How We Became Vegan

Up until 2016, we were like all the other non-vegan people out there. We felt that eating meat was normal. We had no desire to be those “weird” people who just made things uncomfortable for other people. We liked BBQ meats and had meat with almost every meal. We both had a nagging in the back of our heads that made us feel a little bad eating this meat items, but we just decided to push aside those feelings and not listen to them. We decided to get backyard chickens in 2015 and vowed that they, obviously, would be pets and never food. One of the chickens endured an injury at one point. She was put in a cage on top of our dining room table which became a makeshift chicken infirmary as we nursed her back to health. Joy felt incredible guilt one night as she was cooking chicken for dinner in the kitchen, while we had a sick/injured chicken being cared for in very next room. Joy felt absolutely horrible and vowed to never cook chicken again when there was a "pet" chicken inside. This was not much of an awakening, but did plant a seed. 

In 2017, Adam watched a documentary. This is how a lot of vegan stories go. The documentary he watched was Earthlings. This is something that would change his life forever and by virtue also change the rest of the families’ lives as well. He came to Joy the next day and said he thought we should stop eating meat. Joy agreed. The feeling was down in there already and she felt no need to watch Earthlings to justify it. When Adam told Joy he was thinking more along the lines of going vegan, Joy was not so quick to agree! Like most people, she had no idea how incredibly horrible and abusive the dairy and egg industries are. She thought, like many, “no one dies making dairy or eggs”. Adam began to explain the horrors and once Joy found a milk alternative the next day, she was on board. 

It was a challenge to decide what to do about our children. They were 10 and 11 at the time. We struggled initially before coming to the decision that they would be vegetarian. Joy eventually started trying to avoid buying milk at all costs. Their youngest daughter was easier to please, but their oldest was unaccepting of all milk alternatives until they found Not Milk. In regard to the kids, it hasn’t always been easy. We told them they can make their own choices outside the house, but in the house they would, at a minimum, eat plant-based meals.  

As for us (Adam and Joy), we feel that becoming vegan was one of the best decisions we have ever made!! Although we became vegan for the animals (it is amazing to live with a clear conscience, knowing nothing is dying for us to eat), we have seen many health benefits as well! We are rarely sick, if ever. We have more energy throughout the day. Although she rarely runs anymore, Joy has found she can still jump on the treadmill and run 5 miles and soreness is very minimal. She credits being vegan for this. Not only is it great for the animals and your health, but also the environment. It’s the thing you can do that will be the most beneficially environmentally over anything else you do, by far! So, if you really care about the planet and want to do everything you can, don’t just recycle! Go vegan! 

Being vegan in this day and age is incredibly easy!! There is a plethora of amazing vegan items. Gardein, Impossible, Beyond, etc. make incredible meat replacement items (burgers, hot dogs, sausage, chicken, turkey, beef, fish, crab cakes, meatballs, etc.!). There are a ton of amazing cheese options. Pretty much anything you can think to eat, there is a vegan version of it you can buy or you can make. There is delicious ice cream, frozen pizzas, chicken tenders (even ones shaped like Mickey Mouse). Too expensive? If cost is the deciding factor, keep in mind the least expensive food commodities are all meat and dairy free. Many world hunger organizations serve vegan and vegetarian meals; not because they wish to encourage a cruelty free diet, but because its the most economical way to feed the most people. With a little tweak in your shopping and in your go-to recipes, you will be vegan in no time, still eating delicious food and feeling fantastic about yourself, both mentally and physically!