I want to be vegan…now what can I eat?

When people find out that I am vegan, I inevitably get the question: What do you EAT?! The answer is pretty simple: anything that doesn’t come from an animal. That includes vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, pseudo-grains, fungus (mushrooms), sea vegetables, nuts, seeds…. People seem to equate veganism to deprivation, but I have found that since eliminating meat from my diet, I am so much healthier and happier, and much more aware of what goes into my body. I find myself reading labels, and if I’m not sure, then I don’t eat it. I did find one book extremely helpful (and I still refer to it when I’m not sure): Animal Ingredients A to Z: Third Edition. This amazing reference book catalogs everything from chewing gum to which types of waxes (on fruit) are vegan. I would be completely lost without it. There are strange-sounding ingredients in everything, other than fresh foods, and even I can’t live without my “junk” once in awhile. Did you know that most english muffins (a favorite food of mine!!) contain whey, which is a milk derivative? Or that the majority of buger buns contain either butter or eggs? Yes, I’m “that” crazy lady in the grocery store who is fanatically reading the labels of everything that is not fresh. I’ve found animal products in everything from cereal to snack bars to gum…. AND I am sure to read the labels EVERY TIME I shop. You never know when a manufacturer is going to change their ingredients (and make them non-vegan). Now that you’ve got a handle on the food that I’m putting in my body…it’s time to figure out how to transition YOUR diet. Have you been thinking about kicking meat? PCRM (Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine) is holding a 21-day Vegan Kickstart from September 8th through the end of the month…even better? It’s FREE!! It’s a great opportunity to take advantage of some good information (and some amazing recipes!), and a great chance to try a veg diet for a short time.

Tagged as: Vegan