… as Madonna almost sang.
Does
being vegan still conjure up a sandal wearing, lentil loving, bearded hippy
dippy image? If so - that'll be me in a few days time as for the month of June
I'm going to become vegan. I've been mainly vegetarian since I was 16 - a *few*
years ago - with the occasional foray into fish (yes I know that doesn't make
me an always vegetarian but I have a weakness albeit only occasional when it
comes to sea food). I love cheese, cream
and butter although careful about what kind and how often I eat these.
Generally I have a healthy diet, with little processed food, but a fondness for
cake balances the scales the other way as it were.
So - why
am I saying adieu to some of my favourite indulgences? Mainly for health reasons and out of curiosity.
Over the
past few years I've become increasingly interested in health related issues,
pretty standard after being diagnosed with cancer I guess, and in particular
how nutrition can affect things. Of course there are many arguments raging
among medical/ health/ therapy communities and statistics, surveys, research
and evidence of specifics thrown around like sprinklings of sunflower seeds.
All I can say is I know I feel better if I eat better. I have cut back on dairy before and was an
'almost vegan' during cancer treatment which I believe (but of course will
never know for sure) helped me get through it.
I'm
putting my body through quite a bit at the moment having recently been trekking
at high altitude, had a hysterectomy and have another operation coming up soon,
so I reckon it'll help get me through
all this and keep well by putting good stuff in.
I'm also
a bit of a foodie, I do like my grub and cooking up new things, so this is a
great chance to discover some more recipes and different things to eat.
I’m approaching it in a positive frame of mind - mostly.
There are some things I'm not looking forward to as much such as:
·
feeling
like the guest from hell - this weekend is the start of giving someone advance
warning that 'erm sorry but I'm only eating vegan now' as I'm going to a garden
party. The host has already planned for vegetarians but mostly things I won't
be able to eat as a vegan (but it is an educational opportunity as this lovely
host looked on a website and found some vegan recipes she wants to make because
SHE wants to try!)
·
going
hungry - this weekend I'm also going to a county show and a gala, where the
norm would be take your pick from the vegetarian selection on offer at food
stalls (usually quite a range but again often not vegan) and help yourself in
the beer tent (uh oh - some beers aren't vegan). I will have to pack my own
sandwiches and stick to the Pimms (it's vegan - yippee!)
·
being
surrounded by 'temptation' - much as my son is a committed vegetarian he
definitely isn't willing to live without his beloved cheese and cake - so we
will still have these in the house (he is however keen to try whatever I make
and anything vegan that I buy in...)
·
feeling
deprived - I think this is only going to happen if I go to a restaurant or cafe
and find there's not a lot on the menu I can have (this will feel like a return
to my early days as a veggie when a cheese omelette or salad were often the
only options!) There are already a couple of places I love that do great
vegetarian dishes but studying the menus when I was last in realised they wouldn't
be suitable for a vegan. Finding and going to new places that DO do good vegan
fare is the answer I guess.
I'm
committing myself just to the month of June to give it a go and I'll decide
after that if it's for me or for life... (and since I started this wondering
about the image of veganism I've realised the only two people I knowingly know
of who are absolute vegans are the very gorgeous Spanish young man who taught
me to scuba dive in Greece, and Simon Amstell - also young, hip and very funny)
If you
want to follow my foraging in the world of vegan you can join me by liking my
Facebook page below
(and yes
I had a cheese sandwich for lunch today!)
No comments:
Post a Comment