I should preface all other entries by informing readers of my recent decision to become vegan. Because I am excited about veganism and am enjoying the change I will definitely be sharing tips on how to be a healthy vegan abroad. However, most everything I write should be applicable to non-vegans (and vegan meals are usually enjoyed by carnivores too). You won't see any entries on how to find or cook meat. Because my boyfriend is a vegetarian and still eats dairy and fish, you may see postings that include some of his/our explorations on that dietary front.
Why did I make the change? For a few reasons. Two years ago I did the quantum wellness cleanse (see link on the right under recommended reading), which requires, among other things, a vegan diet. I had never felt better! Unfortunately, because my motivation was primarily weight loss, the diet change didn't stick after I had achieved my weight loss goals. Thinking back on how good I felt during this first stint with veganism was an added motivation this past June when I revisited the idea.
I've always been mostly vegetarian. I have had an aversion to meat since I was born, but would randomly crave and eat certain kinds of meat. Over the past few years I worked hard to make myself eat fish thinking it was the best way for my veggie-self to get protein. Three years ago I discovered I was intolerant to dairy so I was already eating significantly less cheese, cooking with vegan butter, drinking almond/rice milk etc. This past spring I felt like something I was eating was still making me feel...off, so I cut eggs out. A few weeks later blood tests showed that I am, in fact, intolerant to eggs. That is all to say that, in June, I had medical reasons for re-thinking about veganism.
So no meat, no dairy, no eggs, all I had to do was cut fish out again and I'd be vegan. I started to do some research on the benefits of veganism, how to get the right nutrients and the philosophical reasons behind veganism. It all started to make sense to me. I had always disliked meat because of the texture and I couldn't eat anything that resembled what it once was. I disliked egg yokes and anything stringy. I needed to turn my mind off when eating animal products to avoid thinking about the fact that I was eating another living creature. I had to turn off my natural instinct to connect with all living creatures.
All of this combined with my yoga practice and desire to teach yoga... the stars aligned and I went vegan. I am not going to use this forum to preach the benefits of veganism, but I will say that I don't miss any of the things I thought I would miss! There are ways to fulfill cravings and create tastes similar to those of products that you miss. For example, a tofu scramble (instead of scrambled eggs) is delicious! Carob chips instead of chocolate chips = yummy. The list goes on...
So there you have it. I won't try to convince you to be vegan, but a lot of my tips, recipes etc. come from a vegan perspective! I also highly recommend the quantum wellness cleanse for anyone who is trying to lose weight, detox, or figure out what is upsetting their system. See how you feel and then make permanent dietary decisions/changes based on your own body's experience and wisdom.
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