It’s 2016, I’m 21 years old and I’ve just spent a semester at university studying Contemporary Literature. My chosen topic to focus on is ‘Species’ and I spend weeks perfecting my essay on human-animal relations in literary fiction. I learn about the rise in meat consumption since 1945, animal experimentation and animal extinction. I passionately research animal representation in contemporary texts and decide to focus my assignment on destabilising human exceptionalism through cross-species communication in various novels. And I also decide to become a vegetarian.
Fast forward one and a half years and I had already gone back to my old dietary ways. I was putting on weight and felt frustrated at what food options were available to me. So, when my boyfriend decided he was going to complete the Veganuary challenge this year, I couldn’t help feeling like I was set to fail if I joined him. Although deep down I knew I wanted to do it myself, I didn’t feel ready to make the drastic (or so I presumed) change.
It was a few days into January and my boyfriend had stocked up the cupboards with meat/dairy alternatives and a colourful array of fruit and veg. However, stubborn as always, I cooked my salmon and veg for tea and continued to close my eyes to the knowledge which was right in front of me. That was, until, he started to play the Netflix film ‘The Game Changers’. I sat down and watched the full documentary and something in my mind clicked.
I started to feel excited about vegan food and felt like I was finally seeing clearly what deep down I already knew – what I tried to start in 2016. I continued to watch numerous documentaries, read magazines and books to give me inspiration.
We have now reached February and I have never felt so passionately about anything and yet there is still so much more for me to learn. I feel stronger and healthier. I finally reached a loss of 2 stone at Slimming World (who actually have a fantastic vegan meal plan and products!) – a goal I have been trying to reach since last April. I am eating more bright, colourful and tasty foods than ever and I feel like a moral weight has been lifted off my shoulders. In 2016 I knew some parts of the puzzle, but now I feel like I am making a positive contribution to the world from a moral, ethical and environmental stance, as well as for my own health benefits.
So, what have I eaten? What have I learnt? And will I be continuing with my new plant-based diet?
1. The food is amazing…
I have to admit, I am lucky as my boyfriend is a fantastic cook and has spent this past month cooking with new ingredients, gaining inspiration from famous Youtubers like Rachel Ama and Gaz Oakley, former Dirty Sanchez star Matt Pritchard and Wicked founder Derek Sarno. We have definitely not gone without. Evening meals are an exciting mix of new flavours, textures and foods I would never have considered eating before. We have eaten black bean tacos, delicious buddha bowls, mouth watering nut-roasts, (fake) cheesy lasagne and much more. I’ve ditched the processed foods and replaced them with fresh fruit and veg and we’re eating copious amounts of protein from legumes.
2. Eating out is a fun adventure…
More and more restaurants and fast-food places are introducing plant-based options. It’s amazing to have a choice for when you want a treat and I have enjoyed some delicious meals out, such as the Chiqitos jackfruit burger and chocolate pudding, Pizza Hut’s vegan vegetarian pizza, Nando’s supergreen burger and vegan perinaise (my favourite!), as well as lots of sweet treats such as Mummy Meags (Hull based!!) vegan chocolate cream eggs and Vego chocolate bars. M&S’s Plant Kitchen range is also great for grabbing lunch on the go. There is now more vegan choices than ever before which has made the transition so much easier.
3. You can still enjoy a cup of tea…
I have to admit, the thing I was most worried about was dairy. I had been a vegetarian before and couldn’t imagine how I could cut out dairy, too. What on earth would I have on crackers and what would I put in my cup of tea? The night I watched The Game Changers I asked my boyfriend to make me a cup of tea with soya milk. I had always turned my nose up to milk alternatives and never imagined that they would actually be nice, let alone find myself actively choosing them in replace of cow’s milk! It confuses me now why I was more grossed out by soya, oat and almond milk than by the milk from another animals’ udders. Looking back, I now realise that this is why i gained weight back in 2016 – I ditched the meat but increased my dairy consumption, eating more cheese than ever and continuing to drink cows milk – a substance that is literally intended to make a tiny calf grow into a huge 1 ton cow. Coffee places like Café Nero even promote soya milk by making it a FREE alternative.
4. It doesn’t have to cost more…
Many people have said how they have been put off the vegan diet due to cost. However, we have found that our weekly shop has actually reduced in price. Fresh veg is really cheap and you can get various tinned beans for around 40p! Other products such as brown rice and pasta are also really good, cheap staple food items. As long as you plan to some extent so your fresh food doesn’t go off by the time you come to eat it, you can actually find yourself saving money. Of course, some of the meat replacements items are quite costly, however, we have decided to not make our meals rely on these. We’ve also gone for own-brand soya milk which is around £1 or less in most supermarkets. We’re saving money on packed-lunches by making big batches of fresh soups and curry’s which are packed full of way more than your average 5-a-day, too!
5. My mind feels clearer…
It has always been obvious to me that a major choice for wanting to reduce my meat consumption was due to ethical reasons. I have always claimed to love animals, however, I also chose to avoid learning about the truths of factory farming and the dairy industry. It was just too painful for me to imagine and I decided to put it to the back of my mind and disconnect my food choices from the reality of how it reached my plate. I now feel like I am being true to myself and my views – my mind is clear and I feel proud of choices.
6. People are mostly supportive…
There are so many supportive Facebook groups and blogs out there which has been really helpful. My auntie has decided to become vegan with us and my boyfriends parents have been making some gorgeous vegan curry’s and opting for vegetarian/vegan options! Most people are really intrigued and genuinely want to know more! My Slimming World group is fantastic and not one person has questioned my food choices. At work we even have a meat and cheese day and they made sure to get in some yummy alternatives
So, yes, I will be continuing my new vegan diet. I have not once missed meat or dairy and I do not plan to give up any time soon!
I’d really love some inspirational blog/ book/ magazine recommendations, too. If you have any, please let me know in the comments!
Love,
Molly
Making Up Molly 