The Background
Lately I have been having this urge to cut on my meat consumption. I am not vegan. I am not even vegetarian. For 27 years of my life all I can remember is parents feeding me meat, eggs and dairy and me picking up their eating habits. I never questioned it. Until about 2 years ago when an unexplained itching began. Then the occasional general itching turned into permanent itching spots that wouldn't cease unless I took a really long ice cold shower. After months of research, the reason turned out to be milk.
Milk? So out of the blue?
My doctor asked me if I wanted pills to ease my allergy (more accurate: intolerance). And I chose to cut milk out of my menu instead. When I did so, the itching stopped within days, the spots vanished in a week. Since then, I never had any trouble as long as I stay away from dairy.
But this diet of mine resulted in something even more strange. I started to notice I am no longer attracted to the idea of eating meat. In fact, as time goes by and I dig more and more in vegan recipes and reasons not to consume animal products, I find myself more and more convinced that this is the way to go.
If it weren't for milk, I would have gone vegetarian a long time ago. But there's still the doubt: would I make it? Would I miss it? I learnt to live without milk (and it wasn't easy in the beginning) due to the fact that I had no choice. Sometimes I miss it, especially the cheese, but I can't think about me drinking milk anymore. What for?
And if I managed to cut on my dairy and be ok, why insist on eating animal meat, ... when really, there is no logical reason to do so. Why consume it, when I don't even enjoy it anymore? Why contribute to animal suffering, why must a living creature die in order for me to feed, when there is no need to. I can let them live instead.
I will let them live. This is my challenge and it started on February 22, 2011.
About me
I'm a girl of 28 (or rather: I'm not a girl, not yet a woman), living in the tiny country of Slovenia. I love cooking, sewing, reading and photography (food especially), though I am lacking time to do each one of it properly (shame on me).
If you would like to contact me you can do so by leaving a comment or writing an e-mail at mlin(.)veter(at)gmail(.)com.
The menu
In the beginning of this challenge I used to document every single thing I put into my mouth, just to stay on track and have some kind of "support" system. At this point I find this rather unnecessary, so instead I publish new recipes and highlights. If you're just starting on a vegan challenge yourself, keeping a diary is a good idea, but a weekly menu plan is even better - this way you know exactly what you need to buy and have less desire to eat other things since you need to stick to the plan in order to use the food you bought.
In my cooking I don't use animal products, except for the occasional organic egg. I might cut that some day but so far I don't have anything against such eggs, if consumed on occasion. Organic or free-range production in our country means something totally different than in the USA. We're a tiny country and 70% of our country is covered in forest. So that leaves little space for any mass production. There is the existence of battery cages, of course, but when you buy from a small farmer, their hens are many times actually free and peak on corn and grass. Plus, I have an aunt that rises 6 hens, of which each one produces an egg a day. That means, in a week she has 42 eggs and her family as grateful consumers. And you just don't get better eggs than that, especially when you also know first hand what they are fed on and that no one abuses of them.
So, I'm mostly vegan, but "ovo-vegetarian" seems a more accurate definition, since I do eat an egg here and there.
Hi Kristina.
ReplyDeleteThis is an inspiring challenge and philosophy. I too have found that a short term challenge is more encouraging and successful than trying to do too-much-too-soon. And if you succeed, you just do it again, and again, and again.
I am a resurrected veggie and actually find the transition more difficult this time, than when I first started in the late '80s. And my lactose intolerance made cutting out dairy quite easy, as I was avoiding it most of the time anyway. Recently I've been signing on with as many challenges as I can find, including various Veggie Weeks around the globe, Meatless Monday, and a 7 day challenge issued by the Toronto Vegetarian Association, which I've started today. I'd like to try your 10 day vegan challenge in the future.
I enjoyed viewing your site, and I look forward to many returns.
I hope this message finds you safe, happy and healthy.
Perry
Hello Tofun and welcome to my blog. I keep my fingers crosssed for your many challenges and encourage you to just stick to it a little. The first 10 days are the worst. By day 21 your body usually accepts the new lifestyle and you can stick to it much easier.
ReplyDeleteI see you have plenty experience so I will not advise you in any way. But I welcome you to any of my recipes posted on this blog. I know I don't keep a menu or how-to make the "10-day vegan challenge" (although, thanks for the idea!), but what I would suggest is:
- try thinking of a number of days that is not too high, that you know you can manage: 10 days worked for me perfectly. It's not too long, but still not too short so that you actually give it a try.
- plan a menu! Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner! Write it down, day by day, go grocery shopping and then stick to it! It just makes the challenge easier, since you know exactly what to cook and eat, day by day, minimizing temptation
- and as you noted... if the plan works out and you succeed the whole 10 days and you're sad the challenge has come to an end... just repeat it all over again :) I had my day 100 yesterday and still sticking to the challenge! :)
I also visited your blog briefly but will take time to do it properly in the afternoon (it's morning here and I'm at work).