yeah, i get enough protein

I cannot believe it took me this long to switch to a totally plant-based diet, but I am finally here and could not be happier with my choice.

I knew I had to make the switch, but was not really sure how. I spent the school year researching and reading as much as I could about how to make sure I could get the proper nutrients - as it turns out, I am doing significantly BETTER than before.

On top of not eating any animal products, I also cannot eat gluten - which regularly puts me in a pretty tricky spot. Going out to eat, especially somewhere new, is really hard - even some of my old favorite foods aren't safe anymore. Nowadays, there are MANY gluten free and vegan replacements for popular foods, but a lot of times it is only one or the other, which leaves me feeling quite defeated (Still, thank you to the earlier vegans & celiacs that have created the demand and paved the way for us.)

Thankfully, I have infinite resources on the internet to help me along. YouTuber Julien Solomita in particular has been a huge influence and guide for me because he has Celiac disease and follows a vegan diet! I have loved watching him experiment with food and create strange dishes that I could eat! I have started to figure out how to piece together meals and properly fuel myself with this new diet, and I love trying brand new recipes and altering old favorites.

For quite awhile, I had been cutting small things from my diet - the first thing to go was dairy milk. This was absolutely the easiest switch to make considering plant-based milks are not only delicious but also really closely resemble dairy. Butter, ice cream, and eggs for baking were all relatively easy to find alternatives for as well. I don't notice a real difference in taste, but depending on what brand or ingredients you get, the creamy texture is sometimes lacking. For a few years now I had cut out red meat, then almost all meat except chicken, but cutting that out was just one more thing I had to do. I have been quite pleased with the alternatives I have found - THE IMPOSSIBLE BURGER, BBQ jackfruit, Beyond BeeF, tofu, and beans are a few of my favorites!

The main reason I wanted to switch to a plant based diet was because I know that animal agriculture is a huge (huge as in absolutely the biggest) cause and contributor of deforestation, greenhouse gases, and ocean pollution - PLUS it uses up so much of our resources!!! I did not feel like it was right to live my life of reducing plastic, water, and energy waste while continuing to ignore the obvious data about animal agriculture right in front of me.

A few really fun statistics for you: (PETA)

-It takes 683 gallons of water to get 1 gallon of milk

-2,400 gallons of water to get 1 pound of COW

-It takes 20 times MORE land to feed someone who is a meat-eater

-More than 90% of the Amazon rainforest land has been cleared for livestock

"Studies suggest bacterial pathogens, harmful gases, and other environmental contaminants may spread from IFAP facilities to surrounding communities, increasing residents’ disease risks. Contaminants may be brought into communities by workers, blown out of ventilation systems, introduced into drinking and recreational waters, and spread by flies, birds, and other animals. People living closer to IFAP operations (or where IFAP waste is applied) often have higher rates of illness, including respiratory problems and infections with antibiotic-resistant pathogens."

(foodsystemprimer.org)

"Poultry, swine, and cattle raised in U.S. operations produce an estimated 335 million tons of waste annually (not counting water weight)9—over 40 times the amount leaving sewage treatment plants."

(foodsystemprimer.org)

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"I had been so caught up in the destruction caused by animal agriculture, I realized I'd never truly dwelled on the obvious reality that every one of these animals was killed"

-Kip Anderson, Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

I watched this documentary recently, but this quote hit me. It reminded me of the other very important reason I went vegan...

I know you have probably heard everything I'm going to say to you time and time again, but until it sinks in, I'll keep saying it.

These are living, breathing, smart, cognizant, sentient beings. Pigs can be litter trained and taught to play games, just like your dog. Cows have great memories, can recognize faces, and even make friends. Chickens and goats can be taught to figure out puzzles and play games.

What really is the difference between these animals that you mindlessly eat and those that you let sleep on the end of your bed?

Animals and their byproducts are not even MEANT for us! I am not going to claim that humans are perfect herbivores, couldn't even if I wanted to, there isn't research to back it up, but I also cannot say that I believe we are perfect omnivores either. We don't have many sharp teeth and claws to tear through flesh like carnivores do, but we do have teeth that can grind up plants and a nice long intestine like the herbivores! Baby cows need their mama's milk - and guess what.... we don't!

In case you are still confused, here are some of the thing I don't eat:

Please be warned, the next images are disturbing and you SHOULD feel uncomfortable looking at them but I feel the need to include them. Too many people are oblivious to what actually goes on and how these animals are treated in these huge factory farms, but it is a reality. Even brands you THINK are "treating animals fairly" probably aren't (ahem, Fairlife - I'm looking at you).

If you buy from the big animal product brands at the grocery store, I hate to break it to you, but you are part of the problem.

(This is not to say that I think ALL farms treat animals poorly up until death, but it is quite a large portion. I spent my summer working at a farm and I'd say those animals were treated very well, but that is a point for a different time.)

Things I don't support:

Mass production of animal products isn't good for the people who work there, isn't good for the environment, isn't good for the animals forced to be there, and it really isn't even good for you as a consumer! It is a completely losing situation!!!

Be MINDFUL. Think about what this is actually doing to you, the people around you, and the planet.

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A few actually fun statistics for you (Happy Cow)

One day of eating plant-based saves:

-1 animal life - at least

-1,100 gallons of water

-45 pounds of grain

-20 pounds of CO2 equivalent

-30 sq ft of forested land

Going plant-based does not have to be about taking away from your diet, it's adding a new variety to it!

I don't only eat carrot sticks and lettuce for lunch (although I do throughly enjoy them).

What you probably think I eat:

Lettuce, carrots and celery sticks... grass...

What I actually eat:

Delicious salads & fruits, falafel & hummus, and vegetable stir fry

(Okay, THIS is what I actually eat)

Beyond burger with vegan cheese, almond based ice cream, and even mac and cheese!

I am so excited to share my vegan journey with you. It has been 6 months already!!! I am no where near perfect and I definitely don't know everything, but I am learning along the way.

I am going to do a slight revamp of my blog so I can write more about my vegan lifestyle and just generally trying to be eco friendly - so stay tuned!

xoxo