GUEST BLOGGING
This post was written by Janelle Ziegler, of whom I encountered by chance on a facebook post about the slaughtering of animals. I admired her ideas concerning the issue, even the fact that having vegetables grown in shit is better than pesticides! LOL I like having different views on the blog and this clearly, this is no different. I really thank her for taking the time to write this and I have learned alot from HER experience. I have not given up meat, but I am attempting to change my eating habits and eat healthier than before. So without further restraint I present...
I AM A VEGAN
by Janelle Ziegler
I am a vegan.
This remark receives a variety of responses; surprise, interest, disbelief, disdain, and even disgust, or offence. It wasn’t something that I have always decided I wanted to do; it was a process that took time, education, and patience.It is a lifestyle choice for me and I have learned that you can still do all the wonderful things that meat eaters do. I can still dress well, and do my makeup. I can buy hot shoes and designer bags and I get to eat in elite restaurants for those who also follow the vegan lifestyle. There is a wonderful world out there beyond meat, leather, and chemicals. As I said, being vegan is a lifestyle choice and as I have eliminated animal by-products from my diet, I have also made the life choice to use environmentally conscious products, leather-free fashions, and animal-free products – this includes testing of animals as well as the use to animal by-products in the item itself. There is a sense of pride that comes from being vegan and the longer I travel down this path of a cruelty-free and responsible existence the stronger, more spiritually whole, and healthier I feel.
Several years ago I made the choice to go vegetarian because a friend of mine had lost a lot of weight simply by cutting meat out of his diet. There were many health benefits to this including a decrease in cholesterol and as there was virtually no saturated fat in his diet high blood pressure, which was a concern for me, decreased almost immediately without the help of medication. And that, combined with the weight loss, seemed like a manageable choice for me. Luckily, I had lived for a few years with both vegetarians and vegans so the lifestyle wasn’t unfamiliar to me, but it still took adjustments and a lot of learning I started by eating only organic and grain-fed meat and purchasing produce that was organic and locally grown, as well as introducing a vegetarian day to my week.This allowed me the simplicity of eating familiar foods while dabbling and learning about how to cook vegetarian and what things I would like to eat as one. I purchased a couple of vegetarian cookbooks for beginners and it didn’t take long at all for me to make the entire switch and eliminate meat from my diet altogether. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a breeze all the time, and in the beginning there were times that I fell off the wagon – I am human after all! But, I got right back on and kept on walking down my path. It can be hard at times in the beginning to adjust when almost everyone else is a meat eater. Using an American statistic (as I am Canadian), about 3.2% of Americans are vegetarian and of those people 0.5% are vegan (http://www.raw-food-health.net/NumberOfVegetarians.html).So to come across another vegan, is like connecting with a long lost family member.
When I shopped for foods, anything that was unfamiliar to me I checked the ingredients to make sure that there was no meat or animal fat contained. It became a habit to do so and eventually I began automatically looking at the labels of all products I used, not just for food. It was around this time I joined Peta and WWF and my awareness about the world around me and the effect that we have on it grew.I began to ensure that the products I used did not test on animals and eventually started using products that were environmentally conscious as well. Our bodies are our temples and I didn’t want to put anything in my body that could harm me both physically and/or spiritually. Pesticides, antibiotics, jet engine cleaner, wax, and carcinogenics are found everywhere in our foods and beauty products.If you forget the effect that all of this has on the environment – consider what this is doing to our bodies!We are actively choosing to poison ourselves…that just sounds ridiculous when you think about it. It was through this process of growth and awareness that something remarkable happened…my soul grew. Suddenly it wasn’t simply a matter of not eating meat, it was a choice to be responsible and true to the world that created and sustained me. It was about showing respect to this amazing planet and doing my part to provide a healthy home to my children, and then their children and so on. That is when I made the choice to take the next step and become vegan.
Learning to cook both as a vegetarian and as a vegan has been a very rewarding and challenging experience for me. Learning what foods as a vegan I can and cannot eat was shocking – but it got me very healthy VERY quick.[We] don’t have the same options of convenience food or the flavour carriers that meat, and eggs and dairy provides so learning to cook is a must – and it’s great! Never in my life have I been as excited to cook as when I made the switch to vegetarianism. I have learned to use my spices, sauces, and flavoured oils to make simply divine meals that are both filling and nutritious. As consumers who acquire their food from a supermarket we have become disconnected to what sustains us. A tomato is just a tomato; a sirloin steak is just a piece of meat. We don’t have the same connection to our food that we had years ago and as a result we have become rather spoiled and selfish in that regard. We consume too much, create too much waste, poison our foods and torture our meat. Choosing organic produce not only contributes to the sustainability of this planet and our overall health as human beings, but combined with taking the time too cook your food, play with your spices and being in the moment has brought that connection back for me and it has encouraged my journey to evolve on a more spiritual level. Try it. Take the time one day and really pay attention to your cooking. Take the time to smell the aroma, to feel the food in your hand, to dabble with spices and oils and put love into your food.
My relationship with my friends and family has changed and it has been a change for the better. They all needed to learn what I can and cannot eat as well and at times it was difficult, but there grew a level of respect and understanding that wasn’t present before and over time more and more of them have come to me to ask about they can make ‘better’ meals for themselves – this does not mean strictly vegan, but as a vegan you really educate yourself about nutrition and the benefits of the foods you eat. Family and holiday dinners I make something for myself to eat to replace the meat aspect and the rest of the meals always include dishes that I can have as well. People who were strictly meat and potatoes people found dishes that they love and even prefer over traditional dishes…my cupcakes are sensational and I make a pecan pie that is to die for.
The health benefits of being vegan have exceeded my expectations and it is part of my resolve to continue down this road. My skin cleared up, I have asthma and my breathing improved, and my energy level skyrocketed. I felt cleaner. My blood pressure went down and my nails and hair grew stronger and healthier then ever before. A balanced vegan diet can be extremely healthy and provide some amazing and surprising results.
Veganism isn’t the choice for everyone, but there are better choices that we can all make. You can choose to eat vegetarian, or eat only grain fed, organic meat.< Chipotle is a great restaurant for those options. We can choose to be cruelty-free and not support that industry. We can choose to gain back the love and respect for our food and our planet and we can make the choice to be environmentally conscious and work to keep our planet alive and thriving for generations to come. Buy in-season organic food and buy it locally grown if you can. Do your research! Never stop educating yourself – this goes for all aspects of your life. Make sure as best you can that your choices are safe, and not just for our planet and the animals that reside here, but for you. Take care of yourself, your temple, and let your body breathe.
I LOVE makeup and fashion and despite the common misconception about vegans I am no hippie! At least I am not a hippie in the stereotypical way. I dress to the nines, I smell amazing, and my hair always looks fantastic. I like nail polish and scented lotions, and bubble baths. M.A.C cosmetics, Calvin Klein, Abercrombie and Fitch, Aveda, Lush, Urban Decay, and Bath and Body Works are just a few of the hundreds companies that have chosen to not test on animals, and there are many companies out there that have completely vegan products as well. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort or style; you just have to make a choice. Life is all about choices and we can make good choices or bad choices, but in anything that you do, make sure that the choices you make are ones that you can live with.
If you want to befriend Janelle, you can find her on fb by clicking , here
I AM A VEGAN
by Janelle Ziegler
I am a vegan.
This remark receives a variety of responses; surprise, interest, disbelief, disdain, and even disgust, or offence. It wasn’t something that I have always decided I wanted to do; it was a process that took time, education, and patience.It is a lifestyle choice for me and I have learned that you can still do all the wonderful things that meat eaters do. I can still dress well, and do my makeup. I can buy hot shoes and designer bags and I get to eat in elite restaurants for those who also follow the vegan lifestyle. There is a wonderful world out there beyond meat, leather, and chemicals. As I said, being vegan is a lifestyle choice and as I have eliminated animal by-products from my diet, I have also made the life choice to use environmentally conscious products, leather-free fashions, and animal-free products – this includes testing of animals as well as the use to animal by-products in the item itself. There is a sense of pride that comes from being vegan and the longer I travel down this path of a cruelty-free and responsible existence the stronger, more spiritually whole, and healthier I feel.
Several years ago I made the choice to go vegetarian because a friend of mine had lost a lot of weight simply by cutting meat out of his diet. There were many health benefits to this including a decrease in cholesterol and as there was virtually no saturated fat in his diet high blood pressure, which was a concern for me, decreased almost immediately without the help of medication. And that, combined with the weight loss, seemed like a manageable choice for me. Luckily, I had lived for a few years with both vegetarians and vegans so the lifestyle wasn’t unfamiliar to me, but it still took adjustments and a lot of learning I started by eating only organic and grain-fed meat and purchasing produce that was organic and locally grown, as well as introducing a vegetarian day to my week.This allowed me the simplicity of eating familiar foods while dabbling and learning about how to cook vegetarian and what things I would like to eat as one. I purchased a couple of vegetarian cookbooks for beginners and it didn’t take long at all for me to make the entire switch and eliminate meat from my diet altogether. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a breeze all the time, and in the beginning there were times that I fell off the wagon – I am human after all! But, I got right back on and kept on walking down my path. It can be hard at times in the beginning to adjust when almost everyone else is a meat eater. Using an American statistic (as I am Canadian), about 3.2% of Americans are vegetarian and of those people 0.5% are vegan (http://www.raw-food-health.net/NumberOfVegetarians.html).So to come across another vegan, is like connecting with a long lost family member.
When I shopped for foods, anything that was unfamiliar to me I checked the ingredients to make sure that there was no meat or animal fat contained. It became a habit to do so and eventually I began automatically looking at the labels of all products I used, not just for food. It was around this time I joined Peta and WWF and my awareness about the world around me and the effect that we have on it grew.I began to ensure that the products I used did not test on animals and eventually started using products that were environmentally conscious as well. Our bodies are our temples and I didn’t want to put anything in my body that could harm me both physically and/or spiritually. Pesticides, antibiotics, jet engine cleaner, wax, and carcinogenics are found everywhere in our foods and beauty products.If you forget the effect that all of this has on the environment – consider what this is doing to our bodies!We are actively choosing to poison ourselves…that just sounds ridiculous when you think about it. It was through this process of growth and awareness that something remarkable happened…my soul grew. Suddenly it wasn’t simply a matter of not eating meat, it was a choice to be responsible and true to the world that created and sustained me. It was about showing respect to this amazing planet and doing my part to provide a healthy home to my children, and then their children and so on. That is when I made the choice to take the next step and become vegan.
Learning to cook both as a vegetarian and as a vegan has been a very rewarding and challenging experience for me. Learning what foods as a vegan I can and cannot eat was shocking – but it got me very healthy VERY quick.[We] don’t have the same options of convenience food or the flavour carriers that meat, and eggs and dairy provides so learning to cook is a must – and it’s great! Never in my life have I been as excited to cook as when I made the switch to vegetarianism. I have learned to use my spices, sauces, and flavoured oils to make simply divine meals that are both filling and nutritious. As consumers who acquire their food from a supermarket we have become disconnected to what sustains us. A tomato is just a tomato; a sirloin steak is just a piece of meat. We don’t have the same connection to our food that we had years ago and as a result we have become rather spoiled and selfish in that regard. We consume too much, create too much waste, poison our foods and torture our meat. Choosing organic produce not only contributes to the sustainability of this planet and our overall health as human beings, but combined with taking the time too cook your food, play with your spices and being in the moment has brought that connection back for me and it has encouraged my journey to evolve on a more spiritual level. Try it. Take the time one day and really pay attention to your cooking. Take the time to smell the aroma, to feel the food in your hand, to dabble with spices and oils and put love into your food.
My relationship with my friends and family has changed and it has been a change for the better. They all needed to learn what I can and cannot eat as well and at times it was difficult, but there grew a level of respect and understanding that wasn’t present before and over time more and more of them have come to me to ask about they can make ‘better’ meals for themselves – this does not mean strictly vegan, but as a vegan you really educate yourself about nutrition and the benefits of the foods you eat. Family and holiday dinners I make something for myself to eat to replace the meat aspect and the rest of the meals always include dishes that I can have as well. People who were strictly meat and potatoes people found dishes that they love and even prefer over traditional dishes…my cupcakes are sensational and I make a pecan pie that is to die for.
The health benefits of being vegan have exceeded my expectations and it is part of my resolve to continue down this road. My skin cleared up, I have asthma and my breathing improved, and my energy level skyrocketed. I felt cleaner. My blood pressure went down and my nails and hair grew stronger and healthier then ever before. A balanced vegan diet can be extremely healthy and provide some amazing and surprising results.
Veganism isn’t the choice for everyone, but there are better choices that we can all make. You can choose to eat vegetarian, or eat only grain fed, organic meat.< Chipotle is a great restaurant for those options. We can choose to be cruelty-free and not support that industry. We can choose to gain back the love and respect for our food and our planet and we can make the choice to be environmentally conscious and work to keep our planet alive and thriving for generations to come. Buy in-season organic food and buy it locally grown if you can. Do your research! Never stop educating yourself – this goes for all aspects of your life. Make sure as best you can that your choices are safe, and not just for our planet and the animals that reside here, but for you. Take care of yourself, your temple, and let your body breathe.
I LOVE makeup and fashion and despite the common misconception about vegans I am no hippie! At least I am not a hippie in the stereotypical way. I dress to the nines, I smell amazing, and my hair always looks fantastic. I like nail polish and scented lotions, and bubble baths. M.A.C cosmetics, Calvin Klein, Abercrombie and Fitch, Aveda, Lush, Urban Decay, and Bath and Body Works are just a few of the hundreds companies that have chosen to not test on animals, and there are many companies out there that have completely vegan products as well. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort or style; you just have to make a choice. Life is all about choices and we can make good choices or bad choices, but in anything that you do, make sure that the choices you make are ones that you can live with.
If you want to befriend Janelle, you can find her on fb by clicking , here
I am so happy this worked out. Although some of us are aware of our options, it's always nice to be reminded.
I am not ready to give up meat, at least not yet. I do, however try to make the most responsible choices possible about what I put in my body.
I have made some changes such as switching from white to whole grain everything, not just bread. I have made changes to quantities and types of meat and even the types of fats.
I applaud this effort on both your parts. Maybe this could become a series, maybe a little more light could be casted on the process. Or some more examples, suggestions can be made.
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The tricky thing is although we know ou r options we don't really know about them. I really thank her for giving an in depth look, I told Janelle I will ask her for some recipes down the line lol!
I did not know about MAC not testing on animals so I did head to their makeup counter, it was the first time I've ever been interested in MAC.
I too, have thought about becoming a vegetarian but I realized at this point in my life, it's not for me.
What I have done though is really limit what I eat, the stuff I eat and I became more conscious of calories which was really hard at first, but now it comes with ease!
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