V is for vegan

"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons, they were not created for men anymore than black people were created for whites or women for men." -Alice Walker

In 2008, I will transition to a vegan diet. My goal is to live a more cruelty-free life by eliminating my consumption of animal products completely; I realize any reduction is a step in the right direction even if I am never 100% vegan. And I’m not trying to convert you to veganism by writing about it, nor do I want to preach about what I see as a personal choice, not a political one.

I’ve been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for thirty years. In fact, at the moment, I’m the tiniest bit addicted to the nectar of the gods: 2% Fage Greek Yogurt. And I do like my homemade macaroni and cheese with cauliflower and garlic-toasted wheat germ topping. Indeedy I do.

But part of my strategy for achieving my wellness vision includes eliminating dairy and all animal products from my diet. I think I’ll feel better, have more energy, and be more responsible ethically and environmentally. So I’m going vegan (vee-gun) in 2008. 

Like fellow Asheville blogger Christine Kane, for me it is a way to live more mindfully and to harness food in my life. As Geneen Roth has written: “Our relationship to food is a perfect reflection of our relationship to life itself.”

I’m not saying it’s for everyone. Perhaps it’s not for you. If you can’t see giving up your steak tartare or milkshakes or mac and cheese, perhaps there are other ways to be more cruelty free. How about shopping from companies that don’t test on animals? Or eating vegan once a week? Or eating vegan until dinner? Or wearing compassionate clothing? Or getting a vegan cookbook and trying one recipe in it each week? Or learning how to make 100 simple vegan meals in 10 minutes or less for both summer and autumn…

Intentions: Be mindful and intentional about what I put into and onto my body by wearing compassionate clothing and shopping for cruelty free goods from cruelty free companies. Let’s eat a more heart healthy diet in 2008. Let’s be more animal friendly. Updated: I'll keep track of the transition here.

Resources: Cruelty-Free Pocket Shopping Guide, Pangea: The Vegan Store, Vegan Essentials, VegFamily

Blogs: Urban Vegan, Fatfree Vegan Kitchen

From the last alphabet challenge: V is for Vacant

Comments

[jasper]

But what of the fruits and vegetables that may also suffer?

I am always reminded of research done a few years ago that found tomatoes 'scream' as they are pulled from the vine.

And is it possible to have a vegan diet and buy locally?

[grace, T]

I have some recipes for you if you like.
-Ways to make a really tasty, not oily, rue, so you can still have your creamy dishes.
and if you can afford it and if they still make it, some of the soy cheeses available when I was a very strict vegan are delish and melt well.

I was veg and vegan for over 20 yrs.
Now , I live a less rules, less strict lifestyle and enjoy my recipes from that time as an ethnic variety.

I wish good luck, good health and peace of mind.

[piscesgrrl]

I love your alphabet essays! I am a former vegetarian and former vegan. I began eating meat again (not a dairy fan) when my doc took me off soy due to hormonal imabalance and breast lumps. But I am fortunate that we know our meat sources - my sister runs the family farm so we not only get the majority of our meat from there, we commune with the critters and know they live healthy lives. We give thanks as we partake from the circle of life, knowing that with each exchange of life's energy, one thing lives while another thing dies.

I cried as I read my latest Peta magazine about the cruelty of the turkey industry.

[Allan Smithee]

re: In 2008, I will transition to a vegan diet.

you might enjoy this link -

http://livingonthevedge.blogspot.com/

[n.b.]

I applaud your intention. As a fellow Fage (2%) addict I cannot imagine how you will wean yourself from this most delicious of all foods...but more power to you¡

[patti digh]

jasper - perhaps I could eat tomatoes only when they are on the vine? (smile) As for the buying locally question, I'm about to find out, since that's also on my list of intentions for 2008 - will let you know!

grace, t - i would love any recipes you can send!

piscesgrrl - thanks for making note of the circle of life - it's important for us to embrace that, isn't it?

Allan - thanks for the great link!

n.b. - I know. It will be the hardest part of this intention... I'll rest easier knowing you're still out there in the world loving Fage!

[john]

Doesn't it strike people as odd that in order to survive on this planet, most living things are consuming other living things for their energy source? Yes, there's all sorts of biomass that derive their non-invasive energy redistribution by chemical means, anaerobic existences, and etc., but the greatest, most overwhelming mass of the weight of all living things on this globe (excluding oxygen! which makes up probably most of the weight on the sphere) are killing other living things to survive. Sheesh--is that a way to run an existence? All I know is that if I was an alien not having to kill stuff to survive, the way of life on Earth would look, um, not so pretty. Who came up with this idea, anyway? (If we had it all to do over again and could elect the supreme controlling and manufacturing deity, I'd have to choose Santa.)
I'm just sayin'.

[john]

Also your writing makes me hungry. In a good way.

[John Ptak]

The artist's name for the above work is Giusepe Archimbaldo (1527-1593 or so)--known as the Osiris of the Onion, the Prince of Pickles and other completely imagined titles, he *was* a very talented court painter who did actually study with Leonardo (da Vinci, not DA Vinci, whoever Mr. Brown thought *he* was damn it). He painted portraits of the flatulently privileged endlessly; I'm guessing that being talented and having to paint the dripping rich lead him to surrealisms's origins. His vegefruit paintings were massive hits of the day, as misunderstood but prized as our own Jackson Pollack--it must've given him great pleasure that he was able to pull off such a whimsical editorial exploit--like a Warhol achievement only with massive talent.

[grace, T]

here's a link to few:
http://metahara.livejournal.com/tag/vegetarian+or+vegan

i have hundreds more from my time as a vegan and veg caterer and all those years living and raising kids that way.

slowly but surely they get transfered to Computer.

feel free to post questions- as I haven't used standard recipe writing style online- so far.

[patti digh]

John - you make me laugh.

Grace, T - many thanks for this great resource!

[Eric]

Congrats! I'm thrilled about your decision, of course.

[jasper]

Back to my plea for the rights of fruits and vegetables.
Please read

Intelligence in Nature by the anthropologist Jeremy Narby

[patti digh]

jasper - I have ordered a used copy...will look forward to reading it as soon as it arrives...many thanks for suggesting it.