I won't sit here and try to convince you that butter, cheese, and milk don't taste good. And I won't try to convince you that they don't make a lot of dishes taste really good. Because that would be a lie.
Dairy is goddamned delicious. Milkshakes. Quesadillas. Mac n' cheese. Ice cream. Sandwiches. Panera's mac n' cheese -- oh my god.
Vegans have a bad rep for being pushy or intense about their lifestyle choices. Passionate could be a better word, I suppose, but many meat and dairy eaters don't see it that way for whatever reason. Some feel attacked when their lifestyle choices of eating flesh and another species' milk is questioned, However, I'm not here to lecture you or try and convince you that someone else's way of doing things are superior.
When you purchase a product, you are voting with your dollars. Each penny you spend on an item encourages that company's mission, success, and production. What you purchase has power. The power is in your wallet.
So while I am not telling you that you must eliminate all animal products from your diet, I'm suggesting that you wreak less havoc on the environment, animals, and your own body by buying some vegan substitutes. Or knock yourself out and go for being a vegan, it's an amazing step in your life that will improve your health immensely as well as the environment. (You cut your carbon footprint almost in half when you do not consume meat.)
Animal products taste great, but our food industry has f***ed things up. We brutally murder animals for food that we don't actually need to survive (despite popular belief, you can get proper nutrition without meat or dairy). Or we torture them to make milk, eggs, cheese, and cream. Cows are constantly impregnated so they produce milk for your refrigerator. Their babies are taken away from them immediately, and on top of that, their bodies deteriorate from the conditions. Chickens and hens, which pop out the contents of your egg carton, are kept in cages so small they can't even walk. The worst part is the food industry stuff these animals with hormones, steroids, antibiotics, and other unmentionables so they make a lot at a rapid pace. Convenience. High speed. Anxiety. America. And this food is now definitely not good for your body. Studies link the antibiotic and hormone laden food products to cancer, hormone imbalances, acne, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, and more.
The point is, when you buy less or no animal products, you are improving your body, your lifestyle, the environment, and the quality of life for other beings. So why not easily substitute some products if you don't want to make a commitment to becoming full vegetarian or vegan?
Here is a list of delicious products that are typically associated with animals, that you can buy totally vegan. And a former meat/dairy consumer, I'm picky AF. These are actually good.
1. Earth Balance Butter
2. Agave Nectar
Sweeten your tea without any bees.
3. Just Mayo
4. Gardein "Chicken" Tenders
Personal favorite.
5. Morningstar Chik'n Nuggets
6. Egg replacement options
1 tbs applesauce
2 tablespoon flour + 1/2 teaspoon oil + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder + 2 tablespoons liquid (dairy free alternatives like coconut milk, soy milk, etc) beaten together until smooth.
1/4 cup pureed soft/silken tofu
1 tbs flax seeds (ground flaxseeds) + 3 tablespoons water
7. Almond Milk
8. Coconut Milk
9. Soy Milk
10. Ben & Jerry's Vegan Ice Cream / other vegan ice-cream brands
11. OREOS
Start buying these products instead of your typical dairy milk, eggs, butter, mayo, and more. You won't even miss them. Even the smallest action helps. Make a difference. Vote with your money. Do your tastebuds good, body good, your environment good, and an animal some good.
P.S. Some vegan cheese is awful, try at your own risk.
Check out PETA's "accidentally" vegan list of products to see what everyday items you eat that are already animal free.
