To Vegan or Not to Vegan. Is that a good question? I’m sorry. Is that red pepper laughing at me?
Probably so. For you see, after a 3 year run (maybe just a little longer) I am no longer 100% plant based.
For alas, at the end of the day, I just found it absolutely impossible to be the girl that ‘can’t eat this, can’t eat that’ all the while saying: “It’s not that I can’t eat this, it’s that I choose to not eat this”.
Now I will say that being plant based did a lot for me, in terms of changing how I see things. I cannot, will not eat a leg, a thigh or a breast. But I never really liked chicken anyway unless it was smothered in hoisin and stuffed with garlic. And I never ate much meat either. I will say I think of animals like chicken and cow the way I think of dogs. And the way those industries torture those animals, they just don’t ‘call’ to me. That’s not to say if I am out and we are all sharing, I won’t take a bite of a chicken dish, just to check out the flavor profile. But still…. I don’t make a habit of it.
The only proteins that are not plants that I eat are pigs and shrimp. Pigs and Shrimp, not a lot and not often. (Yes, I am quoting another book here, by Michael Pollan).
And I have started eating eggs once a week…. so I guess I am doing chicken in that way. What’s different is by becoming vegan (great book by the way), I have truly learned the art of mindful eating. So that means tastings of things, not an overabundance.
And here’s another bit of good news…. I also have doubled and tripled my vegetable intake with every meal.
I am still interested in a healthy lifestyle. What that means for me is keeping carbs to a minimum, not adding sugar to anything or eating desserts except for a rare occasion, and using smaller vessels to plate food (portion control).
I think that should do it for me. While many people suggest the Keto Diet, the Paleo Diet, etc., I have always known if you go on a diet, you go off a diet. So that’s not for me. With all my good intentions I could not stay vegan.
It doesn’t mean I’ve failed. It just means I am now making different choices. As long as I’m still changing out recipes for healthier options, not eating milk or milk bi-products, I think I am doing ok. How are you doing in the new year? Is Valentine’s Day gonna be your downfall? How about bites of chocolates instead of finishing the whole box? lol
I am here to support you. I know it’s not easy. But I am sure of one thing – we can do this together!
Healthy Happy Eating,
