Hey there,

I just read an old post of mine, a short blog about the first week I switched from vegetarian to vegan.

I’d say that most of the initial highs are true, you end up eating raw, beautiful foods bursting with enzymes and vitamins. Your digestion and energy levels improve... and as I stated in the original post, being a dairy free singer has helped with the clarity and mucus (or lack there of now!). 

I have not had a cold, or been sick whatsoever. The only time I ever was sick in bed was the first week of starting a new intense job, which was all stress induced. 

I will mention some of the difficulties of being vegan. Where I live, Fort Erie, I am in a 30,000 person town. Granted, the Niagara Region has some great vegan restaurant options, especially in St. Catharines. However in my town for spur of the moment dining, I have no options. I spend more time in Sobey’s grabbing ingredients to actually make the dish I am craving instead. So, it’s a positive and a negative. I love to cook, but sometimes you wish you could just take a night off... you know? Actually haha we do order from a local pizza place, and place the order with no cheese, then heat up the oven and throw it back in with some Daiya or cheese alternate.

The other downside for me is relying on wheat/bread products. It’s so easy to lazily whip up some avocado toast, or a grilled “cheese” that you end up with too much gluten in the system. To alleviate that, I have switch to gluten free and whole grain options, so atleast I am somewhat balanced. 

The other, is soy. Soy products are a newly minted vegan’s best friend. However, I have done a lot of reading on the effects of soy, and it should be avoided. If consumed, try to find sprouted, non gmo organic tofu or miso, as it is one of the most heavily sprayed pesticide foods. I still have soy way too much, but I am working on having soy free days, or weeks at a time, to give the body a break. 

Ok, so let’s get back to some of the positives of this journey now that I am done with my personal warnings...

The heart can show you extraordinary things when you have compassion for all beings. It’s humbling, and is probably my favourite thing about being vegan, you sort of become switched on to all living beings. I have become more present, and aware, empathetic to a fault. Don’t get me wrong, it makes conversations with coworkers or family members awkward at times, when they tell you stories of their latest hunting adventure, or the steak house they went to the previous evening. But as a vegan, you navigate those moments with non judgement. Open your world vegan view up to those who want it, because trust me, you can’t change the people who don’t want to change. Be your authentic self, speak up when the moments right, it will resonate a lot stronger that way. 

Veganism makes you feel both joy in the world around you, and strong anger. I don’t think I was in touch with my anger emotion as much as when I learned everything there is to about factory farming, caged animals, insemination, dairy cows, and the food industry in general.