fully accept this lifestyle. I would like to read more of this series please!!!
I think it’s awesome that you’ve been doing meatless Mondays! It’s good to take it slow and make small changes. Otherwise, it can feel really overwhelming. And it does take some time for your taste preferences to adjust, so I understand your cravings for meat. It’s only been in the last year or so that my own cravings for things like cheese have subsided. Now, nutritional yeast gets the job done.
So nice to hear a bit about your journey to veganism. Many of those same sources greatly influenced and affected me, as well. And while I still do eat animals/animal products (but now only from local sources that I can verify are reputable), I’d love to read more about your take on veganism! (Series! Series! Series!)
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Way to twist my arm, J.
Already contemplating a follow-up post…
Love this post! Fast Food Nation was definitely a turning point for me as well, as was The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Such a great book!
I also really enjoyed The Omnivore’s Dilemma! It’s one of the books I have on display on my hallway console because I thought it was such an important book.
Thanks for sharing, I love hearing how different people came to veganism. I’m yet to see Vegucated, but it’s on the list! I was similarly an unquestioning vegetarian for a long time. I went vegan on meeting vegans who ignited that spark in me (I’m pretty sure I didn’t know “veganism” existed before then!)
I definitely recommend watching Vegucated. It’s not an easy movie to watch, but it’s so powerful.
I love that you were inspired by other vegans! I think leading by example is probably the best approach when it comes to getting more people interested in making the switch.
Totally enjoyed reading this. Filled with pride.
Thanks, Dad. <3
Thank you for sharing your journey to veganism. It is so great to have support systems, even if it’s online, and like minded people. I’m just 3 months in and still have such an incredible amount to learn. Thanks for your blog
Thank you for commenting, Melissa! And congrats on the last 3 months! There’s definitely a learning curve, but just take it one meal at a time.
If you have any recipe questions or just need some support, you can always feel free to send me an email too.
I am so glad you posted this and hope that you will do a series as many have already suggested. Veganism is such a personal journey and reading how others have reached that point is always inspiring and interesting to me. I became a vegetarian as a teenager for ethical reasons and switched over to veganism last year for health reasons.
I love the online vegan community, especially in the beginning when I felt the learning curve was steep. I’ve followed a vegan lifestyle for 9 months now and don’t think I will ever turn back.
The online vegan community is awesome – so supportive and I’m constantly learning new things. It’s also really expanded my food repertoire, which at one point consisted of tofu and veggie stir-fry every. single. night.
i really enjoyed reading about your path to vegan amanda! i have been putting off writing my own story for cupcakes and kale for months {okay, over a year now!} since i didn’t really know where to start, but you’ve just gotten me motivated to start typing. xo
ps, could it be any sweeter that your dad reads your blog & comments?!
I would love to read your story about going vegan! I hope you post about it soon.
I love your journey/story and beliefs. And I could honestly adopt a vegan lifestyle if Greg was on board. He’s just… not. And I’m too lazy to do it on my own. It’s sad but it’s true. And as compassionate as I am about animals and as much as I cried watching Vegucated, I still crave meat sometimes and give in. I am definitely thoughtful about where it comes from, and don’t eat a lot of meat, period… but definitely am not eating a full vegan diet. I really applaud you for sticking to your beliefs and showing everyone how DELICIOUS vegan food is!
I’m so glad you told me about Vegucated because it’s definitely something that I’ll remember. Some of those images…no words.
I think in terms of sticking with a vegan diet, you have to have a really strong, personal connection (whatever that may be – health, animal rights, environmental, etc) that outweighs the cravings. I also think it takes time to re-adjust taste preferences. I definitely used to indulge in the occasional craving for dairy or eggs (mostly in the form of dessert!), but I’m now at a point where it’s very rarely tempting because I’m so committed to the animals. Also, there are some damn good vegan substitutions.
Thank you for sharing this. I have, for a long time, had a diet that consisted of no red meat or pork, but I continue to have dairy, poultry and fish included. When people ask me why I don’t eat beef and pork I just say it’s because I never really liked the taste. I’ve tried Veganism, for a very short time to lose weight, but I never quite pushed myself to delve into the underworld of how the food on my plate came to be there. I think I have a fear of change. I also tend to be really lazy and it does take a little more effort to be Vegan. One of these days I’ll dig a little deeper into myself and make this long overdue lifestyle change. Your post may have brought me one step closer. Well, that and all the yummy recipes on your blog
I know exactly what you mean about fear of change. It takes me a long time to mentally work up to changes. It’s all about doing what works for YOU.
I’ve sort of gotten into a groove with my cooking now where most meals come together really quickly. You learn little short-cuts along the way (like always having beans soaking and ready to go, taking an afternoon to prep veggies for the week, etc) and eventually it just becomes second nature.
I’m SO happy that my post may have given you a little push to explore veganism a little more.
I love reading about why people have chosen their way of eating, especially with veganism. I have been vegetarian, pescatarian and vegan at different times for the past 15 years, and have now settled into a mostly vegan but would like to be fully vegan place. It’s always inspiring to read about how others found and stay with their veganism! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing Amanda. I first came to veganism for a health perspective. I am an occupational therapist who works in a hospital and I have seen the consequences of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Diseases that can be dismissed through lifestyle and nutrition. I have always eaten “clean”, nothing processed, close to the ground, etc.. My Ironman hubby watched Fork Over Knives and was appalled the “the Government lies to us”. He was insistent we eliminate everything animal. We watched Vegucated the next night, and I still remember my the feeling of my heart breaking when I saw the segment where they go through the abandoned slaughterhouse. That was it! My coworkers bullied me, my family looked at me like I was nuts…. (People have a strong emotional connection to food). But a year has gone by, and I am grateful for the eradication of bobos in my body (IBS, endometriosis), and feel like it has generally made me more aware of the world I live in. My kids are mostly vegetarian, like you were, but slowly they are making the connections by themselves. “Mommy, can you eat that? Is it vegan”. But thanks to web sites like yours, the transition has been smooth…… Your tofu apple breakfast bake is on rotation with seasonal fruit at me house. Thanks Amanda!
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Genevieve. I had the same reaction to the sections you mentioned in Forks Over Knives (with government being run by dairy/meat industries) and also to that part of Vegucated. That is when I completely lost it and sobbed on my couch. Unimaginable cruelty.
Your kids sound adorable – it’s great that they’re asking questions and starting to piece things together for themselves. My mom took a similar approach with me, leading by example and letting me form my own opinions in my own time. I hope to do that with my own kids some day.
Your story was so touching, I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to hearing more about your journey. My husband and I just started a vegan diet on January 1st, health reasons for my husband. We watched the documentary Forks over Knives and that confirmed our decision.
I had been vegetarian before but never vegan, I have to admit its quit an adjustment but were learning.
Thanks so much for sharing!
There’s a definite adjustment period – dairy and eggs are in so many foods! But it does get easier, I promise.
I hope your husband’s health improves with the change.
Thank you, his blood pressure already improved just in one month of the diet change. He went from taking 3 medications to just one which is amazing.
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
Love it… you did a great job on writing your true feelings in this post and you every right to speak what’s in your heart. You are right, we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to what is happening in our world, with food or illness or hatred etc. There is so much that goes on in the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the healthcare industry that is beyond us but every little step helps us get closer to doing what is right for us, our children and our world. We shouldn’t hide behind our worries that we’ll be called out or treated as “different”… the best way to learn is to speak from the heart and soul and communicate what we feel to be true and to share our knowledge and experiences too.
It was not too long along that buying organic or being a vegetarian was looked down upon and now it has become more mainstream. So, we need to keep on keeping on and everyone will benefit in the long run.
Thank you for sharing!
I couldn’t agree more! It’s amazing how much more mainstream organic and vegan foods have become. It seems like there’s now an alternative for just about everything, and I actually prefer a lot of the vegan versions to the originals!
Excellent post. I recently went vegetarian after being pescetarian for about six years. I’ve started only buying eggs from a farmer who gives his chickens very happy little lives, am trying to do the same with dairy, and hope to eventually remove all animal products from my diet. I love how mainstream vegetarianism and veganism is becoming!
Thanks, Katie! I think your approach is really smart, rather than making a bunch of big changes all at the same time (which can be overwhelming). Those decisions definitely add up.
Great post. I like the way you laid out the steps in your shifting consciousness around the subject, showing that it really is a process of awakening.
Have you read “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism,” by Dr. Melanie Joy? It puts vegetarianism and veganism in a more developmental, evolutionary context.
She gives a great intro here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJzpKxBer7I
And a longer interview with spiritual teacher Andrew Cohen where she discusses the topic in the context of the evolution of consciousness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amKGwkVxuIw
Cheers!
I haven’t read that book, but I think I’ll see if I can find it at my library. Thanks for the links!
I also became a vegetarian after reading Fast Food Nation in 2002. I made the jump to vegan a year ago
Awesome!!!
I really enjoyed hearing your point of view on veganism. I am a vegetarian and have also been hesitant to discuss it on my blog because I don’t want meat eaters to be turned off by it. But I am very passionate about the humane treatment of all animals and am so happy to see that you are too!
Thanks, Sarah! I say go for it and discuss your vegetarianism on your blog. I think a lot of my own anxiety about it was really just in my head, and there’s a way to write about it that’s not totally off-putting. I’m sure if you write from the heart, it will come across to your readers. I’d love to read your thoughts on it too.
Agreed! I converted after reading, The China Study. Then I started finding blogs and cookbooks on veganism. My switch was really to maintain my health but when I watched Forks over Knives I decided to dig deeper (before that I avoid animal documentaries like the plague because I am a really sensitive person). Vegnews is what really pushed me on the animal acitivism train. Being Canadian a lot of the U.S. documentaries are blocked online so I just went to youtube and watched what was offered there in terms of the treatment of animals. I avoided renting them also because the youtube videos are enough for me. I remember seeing a few and crying through the entire thing. I could not handle it. I live outside Toronto and when I drive home to my parents house on the highway I see loads of pigs and chickens and cows being transferred via truck to the slaughter houses. I always get so angry and teary eyed because they are so innocent and have no idea of the horror they are about the endure. In any case, for me veganism is for the plight of animals and health and the environment. Thanks for this post.
The China Study had a big impact on me too. I know what you mean about avoiding animal documentaries as well. I can’t even handle watching those Peta ads, ASPCA commercials, etc. It’s too much. But I think it’s so important to be aware of the reality of it all (whether that’s through documentaries, books, etc). As uncomfortable as it is – looking the other way just perpetuates the problems.
I saw a few of those trucks with pigs and chickens when I was living in CA. It’s deeply saddening.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Rhona.
You’re more brave than me to watch the documentaries and read the books. I’m too chicken (no pun intended). But, between having our first baby and spending more time with a vegan friend, I’m finding myself eating way less meat and looking for protein alternatives.
When my head hits the pillow, I sleep in peace.
I have watched a few documentaries including Food Inc, Forks Over Knives, and Vegucated. I went vegetarian the day I watched Food Inc and then made the shift to veganism about two years after that. After immersing myself in food/vegan books, I could not believe what a huge impact Vegucated had on me when I watched it about a month ago. It was absolutely horrific and it made me so glad that I choose to live the way I live. I support people making their own food choices but I think everyone should have to watch that documentary simply because people should know how their food is treated and processed. It was very eye opening. Thanks for a great post and great topic of discussion!
I completely agree about Vegucated. Those images are going to stay with me forever. Thank you for sharing a little about your own transition.
Eating Animals was what pushed me to finally give up meat. For a long time I had gone back and forth but always felt like my husband was keeping me from becoming vegetarian. I do all the cooking, and it was too much work to prepare separate meals. However, I finally just said, look- if you want to buy and cook meat, you can, but I’m not going to anymore. That was over a year ago and our home has been meat free ever since. He still eats it for lunch, but has transitioned really well, and bonus, has started caring a LOT more about his diet in general! Great post, very thought provoking!
I love your story! Growing up, my mom was the same way about cooking meat for the rest of my family. She always said if we wanted to eat it, we could go out and buy it and make it ourselves. And I did a few times, but most of the time I was perfectly content eating whatever vegetarian dishes she had made. It definitely gave me an appreciation for vegetables, tofu, beans, etc.
I think it’s so great that your going vegetarian has made your husband more health-conscious.
Thank you so much for your insight into your journey into veganism….I have been a vegetarian for some years and partially vegan (if there is such a thing)…I go for weeks not consuming any animal products and then have some ricotta or something. Your blog has given me the inspiration to resist that and totally embrace the vegan life, it will be so much better for my body, my planet and my conscience
That’s awesome, Penny! It means so much to me that my post inspired you to embrace going 100% vegan! I recently read about a cookbook called Artisan Vegan Cheese that you might be interested in…maybe it has a vegan ricotta recipe.
There is a great vegan ricotta recipe in Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s “Veganomicon” .
Thank you Amanda and Althea, I have ordered both of those books online and look forward to trying out some yummy recipes!
Thank you, Amanda, for sharing your journey. I have recently switched to a vegetarian diet and am loving it. I wish I could say that my experience with veganism started at an early age, but in my house, we ate lots of meat and potatoes – we are a proud German family after all. I had seen some documentaries regarding Monsanto and the poisons our food system pours into our homes. I have also been exposed to videos or animals and the so very wrong and so very sad lives they lead to bring food on our tables. The tipping point for me was that I simply got tired of eating meat and found no joy in being part of the problem. So with the help of my wife (she’s gone vegan) I decided to become a vegetarian and am finding that it is not as hard as I thought it would be. Thank you again for sharing your story and thank you for your terrific blog and recipes.
That’s great, Eric! I’m glad to hear that you’re not finding the transition to be too difficult.
Simply fabulous. You are amazing.
This post GAINED you a reader (me!), without a doubt.
Thanks, Erica! Your comment just made my day.
I can relate SO much to you making the connection between the animals you were eating and your dog. I considered myself pretty eco-friendly for a while and I knew not eating meat would lower my carbon footprint but I “rationalized” it by saying, well, I recycle, I don’t drive a lot, I take short showers, etc. but it still kind of bugged me that I couldn’t kick meat.
One day I looked at one of my dogs and I just had this lightbulb moment, “How can I say I love animals yet eat them?” I made the plan to switch to vegetarianism when I moved to Illinois for grad school. I knew I’d be living by myself and I wouldn’t have to hear my mom’s concerns or nagging about having to plan a “complicated” meal for me.
I soon learned about the process involved in obtaining dairy and I couldn’t shake dairy immediately but I said dairy would become a “treat.” Soon I couldn’t even see dairy as a treat because I knew what it took to make that dairy.
I’m now vegan for a variety of reasons-health, environmental, and my love for animals. Just yesterday I started smiling to myself because my conscious felt SO clear and I was happy to be vegan-I absolutely love it.
I love hearing other people’s stories of their veganism. Thank you for sharing.
That’s awesome, Courtney! I also really enjoy hearing how other people came to be vegan. I was the same way about dairy too, even though it upset my stomach. I thought of it as a once-in-a-while treat, but like you mentioned, there’s this mental shift that takes place when you find out how it’s made and what that means to those animals, and you reach a point where you can’t keep ignoring the facts. I realized my indulging in frozen yogurt or cheese, even infrequently, was not only not in line with my ethics, but selfish (in my opinion). There are so many great, non-dairy alternatives – choosing the vegan options is a no-brainer for me. That process takes time though.
I think that this is one of the best blogs ever! I am vegan, love ALL animals (but especially dogs!), and am always looking for great recipes.
Keep it coming : )
Thank you so much, Stephanie!
Hi Amanda ,it’s awesome . I am Indian Gujarati and we live and brought with this vegan lifestyle .its in our culture and blood. It’s superb to read your non violence concept for food. I am glad that approach of vegan not only help you physically it goes mentally too. It helps to be a nice humankind.
WE ALL SHARE SAME WORLD isn’t it. So it’s wonderful thought of mercy on other animals ,birds and sea creatures. You will surprise that we have plenty of lentils variety which you can substitute with meat ,fish or chicken. So nutrition point of view and also for taste of tongue you can check Indian vegan food you wil find thousands of variety.
SIMPLY SUPERB.
Ina.
What a truly beautiful post, Amanda. My thoughts exactly
Love it!
Thank you! Your blog is beautiful, by the way. I’m excited to read more.