Going vegan is the best decision I’ve ever made! It changed my life for the better and it helped me fall in love with this amazing body that I have been gifted. Going vegan is not a diet, it’s a lifestyle and it has opened my eyes to how I can help the world become a better place for all. Starting by taking care of myself and making my health a priority. So how did we go from unhealthy, junk-eating omnivores to going vegan?
Inspiration
It all started when we realized that our son was allergic to dairy. He had asthma and digestive issues and dairy was not even on our radar as a possible cause. I grew up in Sweden and thought, without a doubt in my mind, that “Milk is life” (just like the t-shirt I was often wearing announced) and that it was the answer to all our nutritional needs. We would have some sort of dairy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every day!
But after watching Forks over Knives my whole life changed. Plants have protein? Dairy can actually be harmful to the human body? What was happening? I started to take a deep dive into how food affects our health and took the time to sit down and watch some more amazing documentaries and educating myself about what eating meat, eggs, and dairy do to our health, the environment, and the animals.
Here are my top 3 movies and check out this post for even more inspiration.
After watching these movies I wanted to make changes right away and I started by taking a look at how we ate. If I didn’t eat meat, eggs, and dairy what was there even left? Lettuce? I don’t even like salad! Ha, ha! I felt so lost, but also very determined and excited to find a solution.
Delicious Food
I went straight to Pinterest and found a whole new world. I can honestly say that I have never eaten this well and I don’t ever feel deprived or like I’m missing out. There’s just no end to the possibilities! Just type in what you want to eat and then type in the word Vegan. Some of our favorite searches are “Easy Vegan Dinner”, “Vegan Pasta Dishes”, “Vegan Desserts”. Or get more specific “Vegan Thai Food”, “Vegan Pizza”, “Vegan Pesto” and “Vegan Kid’s Food”. There’s seriously so much to choose from and we’ve had so much fun becoming pretty great chefs and also knowing how to put together a yummy and healthy meal in just a couple of minutes on busy weeknights. What’s your favorite thing you like to make now? Just add the magic word “Vegan” to that and Pinterest will show you the way.
Here are some of my favorite recipes so far:
I would also recommend getting a couple of cookbooks to get started. I was pleasantly surprised by how many vegan cookbooks they had to choose from at the library. Some of my favorite authors are Angela Liddon, Isa Chandra Moskowitz, and Kris Carr. Here’s the complete list of our 14 favorite vegan cookbooks. Let the fun begin!
Getting moving
It didn’t take me long after cutting out the animal products from my diet, that I started seeing results. I didn’t deprive myself at all, quite the contrary I must say. I had a delicious colorful breakfast, tasty lunch and yummy dinner and I would even snack on fruit in between meals if I was hungry. After just a couple of days, I felt so great, that I wanted to exercise. Have you heard such a crazy thing? Ha, ha!
I had so much energy so going for walks, jogging, doing yoga, dancing and swimming sounded like something my body was craving. The weight just melted off, I wasn’t even trying. One thing led to the next and I would drink more water and go to bed at a reasonable hour, which meant I would wake up feeling rested and wanting to keep taking good care of myself and my family.
Making the connection
Once I made the connection, that there really was no difference between the animals I used to eat and my sweet beagles at home, it all became second nature. I no longer see animals as food. Not eating bacon made from pigs or hamburgers from cows is so easy. I can still get all the flavors and textures that I love. Realizing that it was the spices and preparation that made the chicken, for example, taste good was life-altering. We would have never eaten the animal product without cooking and preparing it first. It was actually the sauces, the spices, the garlic and onions and so on that made the meal come alive.
Now, I just get the same flavors but use all the delicious plants that we have available to us for protein instead (and fiber which I didn’t even get from the meat). Feeling vibrant, being aligned with my core values and making a difference for animals and the planet is like hitting the jackpot. It’s an amazing way to live!
I can also happily report that my son no longer has asthma nor any digestive issues at all. I’m beyond grateful! Begin vegan is amazing! Our only regret is not having made the switch earlier.
Are you curious about going vegan but don’t know where to get started? I’m happy to help. Send me a message or check out all the Easy Tips for Going Vegan that we have posted to this blog.
