People frequently wonder what led me to embrace veganism, and truthfully, it's not something I can pin down to a single moment or reason. My switch to a plant-based lifestyle was determined by many different reasons.
Diving into the world of veganism sparked a curiosity that went far beyond my initial expectations. While it was baby steps at first, it's been the continuous discovery and benefits over the past 12 years that have deeply rooted my commitment to this way of living.
Eating Too Much Meat
Before I became Vegan, I had an almost unhealthy relationship with meat. I would include meat in every meal, which made me realize I had to cut down on meat consumption and start eating more vegetables for better health.
Discover a New Way of Eating
Most people think vegans have a very restrictive diet, but the reality is that I just started including a lot of new food in my diet after I became vegan. Before veganism, my diet was mostly meat, carbs, and steamed vegetables. Nowadays, I'm confident cooking plant-based meals with many different vegetables, proteins, and grains in just one recipe.
Eye-opening Documentaries and Books
The most recent, "We Are What We Eat" is a must-watch documentary if you want to learn what veganism can do to your body in just a few weeks. Plants have a powerful effect on our health, from the very first day. Other documentaries that got me thinking were Cowspiracy or The Game Changers.
Feeling More Energized
12 years ago I decided to stop eating meat. After just 2 or 3 days, my mood changed, I started feeling more energized, and was able to sleep better. After seeing the impact that eating a plant-based diet had on me after just a few days, I never thought about consuming meat again.
Cooking Became Fun
I've never been a big fan of raw meat or fish myself, and I always found it very challenging to cook fish especially. The smell of fish that lasted for hours was unbearable to me. Suddenly, cooking became much more enjoyable and easier when I was dealing with tofu instead of meat and fish.
Learning Opportunity
Going vegan encourages learning about nutrition, cooking, and improving dietary choices. To maintain a good level of vitamins and minerals, you need to plan your meals and make sure you are eating well.
Feeling Better About My Choices
Somehow, I started feeling better about my food choices. I always tried to justify my meat consumption with organic, or cruelty-free labels, but filling my shopping cart with only plant-based ingredients, made me feel much better about what I was buying.
Becoming a Mum
How many times have I answered this question: Your kids are also raised Vegan? Obviously! I'll always pass down my values to my kids, and with that goes Veganism. Wanting to become a mum made me realize the food choices I wanted to give to my kids, and that didn't include meat or fish.
Community Feeling
Being part of the vegan community allows you to connect with like-minded individuals, vegan foodies like myself, and families that are raising their kids the same way we are.
Risk of Diabetes Type 2
When I started researching about reserving diabetes type 2, a plant-based diet kept coming up. By that time, I was already a vegan, and that may have been the reason why I was able to reserve diabetes type 2 after having my last kid in just a few months. Healthy plant-based eating and exercise were for me the key.
Meat and Dairy Alternatives
Yes, I still like burgers, sausages, butter, and cheese. Nowadays, you can find fantastic alternatives for all these products, which can make your transition so easy. If this is stopping you from becoming vegan, think no more; you'll be spoiled for choices!
The post 11 Reasons Why I Became Vegan and You Could Too appeared first on Six Hungry Feet.