Where my journey began

It was a particularly busy winter holiday season. Parties, get-togethers, dinners, late nights, online shopping, wrapping gifts, printing and selling gift certificates, mailing packages. . . . Drinking wine and cocktails, eating everything that came under my nose. . . . You get the idea. Too much to do, too little time, and no self-control. Ugh, I was starting to gain weight and not feel or look so great. I told my friend and party buddy, “When all this blows over I’m taking a break! No alcohol or meat for one month!” She said she would join me and chose to eat vegan instead of vegetarian. “Vegan?! Uh oh, I really don’t think I can do that. What about cheese?!”

I ate mostly vegan for about a month but still had a stash of cheese that I would dip into on occasion. I learned to drink coffee with coconut milk, make omelets with garbanzo flour, and occasionally eat coconut ice cream for a treat. It was going pretty well. Then I watched the Forks Over Knives documentary, then Cowspiracy, then binged on anything vegan on YouTube. I was hooked. Finally I gave away that last bit of cheese and haven’t really looked back.

The support and conviction I got from educating myself kept growing. OK, I’m now one of those weirdos that has to ask for special stuff when I go to restaurants. Oh well. I really don’t care anymore. My health, the health of the planet, and the animal suffering I’m preventing far outweigh the embarrassment of being the weirdo.

This Miyoko’s cheese has saved me when I get a cheese craving. (I consume this only on occasion as it is high in fat and has a little added oil.) This company makes many flavors and styles; I think they’re all grand!

To learn more about how a whole food plant-based diet can help you live a vibrant and healthy life,
schedule a free consultation with a plant based nutrition specialist.