Many have contemplated over the rapidly growing crisis in America. Would you be able to resist that last freshly baked brownie oozing with melted chocolate, with its cracked top, and fudgy interior, even though you promised yourself no treats for the sweet tooth today?
Our country is struggling, and each and everyone of us can be the solution. Why are we having troubles losing weight? Why do we even need to lose weight in the first place? Our temptations are getting the better of us, and most people can’t resist them. I myself am guilty of eating that last lonely cookie sitting on the counter, but here’s the thing: by eating healthy, you can still enjoy your favorite snacks and desserts.
Some of the main excuses of why we aren’t eating well is because it’s “too much work” or “too expensive”. These however, are false. Eating healthy is painless. It all starts with a few kale leaves and some good old tofu. Right? Well, the answer is no. Many people who eat nutritiously don’t cut treats completely out of their diets.
There are many healthy diets out there, but one of the most extreme is the vegan diet. Don’t be discouraged though, just because the first picture that comes to one’s mind is of a free-range tofu parading as a piece of ‘chicken’ that you can buy in the frozen aisle at Hy-Vee, doesn’t mean that this is the norm for all vegans. In fact, eating vegan will not only help your physical and mental health, but it will also help the environment.
In the attempt to try to explain this in a different way, I made three different versions of the classic chocolate chip cookie. An oldie but a goodie…that’s what they say. Well, it may taste good with the pounds of butter that recipes call for, but it turns out that they are just as pleasurable with healthier ingredients.The results proved that we don’t need to give up our favorite desserts to convert to a healthier lifestyle.

Of course, these can be adapted depending on what suits your taste palate, but the majority of the people who tasted these delectable treats couldn’t even taste that they weren’t ‘normal’. Just keep that in mind next time you’re whipping up a batch of cookies; you could get an equally tasty cookie with better health benefits.

Think You’re Eating Healthy?
Most people don’t realize how unhealthy their diets are, or how detrimental the things they eat are to the environment. People’s bodies aren’t even designed to digest cow dairy products, yet we eat them daily. Just under half of the world population is able to digest milk after childhood, because the enzyme that does this stops getting produced. In addition, because of the high demand of dairy in the world, a rapidly increasing number of greenhouse gases produced by cows are being emitted into the atmosphere.
For those who are egg lovers in the world: the average chicken lives up to 10 years, but average egg-laying hens are killed at only two years old. Consuming eggs also raises the cholesterol levels in our bodies, creating a higher risk of heart disease. An easy egg replacer that works well in baking, cooking and even just plain scrambled eggs are egg whites.
Similar to eggs, eating meat causes a much higher rate of heart disease. Our bodies already produce the cholesterol we need, so eating foods like chicken, beef, and any other meat products leave us with a high cholesterol level. In addition, the grains that go into feeding livestock can feed 1.3 billion people…that’s 1/7 of the world population. These foods are actually not at all necessary for our bodies well-being, so removing them from our diets won’t create any health concerns.

Environmental Impacts:
If we keep devouring our food like the carnivorous we are, the environment will no longer be able to support us, and unlike with nonrenewable energies, there are no other alternatives for humans. All of the food that we need comes from the earth. One way that this can be solved is by eating less meat and dairy products. If just one person gave up their beloved meat for a year, they could save 162,486 gallons of water. To put it in perspective, that would be enough water to provide for 445 people. Animals use over half of the world’s crops, making farmland the number one cause of deforestation, and this land could be put to better use by planting food that we need. If animals didn’t take up the land, then humans wouldn’t be destroying Earth’s natural landscapes, such as the Amazon. By eating healthier, you can reduce many environmental dangers, or if you don’t, earth’s living conditions will plummet at an alarming rate.
Ready to Be A Vegan?
If you are ready to help save the world and feel like a healthier person yourself, the vegan diet is for you. A regular vegan lifestyle should consist of: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds. It’s important to make sure that you are getting all of your nutrients because you will no longer be getting your protein from meat. Also, while there are many good vegan products out there, it is still important to stay away from the processed foods, even the frozen section, because these products are made from foods that aren’t the healthiest options. The most successful thing that can be done is make your meals at home yourself. If you keep a handy recipe page on your computer, whipping up a dinner meal can be a simple task.
Avoiding temptations at school, home and on the go is equally important. If your friend is munching on chips during class, resist the urge to join in, or if you do, bring a healthier snack, such as a protein bar or nuts. Being vegan isn’t as difficult as it sounds, and eating healthier has been proven to put people in better moods.

Not Ready to Give Up Meat Yet?
If you aren’t hopping aboard the vegan train yet, that’s understandable. It’s never too late to start eating healthier, but if you don’t want to give up meat and dairy that’s normal, especially at young ages. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthier though. Try to limit your meat intake, even if it is only by one meal a week. Little changes now, while you are young, can last a lifetime. Coming from a family with a vegan father, I know from first hand experiences that giving up products you’ve lived with can be challenging, but you adapt surprisingly quickly. Trying new substitutes can be simple; try rice milk in your cereal, applesauce in your banana bread. After all, you’ll never know until you try. And next time you’re at the grocery store, look at the health food section. You might be surprised at how many vegan food products actually make your stomach rumble.
One major thing that you can do to reduce your intake of these harmful and dangerous substances is this: next time you’re at a cafe and you feel the need to buy a little treat for yourself, don’t. Do you really know what went into making it? Even if it says freshly baked, it’s almost a 100% guarantee (no money back) it includes an excessive amount of fats. Instead, go home and make it yourself. This way, at least you know what ingredients went into making it, and you can substitute some healthier options in for an equally desirable midday snack.
Eating more nutritious is becoming easier every day, with more products being introduced to local stores. If you find yourself craving a vegan chocolate cookie now, try one; you just might not even taste the difference. Eating healthier is the key to saving our world and America’s obesity stereotype, but it all starts with people willing to give it a try.