My Intentions…
So why did I choose to go vegan? The obvious reason would be my connectedness to life. As a zen practitioner this would even more so influence my choice of a vegan life style or at least a vegetarian one. But I must confess this is not the reason for going vegan. First, to be clear, I do have an issue with the animal cruelty that goes on around the world today both in general but more importantly in our ignorance of mass consumption of beef and other animal products. It is sickening to see gras
s-less fields and fields of cattle crammed into fenced in areas where trucks would periodically drive by, shooting food into the herd, food that is not fit for even your pet to feed on. Chicken farms where people in suits must go in from time to time to clear away dead chickens that have died from over crowded buildings.
This speaks volumes on what the priorities are in the western world which is quickly spreading to our eastern friends. When the food industry is controlled by only a handful of producers with mass shipment from all over the world, is it any wonder how we lost our way when it comes to something so basic as food? The inequality that is ever expending in society and just recently we learned that Canada is the fastest growing industrial country separating the rich from the poor. This is alarming because it means the middle and lower class are getting less and less piece of the pie. It has been statistically proven that with such inequality the poor and more recently the middle class suffer much more in many ways including a number of cancers, heart disease, obesity, stress and many other forms of mental disabilities, as well as crime. I really could go on and on about the cruelty that goes on in the name of capitalism and our addictive need for this kind of food. So what exactly does this have to do with vegan? I’m getting there!
Many know that inexpensive food is unhealthy in most cases. The middle isles of a grocery stores are packed with sugary, salty, modified, and processed foods. These foods are cheap in every way but unfortunately more and more people are forced to buy these foods based on their purchasing power. With fast food restaurants offering another cheap and convenient alternative to this kind of slide down our throat food it is no wonder that obesity is becoming an epidemic. Advertizing plays a major roll in manipulating and playing on our addictions to sugary and salty foods, being flooded with ads from all sides, how can one not be psychologically affected by this?
So to get to my point one of the underling reason I have gone vegan is not because of animal cruelty (as bad as it may be) but its my protest against the system. Its one form of protest against the ever consuming capitalist world, be it a communist society or a democratic one it doesn’t matter its still under the umbrella of capitalism or the ‘free market’. Although I work and live this this system as there is no way to avoid it I can at least try. There are animal-by-products which I could purchase locally that are maintained and processed in a humane and environmentally friendly way but my protest is not the only reason I have gone vegan.
After watching recently the movie Forks over Knives and in the past seen Food Inc, it really made me think about what it is we consume. Why does the human eat animal and animal by products? Why is it that after breast feeding do we have to continue to consume milk from animals? Did evolution say to itself “in the future you will need milk from an animal but for now your ma’s milk will be fine”? Did god give this power to the mother for a short time knowing that they can get the rest throughout life from mans creatures? Although I have not researched it enough but I wonder did the homosapien need meat to develop into what we are today? I question this theory for sure.
Forks over Knives was a real eye opener for me when it comes to healthy eating and based on the studies done to date I am convinced this is the way to go. Animal by products were not meant for human consumption. Healthy living is another huge reason I have chosen this life style. I want to live a healthier life style for my wife and daughter. To increase the chances of not missing those precious moments of my daughters life as she grows and matures.
I would like to also note that it has come to my attentions that honey and sugar are not technically vegan based on honey coming from a bee and the process of sugar grinding/crushing by bone. I have thought about this and as I have stated above the reasons for me becoming vegan are not based on cruelty to animals. Sugar to me is natural plant based and I will still wear my leather jacket from time to time. One thing I have learned from our Native American friends: in the past they used every part of the animal including bone and skin. They did so out of respect for the animal. For the little sugar that I will be consuming as I will be getting most from fruits I will consume with respect to the process. As far as bees are concerned, that is what bees do and locally here where I get my honey there is no harm done at least not intentionally.
P.S. After almost a week of going vegan I have lost 7Ibs… woot woot!!!
Gavin
Day 2 Vegan Kickstart – The mom factor…
Well this morning my breakfast was much better, Oats & honey cereal with brown sugar and banana in vanilla soy milk. Lunch was a can of healthy vegan minestrone soup.
Dinner was delicious, Quinoa on baby spinach with roasted sweet potato stick and peanut dip. This peanut dip turned out great loved the taste. The sweet potato recipe was from ‘Easy Vegan: Simple recipes for healthy eating’ by Ryland, Peters and Small. The Quinoa was another made up recipe which I really enjoyed. Quinoa is kinda new for me. I have had it before in a salad my sister-in-law makes which is fantastic. Quinoa is definitely going to be a big part of my diet for sure as I really like the taste and texture.
Mom Factor: Earlier I received my first test as a vegan. Let me explain, I told my parents that I was trying a 21 Day Vegan Kickstart and their reaction seemed supportive with a hint “yeah whatever, good luck” which is very understandable as this is my gazillionth attempt at one form of a diet or another. Anyway my parents were going to the US for a couple of days as many Canadians do for some good cheap shopping. They returned the night of my Day 1 Kickstart. The next day my mother called and said “Oh I forgot you were starting a Vegan diet and bought you a bunch of you favourite ‘Hot Pickled Sausage Sticks’!” Errr, a thousand thoughts in one second went through my mind on how I can just eat one, finishing off with a firm “No, I can’t accept them but thank you ma.” This of course is a tradition of my mother or any of my family going to the states to come back with these meat sticks for me, they are soooo good but I held by ground and told my mom to give them to my brother or nephew.
So later on that day my mother stopped by to drop off some pj’s for my daughter and soap for my wife from the bath and body shop which we don’t have here in Freddy Beach. My mom felt bad she couldn’t give me those tasty treats so she stopped on the way over at the local grocery store and brought me some Vegan Chicken Wings and a frozen box of Edamane. God love my mom, thanks!
NOTE: To view the ingredients of this Firecracker Pickled Sausage click here… I don’t even think that they sell them in Canada but I could be wrong, I’m assuming they wouldn’t pass food regulations.
Another good day Living Vegan!
Gavin
Day 1 Vegan Kickstart
The first day of my vegan ‘lifestyle change’ is winding down and I couldn’t be happier. After last nights, what I’m now calling ‘the last supper’, I haven’t missed any animal by products yet, hopefully this will last. I started the morning off with Cinnamon Oatmeal with Brown Sugar. I will admit this was not my favorite breakfast I have ever had. I will have to look for some healthy but tasteful alternative and I’m open for some suggestions in the comments area.
For lunch I had a Whole Wheat Hummus Sandwich. This was very simple to prepare and I loved the taste. Never put or thought of putting hummus on bread before but with the cucumber and baby spinach is was quite delicious. In the future I will be sure to prepare a soup to go with this sandwich.
Being my first day I kept snack time simple and had a few Flax Seed Crackers.
Dinner time I just made up a recipe which turned out to be a delicious Stir Fry with Edamane on a bed of rice. I was surprisingly satisfied after eating this meal, both flavor wise and having the feeling of being full, as I was worried that it wouldn’t.
So all and all I am pleased with my first day of the 21 day kickstart vegan plan. One thing I will need to work on is getting enough complete protein or a good mixture of incomplete protein and I’m sure this will get easier over time.
Today’s recipes:
Cinnamon Oatmeal with Brown Sugar
3/4 cup of water
1/3 cup of oats
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp of brown sugar
Whole Wheat Hummus Sandwich
2 slices of whole wheat bread
1/2 cup of raw baby spinach
1/2 cup of sliced cucumber
2 Tbs of hummus
Stir Fry with Edamane on a bed of rice
1 1/2 cups of mix veggies (broccoli, mushrooms, string beans, carrots, onion)
1/2 cup of edamane
1 cup of cooked rice
1/2 Tbs of vegetable oil
1/4 tsp of sesame oil
1 tsp of soy sauce
Prelude… My 21 day Vegan Challenge
Ok it is almost Vegan time…
On Sunday September 18th at 7am in the morning I will be starting a 21 day Vegan experience. Recently I watched the much anticipated movie Forks Over Knives and was surprisingly shocked with what I seen. It was quite the eye opener.
Synopsis from IMDB.com:
Examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.
This is going to be quite a change for me and I’m partly excited and partly have the fear of failure. With my current health it is very important for me that I take this challenge but more importantly I must do this for my daughter.
What I will be doing is posting recipes that I have during the day as well as a journal of how I enjoy the food and experiences. What changes I may be feeling as well as frustrations I will go through. So I guess the question is why am I blogging about my Vegan experiences for one it is a way to provide future inquires for others who wish to go Vegan cold turkey as I am. Also, I believe that by posting my information (i.e. recipes, weight loss, before and after pictures etc) will help me stay motivated on my path. So time will tell what the outcome will be but that is the exciting part.
For those that may be interested you can take the 21 day Vegan Kickstart challenge as well here…
Brought to you by Zen Moments
Gavin
