I’ve been called names by all kinds of meat-opinion-havers. Vegans call me a ‘bad vegan’. Meat lovers call me their favorite kind of vegan (the meat-eating kind). The truth is, this is a sensitive topic for a lot of people. I think we can all agree that the way animals are treated in factory farms is atrocious. No one is outwardly rooting for animal abuse, but some people just don’t believe their eating habits have any effect on that issue. Personally, I believe there is a direct correlation and the fewer people that buy products from factory farms, the less power they have. Supply and demand. Corporations might be evil, but they’re not stupid. They go where the money is and, if everyone wants to spend their money on vegan products, you better believe corporations are going to answer that call.
I love so many things about food, especially vegan food. What I don’t love is the lack of acceptance for people’s different food habits. I wasn’t always vegan. Gee, big surprise. It’s been a process and I’m still in the middle of my journey. My relationship with food is ever-changing and that's OK. I’m not trying to be a better vegan than anyone else. It’s all about learning how to make better choices and making those better choices as often as you can. If someone is 75 percent vegan but has a burger every now and then, that’s still way better than someone who eats meat every meal of every day. Why are we giving people such a hard time when they are trying their best? If you are trying even a little bit to make more conscious food choices, I commend you, wholeheartedly. The more research you do, the easier it will be to make good choices and the longer you practice making conscious food decisions, the easier it will be.
Sometimes, I just want a fucking cheeseburger. There’s no meat or dairy in my kitchen. I stick to my vegan diet most days. I make sure to watch Forks Over Knives at least once a year to refresh my motivation. I don’t need to prove myself to anyone and I certainly don’t need to judge anyone who might be just starting their veggie/vegan journey.
So, is bacon delicious? Hell yea. Can I appreciate a slice of pepperoni pizza? Duh. I’m not crazy. I’m happy and comfortable with my choice to be an opportunist vegan. I don’t kick myself when I ‘screw up’. I treat myself to things when I have bad cravings and then get right back to my routine. What I’ve found is that the longer I’ve been doing this, the more I crave healthy, vegan foods over my old S.A.D. staples anyway. I’m interested to see how my food journey changes over time and won’t judge myself if I can’t ever kick that occasional ice cream cone.
___________________________________
If you are interested in learning more about the vegan diet or how to make better choices, try watching some Youtube recipe videos. One of my favorite channels is Jenna Mustard. There are tons of great vegan channels though so make sure to do a search for videos/recipes that speak to you, personally.
If you want to know why it is such a big deal to not support factory farms, take a look at some of these documentaries that are jam-packed with educational content and motivating interviews.
