Check out NJ.com today for a great article posted today about veganism. It starts out with this: “It is almost impossible to have a conversation with a vegan and not want to slam the door in disgust on your own entrenched eating habits.” From there, I knew it was going to be good. I love reading pieces on veganism that are so positive, instead of reading about how “restrictive” and “difficult” it is. It’s especially nice reading something like this written from an omnivore’s perspective. Hooray for the Times of Trenton!
The article talks mostly about the ethical and health reasons for going vegan. I have the ethical part down, but reading this (among other things) has prompted me to think more about how my diet has and/or can affect my health. Even though I feel like my diet has been more healthy since going vegan, I know I have a lot of room for improvement. So, I’ve decided that it’s time to make my diet more healthy. I’m going to eat even more vegetables and whole grains, and cut back on some of my “treats”, like potato chips and french fries. I seriously didn’t lose a single pound going vegan, and that just seems wrong, considering how much cheese and candy I used to eat. What gives? Perhaps it’s the other crap that’s still in my diet. Time for a change!
Oh, my gosh, Mindy! This is seriously EXACTLY what I am trying to do right now… I have actually gained a few pounds since going vegan–which is frickin’ CRAZY because I used to live on cheese!! What the heck? But for the past couple weeks, I have really been trying to focus much more on whole vegetables, fruits, and grains, while cutting back on sugar & refined carbs… We’ll see what the results are, but so far, I feel great & stay full longer!
Hi Mindy. I just started a new social network at http://veggiegirls.ning.com/. I would love for you to check it out and add some of your favorite recipes, post a blog, or join in any of our veggie discussions! You can use the same login info that you used at Vegan Bits. Hope to see ya there!
Yep, there’s still vegan junk food out there – you could just live on chip butties and be a vegan. There are so many great vegan treat foods out that it seems rude not to eat them sometimes. At one point I would buy any old junk as long as it passed the vegan test (it’s vegan so it’s healthy, right?).
Then a voice said to me “Just because you can eat it, doesn’t mean you should…”
Carrot sticks and hummous. Now there’s a treat!
JESS – You give me hope I can do it! I’m not gonna lie, I like my “empty” calories. I know they’re so bad for you, but damn! 🙂
JAMIE – I joined! Thanks for the comment!
KATE – I’m glad to see others went through this too!
Yes! It often goes unexamined the amount of junk that slips into a vegan diet. Healthful living isn’t just eating vegan, or eating organic, or low-fat, or whatever… it’s about whole nutrition and providing our bodies with the nourishment they need! I know a lot of vegans who gained weight after going vegan, because they substituted fried foods for the cheese and meat they were giving up.
Good luck!