Two words. Buffalo wings. Damn, I love that combination of words.
Some of my other favorite words include turkey paninis, beef tacos... For sake of word count, I'll make it short. I am a carnivore at heart. That's why when I moved in with my roommate Sam, my life was CHANGED (other than being a vegan, she's downright magical). I'd always thought of vegans as strictly the kinds of people whose conversation was limited to conspiracy theories. I was wrong, and have come to both laugh at and appreciate many signs specific to vegans.
1. You had no idea how many products weren't vegan.
What do you mean gummy worms aren't vegan? Does that mean there's like, actual worm in it? This conversation lead to a disturbing lesson about how gelatin is made... Still a Haribo-loving girl regardless.
2. You have considered becoming a vegan.
This girl has the CLEAREST skin I have ever seen and has so much energy... Should I just try it? No, Bri, who are we kidding. Buffalo wings, remember?
3. You get really excited to try your vegan friend's creations that are actually really good.
She makes Brussels sprouts taste like Mother Nature produced a nugget of joy. Plus her vegan desserts? Oh man, don't get me started.
4. You've also seen them make some pretty nasty meals.
Yeah, so Sam didn't have time to make a vegan masterpiece the other night and I legit think I saw her eat rice and salsa for dinner.
5. You suddenly become aware of how much meat and animal byproduct you're eating.
You know what this burger needs? Cheese. Oooh, and a fried egg. Maybe some aioli... I'm a vegan's worst nightmare and I'm becoming increasingly aware of it.
6. Seeing them "cheat" on their vegan diet is like witnessing the game-winning hit at the World Series.
We bought some Halloween candy and she broke on chocolate. I. Was. MIND. BLOWN. Seeing them cheat on their vegan diet is so intense, especially if you helped coax them into eating that piece of chocolate, cheese, etc.
7. You feel SO guilty ALL the time.
I brag about my ability to save the environment by taking extremely short showers and feel awesome about it. Until, of course, my roommate informs me that eating a pound of beef has the same environmental effects as taking a 12-hour shower.
8. You form an immense appreciation for their willpower.
Honestly, I'm cooking up a wonderful dish and its savory smells of perfection are filling every room of the house. Yet, she's still not even tempted to take a taste. Incredible! What else is this girl capable of?
9. You get rid of your vegan stereotypes pretty quickly.
Nope, not all vegans are splattering fake blood on fur coats screaming, "meat is murder!"
10. Your vegan jokes have reached a whole other level.
OK, so admittedly my jokes aren't that funny. They're kind of just stupid. I saw her drinking water the other day and almost shouted, "Sam, we get it. You're a vegan." Again, very dumb. I'm sure you've come up with some pretty funny jokes, though.
11. You start to make wiser food choices.
So, again, buffalo wings. I'm just not going to give them up. I do see how positively this "watching what you eat" thing has affected her though, so I'll give vegan alternatives a shot every once in a while.
12. You get excited when you find a vegan meal you actually really want to try.
Roommate bonding while also showing her my interest and support in her lifestyle? I'm all game. Plus... vegan pizza? I'm just interested to see how this all works out.
13. You've become an expert on reading nutritional labels.
I might not be a vegan, but watching my roommate so intensely picking through the ingredient list and pointing out not-so-healthy ingredients have rubbed off on me. Catch me at Target inspecting cans of food for ingredients I shouldn't be putting into my body.
Love ya, Sam. You and your odd milk alternatives.
