My main goal for 2012 is to transition to veganism.
To be a hard-core vegan you must:
1// not consume any animal product
2// not purchase items made of animal products
3// not purchase products that have been tested on animals
My goal is not to go all “save the whales” on everybody. My intention is just to obtain ultimate health and I believe this is the route to go. Therefore, I will only be following the first rule. Do know, I have no belief humans should not consume animals products and I do not believe it a sin to eat a steak or a huge bowl of ice cream.
Genesis 1:29
“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’”
Based on this scripture, I believe the first people were vegetarians. In the beginning of Genesis, man’s relationship to animals are companions and to fruits and vegetables are food. This scripture does not support that humans ate vegetables and fruit ALONG WITH meat, but only vegetables and fruit.
Genesis 9:3
“Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
At this time (after the flood), God is giving humans permission to consume meat. The, “NOW give you everything” hinting towards the fact they were not granted to eat just anything beforehand.
My conclusion on the Biblical perspective is that we are granted permission to consume meat. If we glance back up at the first rule of veganism, it reads that we must, “not consume any animal product”. That does not just include meat, though. This includes dairy. I have not yet found any scripture pro or against consuming dairy, but I am still searching. I am very skeptical in this area, acknowledging we are the only mammals who continue to consume milk after being weaned. Based upon the research I have read based on a diet consisting of dairy, I am anti-dairy. Our bodies are not able to absorb all the calcium people claim milk has and have only negative effects on our bodies. Organs and all. Perhaps I will elaborate on that subject another time.
“…any other animal product” also includes foods such as dairy-free candies and baked goods. For example, gelatin (in products such as gummy bears and Jell-o) are made from the collagen in pig and cow bones, hides and connective tissues. Animal bones are also used to bleach and process foods such as sugar.
So the things I will not be consuming are the following:
1// meat & fish
Pork, chicken, beef, fish, etc. No meat what so ever. In Texas especially, this will limit the meals I am able to consume. Luckily this is not as much of a challenge. About a year ago, I went vegetarian for a month. It formed a habit of eating considerably less meat.
2// dairy
This includes anything containing milk. This can be butter, yogurt, ice cream, sour cream, etc. Here is a good resource for a list of items that contain dairy. You’d be uber surprised at what contains dairy.
3// eggs
Eggs are not necessarily an animal product, but an animal byproduct. Therefore, not vegan. This will most certainly be difficult for me, being the kind of person to grab a boiled egg and almonds on the way out the door.
4// sugar
No artificial sweeteners, pure cane sugar, brown sugar, etc. This is due to the animal collagen in the bleaching and/or progressing of the sugar. This also includes honey, being an animal (or bug, whatever) byproduct. Following this, I will be limited in the amount of sweets I eat. As in, no more desserts.
You may be wondering, “What the heck is there left to eat?!”. Then I would reply, “Erm…a whole heck of a lot!”
Such as:
1// vegetables
This is the most important part of a vegan diet. The high consumption of {FRESH} vegetables. Deep-green vegetables obviously being the best choice, yellow-orange vegetables coming into a close second. If your plate looks like a rainbow when you’re finished preparing your meal…you’re doing a fantabulous job.
2// fruit
A large variety of {FRESH} fruits are your best-friends. Apples are the “perfect fruit”, containing the perfect balance of fiber called pectin and antioxidants such as quercetin and polyphenols. You cannot go wrong with any fruit unless you consume a ridiculous amount. Again, our “rainbow” rule applies!
3// nuts & seeds
Nuts and seeds have a high fat content so they need to be eaten in moderation. A palmful is a daily serving. Again, moderation.
4// legumes (beans & peas)
I know very little about legumes, but I do know beans are usually a very good source of protein, but need to be eaten like nuts and seeds. In moderation. This is one area I want to learn more about. My lack of knowledge about legumes bothers me so I will most likely be eating very little legumes in this experiment until further notified.
5// grains & pasta
Grains: whole wheat (remember the bleaching of regular flour), oats, rye, brown rice, cornmeal, etc.
Pasta: made from whole wheat, corn, spinach, artichokes or soy flours.
Usually, vegans (and vegetarians) will replace their obsessive consumption of meat and dairy with carbs. Instead of eating more vegetables and fruit, they retreat to carbs. Only a small portion of my meals will contain grains. This is another area I have a minimal amount of knowledge in so I will proceed with caution when consuming grains.
Applying these guidelines to my diet, I will be an official vegan! As legit the title “vegan” sounds, it is not the title, but the health I am wanting to gain. I am certain this will be a difficult goal to reach, but the results will be fantabulously satisfying.
Starting tomorrow morning, I will be keeping track of everything I put in my mouth. Everything I consume, vegan or not. I am certain I will fail at times, realizing chocolate covered coffee beans (hehe…not my fault) are not vegan, but I will just beat myself up a little and move on. A little accountability goes a long way so I will keep you guys posted on my progress.
I have been asked quite a few questions about this decision of mine and I hope this post assisted quite a bit. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am no expert, but I am willing to research just about anything and elaborate on anything related to this topic.
