Veganuary!

No better time to try something new then January 1st of the new year… well actually try something new literally whenever you want but-

Welcome to Veganaury!

If you are able, try being vegan for the month (or a few days or even just a meal). We have been vegan for almost two years and want to share why and some tips that we have. This was a bit easier than a “cold turkey” transition because we had both been vegetarian for over 6 years prior and had already adapted to modifying meals and eating out.

Before we get into the why and tips lets have a brief talk about white veganism. This is a racist, xenophobic brand of veganism that tends to attack non-western cultures and promotes the lives of animals over people, mainly over people of color. Many vegan staples like tofu, different greens, and more come from communities and people of color. Plus, cruelty-free eating has historically been impactful and prominent in many cultures before the term vegan was coined in the 1940’s.

Cruelty free and vegan are not synonymous, in our case it helped us learn what impact we want our consumption to have but that is not always the case.

WHY:

Surprising the first reason was not the animals, although that is a reason, it was ethical consumption and human treatment (humans are animals)

1. But Alex and Marisa [insert vegetable] takes so much water and land. But Alex and Marisa [insert other veg] does not have ethical treatment of workers

2. You are correct the vegan lifestyle is not perfect for ethical consumption, but it is a step closer to understanding where and how your food is sourced.

3. vegan” ingredients to be cautious of their supply chain: palm oil, soy, cocoa, nuts, quinoa

The environmental impact

1. Reduces your carbon footprint à

2. it takes a substantial amount of grains and water to feed livestock and dairy animals just to have them killed

3. reduces gas emission

Animals!!

1. This is the obvious reason but also influences the TERRIBLE tactics that PETA uses

2. (we don’t support most of what PETA does)

Health

1. Veganism does not mean healthy

2. For us it made us more conscious of how we were fueling our bodies and how different foods effected us

TIPS:

1. Cut out a few things at first: no more red meat, no more dairy, no more seafood

2. Check online forms and resources, you do not have to do this alone

3. Protein sources à seitan, tofu, lentils, beans, peas, edamame, nuts

4. Egg alternative for cookingà aquafaba, applesauce, banana, flax egg, silken tofu, arrowroot, chia seed “egg”

5. Test out vegan options of your favorite dishes, do not be scared to mess up and try again

6. You do not have to announce to the world, test it out first

This comes with irony because we are writing this post, veganism does not have to become an identifying factor for you. In our two years other people have been more concerned with what and how we eat then we have been; your friends and families may feel the need to bring it up or announce it to big groups and servers so feel free to keep it to yourself until you are comfortable.

Good luck!

Here is so pictures of us eating...