Tuesday, January 22, 2013

It's my birthday

What does it mean to be a vegan?

It is the three week mark since I embarked on this project. I decided that before I consume any animal products today or thereafter I would put a closing remark down.

I feel as though I have learned a thing or two during this three weeks of restrictive eating. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Thai curries usually come pre-mixed with fish sauce
2. Many people do not know what the word "vegan" means
3. It is easier to stop eating meat than it is to stop eating everything made with the by-products of animals
4. On a plant-based diet I use the restroom more (tmi it's numero dos I'm referring to here)
5. Avocados and hummus go good with everything!
6. When one eats only veggies/fruits/and some other things like potatoes and wraps one can consume entire quantities of veggies from Costco
7. When in doubt I just didn't buy the product
8. Going out to eat is not as fun when you are limited to two to three choices and then still have to ask for two to three ingredients to not be put in your dish
9. Hispanic food is quite accommodating for vegans
10. vegan meat substitutes (and cheese substitutes) are utterly disgusting
11. tofu is meh
12. It really doesn't take any more time and effort as long as you can cook and prepare food yourself
13. Just as there are levels of sexuality/political party affiliation/religiosity so too are there levels of diets.

I would like to take more of a moment to explain that last bullet point. Watching the documentary on the three random persons in NY going vegan for six weeks and the way the documentary explained their dietary choices afterwards I learned that there is no black and white diet. You can be a "mostly vegetarian" or a "somewhat vegan." Just as diet is a choice in general, so too are all the food choices you make throughout the day and week. Every small choice contributes to your overall eating habits and the label you would be given as per your dietary choices. I believe that one does not have to be a vegan in the restrictive sense of no consumption of animal products ever (or even wearing of animal products). This attitude towards eating reminds me of New Year's Resolutions and the psychology behind being able to keep your resolution. If your resolution is so restrictive and strict you are less likely to keep it because once you bend the rules slightly you have no resolution to continue because you've broken your resolution. For example. Your resolution is to not eat chocolate. If you decided impulsively to eat some M&M's at the movie theater that your friend offers you just once then you are probably less likely to continue not eating chocolate because you've already gone down that path. Restrictive diets strike me as similar. Therefore my approach to food is much more lax. I will eat less meat. Eat more veggies. Eat more wholesome (organic) of both. Continue taking natural supplements to augment my diet.

Was my project a success? Looking back at my goals for the three weeks.
A. Health
B. Experience
C. Knowledge

Eating all those good-for-you foods definitely improved my health and well-being, especially paired with my supplements.

I gained experience in the best way possible, first-hand.

I am much more well versed in vegan foods, making healthy choices, and what it takes to cut out animal-products in multiple cities.

Happy 23rd Birthday to me

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