Vegan

After visiting a world conscious friend and watching countless netflix documentaries I feel veganism is a decent idea. Not only does this lifestyle help animals, but workers and myself as well. Of course animals will not lose their lives for my plate but the farmers who are harmed by the antibiotics fed to their animals are helped too. As more meat is removed from someones diet their chance of heart problems and cancer also plummets. It just makes sense. After going vegan for three weeks the cravings for meat and animal products decreases and plants fill their place. Though overwhelming at first this choice is not so bad at all in fact all of the nutrients we need are given more freely. Who knew potatoes and broccoli had protein? It is certainly not something they tell you at school.

If anyone wants some tips and tricks for getting past the hardest days I have thought of a list for you to get you started.

1. Target is your new best friend. While many stores do not offer vegan products in their frozen section, Target has loads of options and a little section in the freezer aisle for those of us living 30 minutes from a whole foods.

2. Mistakes are normal. If you like I do live with other people it can be hard to plan your own meals and remember to check the labels. If you do make a mistake don't give up as no one is perfect especially at the beginning.

3. Get lazy vegan foods. If your mom does your shopping ask for those frozen vegetables you can microwave and eat in five minutes. Not every meal has to be gourmet and take an hour or more to make. Personally I don't have time or space for cooking my own tofu so these vegetables and canned beans are the bomb.

4. Have an array of portable snack food. When all of your friends want to go out for burger king or olive garden you have your pack of salted edamame and a bag of raisins to hold you over. It is far easier to not eat meat if you carry around other options. Even shakes are good really.

5. Make a small list of the reasons you want to go vegan. This will help you when you are seconds away from having a slice of turkey with your family on thanksgiving. For me veganism is what I want because cancer and heart disease run in my family so lowering the chances is a bonus. Saving animals and helping small businesses and pretty much saving the world is also pretty dang cool.