We’ve all heard it. “You walk into a bar and there’s a vegan, an atheist, and a crossfitter, and you know this because they mention it within the first two minutes.” There’s always been a negative connotation around becoming vegan, however there shouldn’t be. Engaging in a vegan lifestyle is one of the best things I’ve ever done.
In fifth grade, I decided to become a vegetarian after believing it was healthier and more animal friendly than eating meat. After four years, I became intrigued with veganism, however I was convinced that I just couldn’t live without cheese. I started to scour the web, pinning vegan recipes and researching the impact of veganism. Soon my pinterest became consumed with pictures of cashew cheese and tofu tacos, and one night I decided to embark on one of the simplest recipes, a roasted tomato pasta. I bought some vegan cheese to go along with it, and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome, and decided to make vegan meals once a week. About a month later, I had become an expert on veganism, and decide to jump the gun and do it. For me, once I committed to veganism, it was simple. I knew I was causing less harm to animals and the environment, and my overall health increased as I was getting a lot more nutrients into my body.

     The first problem that arose was eating out. In my family, we like to eat out and often have big Italian dinners. While going to restaurants, I realized that upon asking our waiter, they had something vegan, or could be made vegan. The worst thing that’s happened was they didn’t have vegan entrees, so I had a small salad and ate at home later. During family dinners, I would bring a dish for myself, with enough that if anyone wanted any they could have some. I have introduced much of my family to my diet, and they realized that vegan food is not gross and can taste just as good as what they’re used to.
The second problem was my birthday. I was used to having cannolis for my birthday, but there’s not many options for ricotta cheese that sounded appealing to me. I settled on a coconut cake, and can honestly say it was one of the best cakes I’ve had.
Anymore, any of my diet related problems can be solved with a simple search on Pinterest, and a little bit of hummus. I think that veganism is an option for everyone, and with careful planning, can be extremely healthy and tasty. I encourage everyone to try a vegan meal, and if you like it, try meatless Mondays!