become a vegan

be coming back to this!

for graduation from middle school, my parents got me a book entitled, “A guide for the complete idiot: How to become Vegan.” Or something close to that, I got the “vegan” and “complete idiot” parts rights. I’m not a complete idiot, and the book isn’t directed toward complete idiots. It’s actually really informative. It’ll help me in my future.

Of course, I’m not allowed to go vegetarian until I’ve moved out of the house. Parents’ rules. I’m not going to go Vegan if I’m really allergic to soy and peanut butter (the allergist says I am due to tests they’ve done on me, but I’ve never had an allergic reaction, be it sneezing, rashes, or stomach problems,) but it’s a goal for me in my future, independent life.

I don’t feel like I can morally eat meat and dairy any more. I’ve been vegan for a week and I feel so much better. I hope I can keep this up.

sadly, seems to be becoming more and more unlikely, for many reasons. Not least that I am having to buy dairy and eggs for the kids anyway. I have changed to buying them organic milk (in the hope that these cows are treated a little better than your average dairy cow) and eggs from the ‘Happy Egg’ people as it appears (and it better be the case!) that their free range hens actually do get to wander about happily outside. Also, a small point, but still valid, I don’t think the cartons that the soya milk comes in are recyclable. They are in those tetra pak things. Does anyone know if they are or not?
The kids will happily eat vegan yogurts so I’m tempted to stick to those but they are so expensive in comparison to ‘normal’ yogurts. This also seems to be the case with all the other vegan alternatives. I am not working and money is ridiculously tight. Not decided on this (or any of it!) yet.
Then there is the ‘pain in the arse’ factor. You go to a cafe, you can’t have anything. You go round your mum’s and feel shit if you have to refuse what’s offered cos they don’t have anything else and then they feel bad. But I feel bad everytime I think about what I am effectively condoning.

ALL YOU VEGANS OUT THERE…I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU!

I will never be able to be 100% vegan. However, I can take “lazy” steps to eating less animal products. I already don’t eat beef, chicken or fish. That’s easy.

I won’t eat eggs anymore on purpose. For example, I won’t go to a restaurant and order an omelet. But I eat eggs if they are already mixed in with something.

Dairy is a little harder. I eat bites of cheese and veggie pizza. Maybe a little ice cream sometimes. But I don’t drink milk or eat dairy yogurt.

I think I am 90% vegan, and closing in on that 10% is very difficult. I know I will eventually do it, but now isn’t the time. I am just not ready. I won’t call myself a vegan though because I’m not 100%.

Oh dear.

I drank milk in my tea and ate cheese sandwiches with normal marg. I was round my mum’s and they’d just had to have their cat put to sleep, so I wasn’t about to start being a pain in the arse about food and drink. I needed to eat, that was what was offered so that’s what I ate. Also, I shall continue eating my kids stuff they make at school (as long as it’s meat free)as it means a lot to them. Perhaps that means I’m not actually a real vegan at all but it’s easier to say vegan than ‘don’t eat dairy or eggs when possible, apart from my kids school cookery, fish or meat ever…. blah blah.’

I just had proper porridge for breakfast =) I used rice milk (thanks Kitty) and decided to add a little cinnamon. Only I must have tipped the jar up too much and loads went in! I decided to see the funny side of it and cook it anyway. As it turned out it was yummy (though kinda brown!)Oats are an energy food aren’t they?

tomorrow (1st June 09) is officially the big day. Worst timing possible. MAJOR pms = craving all things sweet and fatty and I don’t have a penny to my name. I can’t even do the food shopping. Wish me luck.

Since I decided to become vegan, I’ve seen sooooooo many lush vegetarian recipes.