/Vēɡən/- "A person who does not eat or use animal products" (a.k.a. does not consume meat, dairy, eggs, or honey).
Sound pretty terrible? Why would anyone do this to themselves? Do vegans live in the woods with animals? Are they all members of PETA?
That is not quite the gist of it. And the following reasons might change your mind about going vegan (or at least partially vegan).
1. You feel better.
While there are many processed vegan foods (Oreo's, vegan cheese, vegan mayonnaise, etc.), going vegan automatically cuts out a number of the processed meat, dairy, and eggs that can drag us down over time. When we replace these categories with more fruits, veggies, and nuts, some people can see and feel a positive change in only a matter of days. Although a vegan diet doesn't work for everyone, you can only gain by experimenting to see if it works for you.
2. You're cows' new BFF.
And pigs, lambs, etc. You don't have to be a member of PETA to care at least a little about animals and their welfare. It is estimated that vegans save about 198 animals a year, which means that you could save about 28 by making the change once a week. Even if our furry friends aren't your primary motivation for making the change, having a small part in promoting animal well-being doesn't hurt either.
3. You break out of your comfort zone.
Being a vegan can get pretty boring if you aren't creative. It forces you to try new, exotic, and odd-looking (or sounding) foods that you would have never even considered beforehand. You may end up disliking some of them, but you never know if you'll stumble across your new favorite dish that just happens to be vegan.
4. You gain perspective.
No, not all vegans are hippies. They don't only consume salad. They all don't worship the ground that animals walk on. The best way to understand and appreciate a foreign way of eating is to try it out for yourself. Then, maybe next time someone tells you that they're vegan, you can respond with, "Wow thats' awesome", instead of, "What do you even eat?" or "That must suck!"
5. You help the environment.
There is no doubt that livestock production is a major contributor to environmental problems like global warming and air/water pollution. While I am not saying the answer is for us all to turn fully vegan, we can have a positive impact on our earth if we all consume a little less meat, eggs, and dairy. Biking to work isn't the only way to be environmentally conscious; consider switching up what you pack for lunch as well.
So, what do you have to lose? Again, while veganism isn't the answer for everyone, it could be a small way that you can help yourself, animals, and the environment out. If you hate it, then at least you had a new experience and gained perspective. And seriously, with vegan desserts like these, being vegan can't be all bad.
