I stumbled upon plant-based veganism when I was forced to face the "real world": buying my own groceries and cooking my own meals. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this freedom. I actually love to grocery shop and I love to cook. But when I found out that a package of chicken breasts was anywhere from 7 to 9 bucks, I began to question the necessity of meat and search for cheaper alternatives.

I have always (and by always I mean starting around age 8) been interested in learning about clean eating. But as a kid/teenager deep in the South, dependent on my parents for meals, it was difficult not only to avoid comfort foods that were cooked for dinner, but to also branch out to different dietary lifestyles if my parents were not willing or able to make accommodations.

So, when I would only be coming home for breaks from college, my parents were cooking less and that left me to "fend for myself". It proved to be an incredibly liberating change. Not only did I have the means to go grocery shopping for myself (naturally sharing groceries in the house), I learned a valuable skill: planning and cooking meals on a budget. I learned quickly that skipping the meat, along with dairy and eggs, and going for the alternatives that could provide the same vitamins and nutrients allowed me to buy much more food. A bag of dried black beans for a dollar replaced the package of chicken for 9 and could usually last for one or two more meals than the chicken.

Unexpectedly, this tentative experimentation with the plant-based lifestyle created a chain of events that led to my ultimate commitment to it. Have I saved money? Yes. But did I expect other benefits? Hardly.

My entire transition testimony is extensive and complex, and this article only scratches the surface. I want to be clear when I say the intention of this article is not to justify the decision, or to convince anyone that this lifestyle is for everyone, or to claim that this lifestyle is the ultimate ideal. I don't believe veganism is the only option. I don't believe veganism is the ideal. I don't believe veganism is for everyone. The intention of this article is only to highlight the benefits I have experienced with the implication that others may or may not have the same experience. Alright, here we go.

1. I lost weight.

This was an incredible motivator for me. I didn't expect to lose weight, but once I did, I was excited to keep going. In about 3 months of consistent plant-based veganism, I lost roughly 10 pounds of excess body fat gained from junk food over the years. I did not regularly exercise. The weight fell off even though I ate as much food as I wanted (it took less to satiate me). I am small in stature and wasn’t overweight to begin with, but losing 10 pounds was definitely noticeable. All of my clothes started to fit better. It was one of the first times where I experienced the empowerment of fitting into a pair of jeans that were once too tight! And knowing that I was losing weight in a way that was good for my body created a sense of peace within me, rather than a sense of anxiety to keep the weight off. I have no doubt that people who have even more excess body fat than I did would be able to lose most of it on a consistent plant-based, whole food vegan diet. It's also worth mentioning that in my 20 years of life, and over 10 years of "dieting" (yes I tried to diet as a 10-year-old), this dietary lifestyle has been the most simple, most sustainable way to lose and maintain a healthy weight.

2. My digestion improved.

It was most often the case that after I ate, I felt incredibly and uncomfortably bloated. Buffalo chicken wings are so good, man. So good that I would stuff myself, and then feel miserable afterward. We've all been there. After giving my body all kinds of nutrient-packed greens, grains, fruits, and plenty of water, my body became a quiet, clean, well-oiled machine. We became friends again, at peace with one another.

3. My skin improved.

I have had eczema since I was five, so my skin has always been on the dry side, even with the help of lotions and body oils. Within a week of switching, I noticed that all of my skin felt softer and smoother than it ever has. My eczema became easier to manage. Skin inflammation cleared up and my skin went from red and blotchy to bright and clear. My acne cleared up. For the first time since before puberty, I saw the natural complexion of my face (one that closer matched the rest of my body). I could feel my body thanking me every day.

4. I got to try new foods.

Vegan cooking is so much fun. I learned about so many new foods like quinoa, chickpeas, and chia seeds. Who knew that there were purple potatoes? Who knew kale could be so tasty? What the heck is kimchi? How come no one ever eats radishes? I learned all about the best egg replacements and milk replacements in baking. Aside from learning about so many new fruits, veggies, and grains, vegan cooking is quicker. I realized I could bring a vegan meal together in 30 minutes when I wasn't waiting for meat to cook thoroughly. Probably the best perk: I can eat all the raw cookie dough and brownie batter I want!

5. I got more practice cooking.

Eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet can be quick and convenient at times, but it also requires plenty of preparation and planning. If you don't enjoy cooking, this could be a downside. Over the summer, I had plenty of leisure time and would look forward to preparing and cooking my next meal. I was cooking three times a day, so I got plenty of practice. I learned how long it takes to cook beans in a crockpot. I now know how to properly cook quinoa, couscous, lentils, and brown rice. I learned that carrots taste better if you actually peel them. I mastered onion-dicing. I made a pot-pie from scratch. I learned how to improvise, what tastes good with what, and how to make a meal with what I have when it's the end of the month. Slowing down and taking time to cook became a therapeutic ritual for me. I enjoyed being creative with food and having time to sit down and enjoy that creation. When I ate the SAD (standard American diet), the convenience of fast food and pre-packaged food kept me from learning these skills.

6. My taste buds changed.

When I stopped eating an incredible excess of fats/oils, salts, and sugar, I gave my taste buds a chance to "breathe" and restart. They became more sensitive to the tiniest variance in flavors. I could savor the earthy flavor of red potatoes boiled in nothing but tap water. I could taste sugar in celery (I'm not kidding). I craved the grassy, vibrant flavor of sprouts. I was suddenly able to appreciate foods I previously hated, namely mushrooms and olives. What was most surprising is that I no longer craved french fries, pound cake, or fried chicken. I became indifferent to my old guilt-foods. I just didn't want them anymore! I wanted to eat something that made me feel full of energy and life.

7. I learned more about nutrition.

Of course, plenty of research into plant-based veganism was involved in making an official commitment. I needed to know what my body needed and what foods contained it. I needed to know where I was going to get protein, calcium, iron, vitamin D, B12. I began asking questions. What's in cheese that I need, where else can I get it? Is there anything in animal milk, cheese, eggs, or even meat that is hurting my body? I began seeking answers through research. I watched documentaries with discretion. Always with discretion; don't automatically assume validity of information just because it's in documentary form.

8. I became more compassionate about animals AND humans.

I have been allergic to most animals for as long as I can remember, and as a result I haven't had much opportunity to build connections with them. For a long time, I was indifferent to pets because I had to be. When I became aware of how not eating animal products was contributing to the preservation of animals and the movement for humane animal treatment, I became motivated to become even more involved. I wanted (and still want to, since I haven't had the chance to) meet some cows, pet their goofy looking faces, and connect with them. I wanted to learn more about how chickens naturally live in their habitats. I wanted to know more about the personalities of pigs, and how smart they are, and how they thrive as creatures when we let them. Now it's hard to resist snuggling with a warm furry ball of nature's innocence.

But we all have the image of the stereotypical vegan in our head. The one that claims moral superiority and deems meat-eaters ignorant, carnist monsters. There are extremists in every group. And reconciling that stereotype with my new-found identity as a vegan forced me to consider both perspectives: the animal lover who could commit to veganism, and the animal lover who couldn't. In any movement that I believe could benefit people, even if it is only a small percentage, I want to attract people to that movement in a positive way that promotes compassion. I spend plenty of time thinking about how I would explain my personal preference and how I would present my lifestyle in an accessible way. I had to consider many different reaction possibilities through compassion: how may they be thinking and feeling, and how can I approach the conversation as an engaging discussion instead of a heated debate?

9. I developed a healthier relationship with food.

This has been, by far, the most important aspect of veganism for me. Meat and dairy is delicious, and some would argue, addictive. For almost every meal I was eating, I was overeating, because the food was so rich and so delicious. When I wasn’t eating, I was thinking about what I would be eating next. After stuffing myself, naturally, I became guilty about how I consumed so many extra calories (salt, fat, sugar) that my body did not need. It was a constant, miserable cycle of intense cravings, binge-eating, guilt, and excess calorie restriction. Oh, and weight-gaining.

After cleaning up my diet, I find that it takes less to satiate me. I eat for the feeling after the meal, instead of during. Eating is not an obsession, but an enjoyable requirement to my day, and I don't feel guilty about what I've just eaten. Even if I do end up eating one too many Oreos, I know that I'm still getting plenty of vitamins and nutrients for my body to run as best as it can. I’ve learned what it means to eat to live instead of living to eat. Veganism has freed me from my old, toxic relationship with food.