vegan – The Poor American

In February 2022, my Doctor suggested that I go into a plant-based diet. I had been diagnosed with Lactose Intolerance my digestive tract wasn’t working properly.

I was feeling, run-down, and bloated, and no matter what I ate it was causing me severe digestive problems. My journey was not an easy one. I had to learn how to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat. I also had to learn going semi-vegan was not an easy task. My taste buds fought me all the way, certain foods just did not taste or look the same. I know, how to cook meat, but cooking vegetables was a new ball game. Herbs and spices had a new meaning for me and I had to learn to cook vegetables not as a side dish, but as the main course of a meal. Tofu is still a challenge, I am still learning how to cook it, but I will learn.

I am not going to lie, the first year, my wallet took a big hit. I had to experiment with different food items to find the best ones for me. Not all supermarkets are the same, they do not carry all the plant-based items, they just carry the items that sell. So, do not be surprised, if you find yourself going to different stores to find all the items you need. Once, you determine, which items are good for you (taste, price, quality) do stick with them. Yes, I have found items that I really enjoyed being discontinued or the manufacturer just when out of business. That is also another frustrating challenge.

Two of the things I missed the most at first were cheese and my favorite milk chocolate bar. Luckily for me, I found “Follow Your Heart” I am in cheese heaven with them, and “Hershey’s” Plant-based chocolates. So yes, a big shout-out to them both. I also learned, how to really cook, not just open a box or a can, and to think I am the greatest chef in the world.

Two years later, I am still learning, I have learned to cook properly my vegetables, I shop wisely, I enjoy my almond milk and I even bake cakes and cookies. I do use sometimes plant-based meats. My holidays are not looking sad and gloomy anymore. My energy has increased, I do not feel bloated and my digestive tract is thanking me for the change. My wallet is also happy, I spent less at the supermarket. I also lost 60 pounds and I feel great, and I have kept the weight off.

Please, do not feel discouraged on this journey, it does take time. If you are the only one in your household doing this, please, do not give up. In my house, I am the only one and yes, it can be non-productive to cook just for you, but your family will come around.

The main goal here is to be healthy, feel healthy, and enjoy the food you eat. Do not give up, this will be the greatest adventure of your life.

sow

Why did I choose to become a Vegetarian?

“I think, I want to keep my answer real and simple as to the why.”

I am sure by now, we all know what is to become Vegetarian or Vegan and the different variations of the two classifications. If not, I will briefly explain them here.

Vegetarian – A person who eats only fruits and vegetables.

Vegan – A person who eats only fruits and vegetables and does not use (in any form or shape) anything that is manufactured, tested, acquired from animals, and so on.

Variation of Vegetarians –

Lacto-Vegetarian – You do not eat meats or eggs, but do consume dairy-product (milk, cheese).

Ovo-Vegetarian – You do not eat meats or dairy, but do eat eggs or use eggs in the preparation of their meal.

Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian – You do not eat meats, but do eat eggs and do eat dairy products.

Pescatarian – You do not eat meat but will eat seafood and may or may not eat dairy and eggs.

Flexitarian – (The Flexible Diet) – You concentrated on eating fruits and vegetables and occasionally will eat eggs, dairy products and once in a while will consume meats as well.

Why Did I choose to become a Vegetarian? I wanted to live.

I love animals, if you have read my blogs, I strongly believe in the fight against animal abuse of any kind. But that wasn’t what got me to change my eating habits, the change came when I got terribly sick from consuming animal products. Meats, dairy, eggs, and seafood. Why? I do not know. I do know, as many of us do, we do our research, we “google” and we read everything there is about the production of the food we consume. My knowledge of where I got my products started and ended at

the grocery store or supermarket. Then I got curious and without putting any blame or defaming anybody or any industries, I was shocked, I was disgusted, and I was horrified by the processed and manufacturing of the product.

I am not going to go into details on the process of “The Slaughterhouse” or the injection or consumption of antibiotics in the food these animals eat. I am not going to go into detail, how inhumane is the transportation of these animals to the kill site. How delusionable we are in the interpretation of “cage free”, and what it really means.

How blind we are in how a cow really produces milk? Why are “male baby chick” grind alive because they have zero purpose in our food consumption? Why are hormone injected or fed to these animals so they can grow super fast and be super big in half the time (so you can enjoy a huge drumstick) while this animal are unable to sustained the dramatic growth which causes their injury, pain or even early death. How the term “humanly killed” is just a term and has no value or meaning and more times that we care to admit these animals are butchered (skined) while they are still alive and feeling the pain.

Do your own research, educate yourself. I am not here to change your mind or even convert you into vegetarism. I get it, you love your chicken wings, drumsticks, that juicy steak on the grill or that tasty pork. I did too! Until my body showed me in not a very kind way, continued this path and it will surely kill you.

I am not a hyprocated, I chose to live, and by knowing more why it was necessary the change for me it became more powerful, more easy to say “No!”

For me and for those animals is one less human they have to die for and one more human who cares about their pain and their inhuman suffering. One more human who does care and it is making a different regardless of my selfish reason that I just wanted to live.

What is your opinion on Vegetarism? What really matters to you?

I love to read your respond.

For now, thank you for reading “The Poor American” Blog.