Welcome to the first instalment of Vegan Friday. In today's post I thought I'd try to address some of the reasons why I started on the path to becoming vegan.
Before we really get into it I'd like to preface this post by saying that this is not me getting at anyone for their eating habits, this is not me judging anyone who eats animal products - I still eat dairy fairly regularly even though I'm starting to gradually cut down.
I'm writing this more as a reminder to myself and to give myself a kick up the bum to properly jump on the vegan train...
I'm actually not sure where to start with this as there are so many amazing reasons to cut animal products out of our lives.
Let's start with the obvious. Killing animals is inhumane. Anyone who has ever shared their home with a pet will know that animals experience emotions, they experience happiness, pain, and fear. We love our pets dearly, like they are a family member, yet apparently the same rules don't apply to sheep, cows, chickens, fish or any of the other poor creatures deemed acceptable to serve on a plate.
The big companies selling these animal products try to tell us that the animals are treated well, that they are 'free-range', 'grass-fed' or 'organic'. The fact is they are often kept in unimaginably horrific conditions and treated abominably. The following video is difficult to watch but does illustrate the point.
Can I tell you something crazy though? The above reason wasn't what got me started on this path. It was watching the film Cowspiracy.
This is just a short video of the main facts and figures from the film, highlighting the environmental impact of animal agriculture. If you have Netflix and are interested in learning more about this I would strongly suggest watching this film. Going vegan has a massive, massive impact on our carbon footprint, and that is something we all need to be taking steps to get under control.
Over the past few years I've been doing more and more yoga. And the more I do, the more compassion I feel towards our fellow beings, human and non-human. This is another way that I've come round to this way of thinking.
The fact is, a vegan diet requires much, much less land than a meat-eating diet, and the earth is currently running out of space. People are starving because the grain they could be eating is being used to feed livestock, leading other people to become obese and have problems with heart disease, cancer and diabetes. This equation does not add up and there is an easier way. Let the hungry people eat the grain!
A vegan diet is cheap! Carbs plus veg plus some fat is what we need. A tin of beans and some rice is just about the cheapest meal it's possible to have. Vegan food doesn't have to be complicated and I hope to share some of what I eat with you in upcoming Vegan Fridays.
So there are just a few reasons why I'd love to be a full-time vegan. If you'd like more information on this topic I suggest you check out this page from the Vegan Society.
I hope you enjoyed this first edition of Vegan Friday. Are you vegan or an aspiring vegan? What were your reasons for changing your diet?
Until next time, thanks for reading.
SSV x
p.s. I'm writing this post as a reminder to myself too. The last thing I want to do is come across as preachy or superior. Living a vegan lifestyle is something to aspire to but I'm definitely not perfect, just trying to improve and stay informed.
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