This blog thing seems to be a once-or twice-a-year extravaganza for me. Being a vegan is getting to be second nature now, so not much more for me to elaborate. I find restaurants are not as challenging as they used to be, and most of my friends are serving buffets now, so that makes life so much easier. I am now on my 4th year of turning vegan and I can say that I feel pretty damn good for turning 70 this month. And I honestly think it is because I have changed my diet. There are a few parts that have been replaced, but that is most likely because of my past love of outdoor sports which included a few falls and accidents along the way. Nothing to do with my supposed lack of meat protein.
A lot of my friends ask me why? Why change at this stage of my life? Well, why not? Seems to me that as you age, your quality of life becomes much more important to you. And why not live it healthy? I still consider myself a veganeophyte, as many people have been eating this way for years and years. And on special occasions during the holidays, if there is an appetizer with cheese in it, unbeknownst to me, I just may eat a bite or two. Now this may outrage those ‘vegangelicos’, but I try the best I can. I can say I eat totally vegan at home because I am the cook, but who’s to know what lies hidden in the salad at a restaurant in town. Or if that wonderful spiced tofu was cooked in a pan that previously cooked a steak. Too many things are beyond our control, so this is where it now stands with me. Not perfect, but still climbing.
I have also been trying to get away from convenience vegan foods, as there is nothing better than natural organic food. I consider the vegan meats and ‘cheezes’ transitions foods, and boy did I need those. They were my crutch for a long time, but I am weaning myself away from them and spending more time cooking my own veggie burgers, and making my own cheeze sauces. I purchased a Vitamix and now a smoothie is better than a cupcake if you make it right. And so many things you can sneak into that smoothie that take care of a lot of your daily requirements.
I have also started a facebook group called “vegetizing” and I have met the most wonderful people on this site. It was a lonely world there for awhile, but now I can talk to people just like me! We don’t criticize or judge anyone who is not a vegan. Everyone is just trying to eat healthier and perhaps needs support and encouragement. We share recipes, thoughts, ideas, articles, and funny stories, but never badmouth someone who questions a vegetarian or vegan diet. The purpose is to get away from eating a SAD diet and incorporate more healthy foods so that we will not need drugs or doctor visits to make up for what our body requires.
So this veganeophyte is still learning new things and keeping an open mind as to what discoveries lie ahead with nutrition. I feel good about not taking the life of a precious animal that has suffered for our pleasure. We ingest their pain and I don’t want to be part of that sad life they live before their brutal death. I ask anyone who is considering this lifestyle to watch the many films out now that show just how our food is prepared. I don’t have to mention the film titles as they are all common knowledge by now, you just have to have to courage to watch them.
My love for animals is deep and I hope in the future this vegan thing will not be such an odd lifestyle, as our food is no longer the same as was years ago. Everyone needs to be aware and do their own research, as the food companies will not do it for you, and doctors do not have the time. It’s up to you and you alone.
”You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
