So why did I become a vegan?

Oatmeal has become a morning favorite.

So why did I become a vegan? Well, as I mentioned previously, it all started with this book, Skinny Bitch. While I thought it was a great book, I'm not so sure it's everyone's cup of tea. In fact, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who was a hardcore meat/dairy lover and veggie sceptic because the writing might just make them roll their eyes and put it down out of annoyance. I'd be much more likely to recommend the movie Forks Over Knives or Food, Inc first. And, I might add, I'd only recommend them if you asked. I have no intentions of shoving my ideas on other people. Food and what we eat is personal. It's not my business what you put in your mouth any more than it is yours what I put in mine. I'm writing this post because I've done nothing more than hint at the huge lifestyle change I've made and thought that I should just put it all out there {plus, as usual this blog is a memory keeper for me and I'd like to look back and remember why I've made the choices I've made someday}.

Anyways, I think for too long I've let the curtain hang in front of my eyes. I didn't want to know the truth about what I was eating and where it came from because I didn't want to ruin it for myself. Surely you've had that thought before, right? How many times have you not even wanted to know how many calories or grams of fat are in your Big Mac or hot fudge sundae because it would ruin it? And you don't want to stare at a bunch of live chickens running around while you're gnawing on a chicken leg do you? No, because we want to keep that separate and turn a blind eye. If we thought about what we were actually eating or where it came from every time we ate something, we'd have a hard time keeping it down. So I didn't become a vegan because I'm some huge animal lover, because really I'm not. Although, I do believe in treating living beings with respect and the way that the majority of animals in the food industry are handled is nauseating and makes my heart hurt. I became a Vegan because I finally started thinking about what I was putting in my mouth.

Eating veggies and Hummus with a smile on his face!

I still love food. Always have and always will. It centers around nearly all social occasions and I associate it with good times and lots of laughs. And the great thing is, I've learned that "going vegan" doesn't have to mean giving up comfort food. It doesn't have to mean giving up yummy food, it just means being creative. Like I mentioned before, since making the Vegan lifestyle change, we've enjoyed cookies, pies, chocolate, pizza, burgers, ice cream and more. Plus, we've learned to love lots of vegetables and health foods that we had never tried before. Luckily, my guys have been up to trying all my new concoctions. So this change has been fun and easy. I know it's hard to believe, but it hasn't been hard for me at all to give up animal products. Sure those deviled eggs still look good and that bacon still smells yummy, but I just think about what it really is and where it came from and I happily fill up my plate with the vegan friendly options I brought along to the party.

p.s. I updated the blogs i love tab up top with some vegan blogs. If you've got a sweet tooth like I do, you've got to check out Chocolate Covered Katie!

p.p.s. I've also now lost 8 lbs without even trying or keeping track of what I'm eating, other than avoiding animal products. I didn't make this change to lose weight, but it's definitely a perk I'm loving!

xoxo,

Ashley