It’s been a month, and I’ve been essentially meat- & dairy-free. I still can’t glide across the windows of Tapa King & Dairy Queen without looking wistful, but I’ve generally been a good girl. And you’ve probably heard this a million times, but I do feel great. Even better than I did 10 years ago.
Since June of 2010, we’ve been eating a low-fat whole food plant-based diet. That’s quite a mouthful. It’s much easier to say “vegan” & get it over with. But the only similarity is the “plant-based” part. The differences are in:
- Whole foods. Vegans can eat processed food. Potato chips & softdrinks are considered vegan.
- Low-fat. Vegans do not mind having drops of olive oil, sunflower oil, & the like. We, on the other hand, avoid oil as much as we can. Yes, even the so-called healthy olive oil.
And yes, I’ve been strong. I’ve learned it’s better not to answer questions on where I will get my protein, calcium, iron, etc. Especially if those questions come from someone who is trying to discourage us from pursuing with the diet, or someone who uses his questioning as a way of defending his choice of eating meat.
I’m also immune to the number of well-meaning requests for me to read the Vegetarian Myth. Because I have my own reading materials – medical journals from the last 20 years, and books of the likes of Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. McDougall, Dr. Pam Popper, & Colin Campbell.
Why did we do this? The short answer is for our health. The long answer requires a bit of storytelling involving hospitals both in the United States & in the Philippines, & us realizing that all the pills we’ve been taking are merely there to help the symptoms, & not the cause, of the disease. It goes without saying that we have lost our faith in the so-called health industry, whose beneficiaries have always been the pharmaceutical companies & providers of health insurance.
So what do we eat? In a nutshell:
- A lot of starch. Complex carbohydrates are the center of our meals. Includes whole grains, unrefined flours, legumes, roots. We eat a lot of brown rice & beans.
- Fruits & vegetables. Merely as add-ons to the starch.
- However, we do avoid nuts & certain fruits like avocado, olives, & coconut because of the fat content.
- No meat. Not even chicken. Not even fish.
- No dairy. Includes milk, butter, cheese.
- No eggs.
- No coffee or colas. But we do drink tea.
- Very minimal processed foods. Even if they are labeled as “vegan-friendly.” We make our own vegan versions of mayonnaise, burgers, etc.
So there you go … the weird eating lifestyle of yours truly. To my meat-loving friends, thank you for your support & understanding. We may not say it, but it’s really quite touching that you are very concerned on where we’re going to eat, etc.
(To those who have waged war every time I tweet about anything vegan: I have never forced anyone to follow this eating lifestyle. But it seems you are with yours. If you can’t live & let live, and if you can’t keep your snide remarks to yourself, I won’t back down. I swear I will irritate you back. So bring it.)
I’m glad you wrote this. I don’t mean that it’s changed my life or such but I’m happy to see you state your reasons etc. in a matter of fact way. Most people (me included) take a dim view on Vegans and not Veganism. It’s the entire moral argument they wrap the diet up in which gets on my nerves. I hate proselytizing in any form since I’m pretty sure I’m a big enough boy to make up my mind about things and hate being lectured to.
I’ll be the first to say there are a ton of reputable studies that show low-fat vegetarian diets are healthier and more beneficial than the average diet in this country. Is that going to change my mind? Nah. It’s a quality of life issue for me in that eating and cooking is where I derive so much pleasure. Anecdotally I don’t feel any better eating healthy and seeing how long my father and his father lived on a diet of total crap I’ll be OK enough. If not I’ll just throw myself under a bus when the time comes. But that is my choice. I have no problem with other people’s choices whether it is eating macrobiotic, 0 animal products, or an all cupcake diet. OK, I would speak up against an all zinc-clad nail and glass shard diet. Live and let live is such a simple idea but so hard for people to embrace.
“The Vegetarian Myth” is actually most interesting in how it discusses the environmental and economic claims made by many Vegetarian sources. The book isn’t a hit job on Vegetarianism or Veganism just presents some critical thinking.
Good luck with you diet and the challenges you face with in a less than understanding world!
Would that I possess your dedication and discipline in deciding to go vegan and sticking to it. You and I know how difficult it is to be a non-meat eater in the R of P. If there is anything I can do to assist you in your gustatory experiences, please tell me. I will do what I can. I’ve already identified a place here where I can procure vegan cheese, the kind that everyone says is “to die for.” Tell me if you are interested!