Eating Vegan: What It Is and the Benefits

What does it mean to be vegan? No it's not some strange religion, and it's not to be confused with being a Vulcan, as Star Trek's signature character Spock was. (For a real-life sneak-peak at their spaceship check out the picture on my Facebook.)

Vegan is a way of eating that is devoid of any animal products or animal derivatives. Some vegans even refrain from eating honey! (A byproduct of bees.) Nonetheless, eating vegan has MANY benefits and those who chose a vegan lifestyle discover the following benefits:

• More energy
• Clear skin
• No B.O. (body odor)
• Need less sleep
• Feel more calm
• No more brain fog 

What do they eat?

So, what does one eat on a vegan diet? One might assume that a vegan would eat a diet akin to a bunny rabbit, (aka carrots, celery, and grass), but that is actually not the case. Eating vegan can actually be quite varied and it is very exciting to try new recipes!


Here are some things that vegans eat:

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Nuts and seeds, nut butters
• Sprouts
• Whole grains & whole grain breads
• Juices
• Vegan meal replacement shakes
• Unrefined fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado (avocado is a fruit, too)

There are many recipe books out there now that support a vegan lifestyle. Eating out might pose a challenge while eating vegan, but here are some suggestions to help make it easier:

• At a fast food restaurant, order a salad (if they have it), with vinaigrette dressing
• At a yogurt shop, order sorbet (It's dairy-free!)
• At a coffee shop, order tea or a latte with soy, rice, or almond milk
• At a sit-down restaurant, beans, rice, a side of vegetables (sans butter), salads (no cheese or dairy dressing), baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and vegetarian sandwiches are your best friends

Sources of Protein

The #1 question I would get asked when I was vegan for 2 years was, "Where's the protein?!?"

I found my protein in a variety of sources:

• Beans
• Sprouted beans
• Nuts
• Sprouted grain bread (my favorite!)
• Nut butters and spreads
• Vegan protein bars
• The many vegan cheeses, Boca burgers, and other pre-prepared vegan cuisine

Although soy and edamame is also another option for vegan protein, it is not my favorite because of the phytoestrogen content and it's propensity to mess with your hormones. (For both girls and boys!) 


Conclusion:
It is a sacrifice to eat vegan. But, you will definitely experience the benefits!  Some people opt to do "vegan fasts" or "Daniel fasts" during certain times of the year to detoxify or for spiritual reasons. As you focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and monitor your bread, nut, and oil intake, you will experience weight loss and detox results.  Eating vegan even 80% of the time is beneficial.

Keep in mind though, a dietary choice like this one shouldn't be so all-encompassing that you lose your joy for other things. Food is a vehicle, not a destination. :)