By: Alaina Valdespino, Staff Writer and Photographer
According to Vegan News, over 9 million people identify as vegan or plant-based in the United States and that number is only increasing. In the past year alone, there has been more than a 300% increase in the amount of people that are vegan in America. As astonishing as those numbers are, the reasons why are even more so. From health benefits to environmental reasons, going vegan is trending, and will continue to do so for years to come.
The most common questions asked by non-vegans to vegans is why? Why change my entire lifestyle in order to avoid things I’ve been eating my whole life?
Well, as common as that question is, the answer isn’t all that simple; it depends on the person. Many people chose to go vegan because it is extremely beneficial for your health and wellbeing. That makes sense, considering eating vegan entails eating products that are whole, plant-based, from the earth, and with as little chemicals and preservatives as possible while also straying away from all foods that are or contain animal products including meats, dairy, and eggs.
That said, being vegan encompasses a lot more than just a healthier lifestyle. In fact, going vegan is one of the absolute best things you can do for the environment and to reduce your individual carbon footprint. Eating vegan can (among other things) help to reduce carbon emissions, reduce water pollution, conserve freshwater, reduce other types of air pollution, reduce deforestation, and save wildlife. By eating cleaner, more organic and healthier plant-based foods, anyone can have an impact in helping to reduce all of these major environmental issues while in turn, helping themselves. Between that and the amazing health benefits of this healthier lifestyle, it became a no brainer for me. To be healthy and environmentally friendly simply because of the foods I ate? It was about time I try to give this vegan thing a go.
For me, the transition to going vegan was a lot less difficult than I anticipated. For starters, there are vegan substitutes for just about everything I typically eat including dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. I was able to veganize the things I typically eat in a day and thanks to YouTube and Google, I was able to find some really great vegan recipes that are honestly better than some of the things I used to make pre-vegan.
As I’ve been making the transition to being vegan, I’ve noticed that these dietary changes have actually impacted my mood and my energy levels throughout the day. It used to take me 30 plus minutes to really wake up in the morning, but now I get out of bed ready to go. I also realized that I don’t get tired after eating; in other words, I used to feel fatigued and in need of a nap after meals, but now I actually feel energized after eating. On top of these changes, I feel healthier. I know that sounds cliché, but it feels good to know that I am putting good into my body. I’m taking ownership of my health and my lifestyle. Honestly, that feels really good.
For me, one of the best parts of being vegan thus far have been the conversations I’ve had with my family and friends about it. I get to educate others about the amazing things that going vegan can do for a person's health and for the environment and in the process, I’ve learned a lot. As I continue my journey of going vegan, I now know that knowing what I’m eating has made me feel better. And knowing that I’m actually helping the environment in the process really helped to seal the deal for me.
Here’s some great recipes that I’ve tried so far:
Breakfast recipes:
Dinner recipes
This article was written with no intent to convince readers to become vegan; rather, to share the importance of being mindful of what we put into our bodies and the impact that food can have on our health and the health of the world around us. Eating more organic and plant-based foods is one of many ways a person can reduce their carbon footprint on the planet and feel good in the process.