Like most of you, I am sure you have heard about the many health benefits that come with being vegan. Changing your diet to a plant-based one has the potential to reduce your chances of cancer cells, provides better nutrients, help with weight loss, and countless other things. It literally has so many health reasons and since I am pescatarian (only eating fish), most people assume that I should be able to do it - but I just can’t. I honestly can't imagine life without cheese, eggs, and most importantly chocolate. During Lent this year, I gave up seafood and I thought I was not going to make it past 40 days. The good thing is that I have made a conscious effort to not have seafood for at least 3 days out of the week and that is as far as I am willing to go (right now).
Since I am aware of the health benefits that come with being vegan, one would think that I would make the full transition but for the life of me, I just can't. I know people that have made the transition and they state that life is so much better and that they would never turn back. But, seriously, how can you live life without chocolate?
I, personally feel that life is too short to feel guilty or cut out things that you love. I made the decision to cut out all red meat and chicken because it wasn’t something that I still enjoyed. When I would cook red meat and see the transformation, it would make me sick to my stomach and I would not want to eat it. For me, it was an easy decision to cut those things out that turned my stomach but for things that I still love to eat, I will continue to do so.
I believe we can do all things in moderation. If you love fried chicken, enjoy that once a week. If pasta is your thing (like me) try to have it only every few days. If sweets make you happy, eat one KitKat instead of two. If Ramen noodles are your thing, just throw them away because the sodium is too high and high blood pressure isn’t cute. But other than that, do what makes you feel good about yourself and allows you to live your best life.
I am not saying that I won’t ever make the transition to veganism but I am saying that I am doing what makes me happy. Signing off as I eat chocolate!
Love, Brown Girl
“Food is essential to life; therefore, make it good” -Unknown