Before anyone gets very upset, I am not actually vegan, I just eat like one. Let me explain: here is a list of all my food allergies:

My bullet journal allergies pageMaddy McKeever

Because of my severe allergy to eggs and milk, I can't even eat baked goods. I'm not even lactose intolerant, I have an allergy to the whey protein in the milk, so I can't have alternative animal milks like goat milk. AND I'm allergic to nuts, which everyone uses as substitutes for cow milk in things like ice cream.

c1.staticflickr.com

Ben & Jerry's got me excited with their dairy-free ice cream, and then disappointed me with only almond milk options.

So, I tend to frequent vegan cafes and restaurants. My favorite is Wayward Vegan Cafe in Seattle. I buy vegan baked goods all the time.

I even cook vegan a lot because of my allergies combined with me being a poor college student who can't afford meat. But when I can afford it, I love meat.

Let me tell you, after years of trying to explain my allergies to people, it's easier to just say I'm vegan. Especially because once I tell people one allergy, they ask, "Oh, what else are you allergic to? I'm sure it can't be too many." It is too many. See the list above again if you don't believe me.

To all my vegan friends, please don't disown me. It is valiant what you are doing, trying to save animals. However, I cannot justify restricting my diet any more than my body naturally does. Especially since I can't eat most of the substitutes for protein out there.

Though tofu if cooked well is amazing, I'll give you that vegans. I will happily order it in a vegan food place. I just would prefer chicken in my phad thai if given the option.

I can't eat pizza. I can't eat pasta sauces. I can't eat baked goods. Vegans, please just let me eat with you.