Animal Free for February

"The answer isn't another pill, the answer is spinach."

I've floated between vegetarianism, pescetarianism, white meat only, and veganism since I was 17 years old. To be honest, I was never a fan of meat, I was always a "one more bite of chicken" kind of a kid. My parents didn't eat red meat or pork, so I didn't try it until I accidentally ate a real hot dog as a pre-teen, thinking all hotdogs were made of turkey (like the ones my mom bought). And as much as I love animals, saving animals is just an added benefit for me. I'm into a no-meat lifestyle totally selfishly, to keep myself healthy. Since September, I've been a pescetarian, following eight months of 6-day per week veganism (pizza and ice-cream on Sundays). Why did I start eating fish and dairy again? Because I live in coastal Connecticut and lobster is served at every restaurant. I also love salads topped with wild salmon or sword fish. I didn't suddenly decide that it was healthy to eat fish and dairy- I got complacent and let my love of seafood and ice cream get the best of me.

Since September- I've gained a bit of weight (still in the middle of my "healthy range", I was skating the bottom edge as a vegan), I often feel heavy after meals, and overall just haven't felt as good as I did while eating animal product free 6-days per week. The final push, last week I found a lump in my breast. I went to the doctor immediately, got an ultrasound, I'm 100% healthy. However, my doctor told (reminded) me that to greatly reduce my chances of anything suspicious happening in my body, I should reduce the amount of animal fat I consume. And that I am doing.

The timing is perfect. Friday begins the Chinese New Year- year of the Horse, its supposed to be a good one! And Saturday begins February, the shortest but most miserable month of the year for those of us who experience weather below 30 degrees fahrenheit. And so I'm resuming my (minimum of) one month as a 6-day per week vegan. I urge everyone reading this to join me- can't make it 6-days a week? Make it 5 or 2 or 1, maybe do what my mom does and eat vegan until dinner time.

I'm giving you some advance notice so that you can do a few things:
1. Plan to eat some of your meat and dairy today, get it out of the house- or give it away.
2. Go shopping (for whole food ingredients, limit your pasta intake)
3. Do some research, amp yourself up
4. Plan, plan, plan

Here is some advice on surviving veganism:
1. Watch Forks Over Knives. The creators of Forks Over Knives are actually doctors, I'm just a health enthusiast- they are much more knowledgeable and convincing than I am. You can rent it for $3.99 OR if you have Netflix, its on there for free- go visit a friend with Netflix and watch it together if you don't have your own subscription or feel like spending $3.99.
2. Find some great recipes. My favorite vegan recipe blog is Oh She Glows. There are hundreds of vegan recipe blogs online, do a google search or check Pinterest. I'll share some throughout the month as well. Vegan cooking can be a fun challenge.
3. Plan your cheat days: Actually look at a calendar. I usually go with Sunday but I know Simon and I are going on our Valentines date on Feb 15th so that week, I'll choose Saturday for my cheat day.
4. Don't wait until its too late to go grocery shopping.
5. Buy some lazy meals, Amy's microwave meals taste pretty good for days when you can't bring yourself to cook dinner.
6. Dine out at vegan restaurants. There are some awesome vegan restaurants in Chicago and New York. If you're going to a non-vegan restaurant, do some research and look at the menu before you go. Is there nothing on the menu for you? Modify a dish or make that your cheat day.
7. Remind yourself "I will eat ice cream again, but today is not that day".
8. Pack lots of food in your lunch box, you'll be hungrier than usual!
9. Don't think about what you can't have- think about the exciting new recipes or gorgeous fruits and veggies you can have.
10. Try new things. Try one new fruit or vegetable a week. In the last year I've discovered that beet juice is awesome, I love asparagus, Christmas melon is SO good, mangos are delicious in salsa, and I hate eggplant (not everything is a success, sorry).

To be honest, veganism isn't THAT hard. Its as hard as you make it.