January is upon us which means it's time for Veganuary to start again! So many people I know are taking part in this month of vegan eating, so I decided to write down all the reasons why I love being a vegan to hopefully encourage anyone who is newly vegan to keep at it!
I always used to be the kind of person to say "I will never be vegan!" I gave up meat easily enough (I never really liked it anyway) but I was a self confessed 'cheese fiend' and stayed vegetarian for three years even though I knew deep down that veganism was the right thing to do. I finally took the plunge last year and haven't looked back since! I can now honestly say it is the best thing I've ever done for myself. Keep on reading to find out some reasons why I love it, and hopefully you will start to see these benefits too!
Exploring New Recipes
Before going vegan I was a pretty lazy cook. I would have some quorn chicken and a jar of korma sauce and call that a homemade meal. Since going vegan I've had to try a bit harder to recreate some of my favourite meals, which means finding and experimenting with new recipes. I can't believe how much fun it is to take a standard meal and think of all the ways I could change it and add different things to make it vegan and totally my own! Now I get excited when I think about what to make for dinner and I don't mean to brag but I think I'm becoming a pretty good cook!
Trying New Foods
Experimenting with new recipes has led me to trying a whole host of new foods I never would have tried otherwise. I can be quite a picky eater and always used to keep it safe when choosing what to eat but since being vegan I have had to open myself up to new flavours and ingredients I probably would have stayed away from before.
This is true for when I go out to eat as well. No longer do I just stay safe and order the same thing anymore, but when there's often only a few vegan options to choose from then I have no choice but to go for something I maybe wouldn't have chosen when I was a meat eater or even a veggie!
Thinking Harder About What I Consume
Since milk powder is in LITERALLY EVERYTHING I have to check the ingredients or look for that little green V on all the food that I buy. This has made me think a lot more about the types of food I consume. Don't get me wrong, there is lots of processed vegan food out there and I LOVE it but I've also come to rely on fruits, vegetables and a wholefoods a lot more than I ever did before. I'm just a lot more aware of what I am eating and it really has made a difference to what I eat and I feel so much better for it.
My Appearance
Last Easter, just as I was beginning to embrace a fully vegan diet, I weighed myself and was shocked to learn that I was just on the cusp of being overweight for my size. I went 100% vegan soon after this and within two months I had lost 9lbs. I couldn't believe it! Whilst weight isn't everything to me I was really glad that I had managed to get back down to the ideal weight for my size in such a short space of time. Looking back now, I'm not surprised. I eat a lot less cakes, sweets and chocolate, plus milk and cheese is so fattening so cutting that out did the world of good! I've always had quite chubby cheeks and used to be quite self conscious about it but since going vegan I have finally lost that too!
I have always dealt with quite bad skin and when I first went vegan it was pretty bad. However now, eight months on, it's cleared up and I have the best skin I've ever had!
Not only do I look better but I feel better too. Yes I am more self confident but generally I feel healthier and have so much more energy.
Not only do I look better but I feel better too. Yes I am more self confident but generally I feel healthier and have so much more energy.
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| On the left, me in February 2019 and on the right, me in August 2019 after a few months of being vegan |
Guilt Free Eating
I knew for a long time that veganism was the most ethical and eco friendly option but I was scared to make the jump. I continued to consume cheese, eggs and other dairy based foods because it was easier. I have always called myself an animal lover and went vegetarian for the animals but really how could I say that I loved them when I was still contributing to the torture and deaths of billions? I told myself that because animals didn't have to die to make milk or eggs then it was acceptable but really this isn't true. Dairy cows still end up being sold for meat as are their male calfs if they aren't shot in the head first. So being vegetarian wasn't enough for me and I had to eventually make the switch. Now I am so happy when I look down at my plate knowing my food didn't cause any suffering.
Learning About The World
Before going vegan I was pretty oblivious to the truth about animal agriculture and the effect it has on the planet. Adopting a kinder diet has made me want to be kinder to the planet in general and has lead me to learn more about climate change, sustainable and zero waste lifestyles and the effects of the fast fashion industry. I enjoy learning more about the planet and what I can do to try and help it and living this way makes me feel very fulfilled.
I hope you enjoyed this post and it maybe even encouraged you to think about adopting a more plant based diet. Please let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Until next time,
Beth x
