These days all you hear about are plant-based foods or going vegan or vegetarian (yes, they are two different things). I mean with the chicken that can be made in a lab, who can blame people for wanting to find healthier ways of eating? My journey (along with my husband) started at the end of 2019.
What Started It All
We had just returned from a Bermuda cruise with our friends and I was feeling like a true glutton. I mean, things I typically wouldn’t do regularly, like eating a hamburger and fries at midnight with a side of dessert were pretty common on that 7-day trip.
Needless to say, when we came back from the trip I was ready for some type of detox. I recall hearing about a special online called “Game Changers” and how it was about the effects of going plant-based. So we watched the special and had some eye-opening revelations. So after that day, things changed in our household.
The first couple of months were more of a discovery phase. When we went to our favorite restaurants we had to figure out what type of meatless dish to get. I noticed that I was getting a lot of food with pasta, rice, and fries.
After getting tired of the same foods, we added seafood to our regular routine. Typically it was salmon, shrimp, or tuna dishes. Not every day, but a few times a week. Plus when we went to restaurants or had friends invite us over for dinner, it was something to add as another option.
What Would People Say
That brings me to another point. After we mentioned we stopped eating certain foods, our family and friends would routinely ask, “What do you eat again”? “Or can you eat this?”. I appreciate the thoughts that others have regarding our dietary choices, but I never wanted them to feel like they needed to bend over backward to accommodate our needs.
For holidays, there were usually enough sides to choose from and still have a full meal. One of the benefits I felt during the holidays was that I didn’t overindulge like previously. The feeling of needing to just sit and not move is not something I enjoy at this stage of my life. I was never a big meat eater in the first place, however, I do miss the taste of fried chicken.
It’s a Process
Every once in a while I will have a chicken leg, but it still doesn’t taste like it used to. Food generally doesn’t taste like it used to, but that’s a topic for a different day.
One thing I noticed, especially during the earlier part of the pandemic was that my grocery bill was less because I bought more vegetables. However, there are some “plant-based” meats out there that cost just as much as regular meat. I buy some of the Impossible burgers or sausage but I don’t like to eat them daily. Even though it’s not made of real meat, there are still a lot of preservatives and other ingredients used to create the product.
In the last year, the Instagram community has been a lifesaver for me. The way the foods are presented looks amazing. I’ve followed several vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based influencers and I’ve been able to create different dishes easily and within an hour or so.
Many of the dishes incorporate tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, and mushrooms, but I haven’t been bored with my options. And I can tell that my body enjoys these options better than what I used to eat in the past.
I stopped Labeling Myself
That’s why I keep eating this way. I won’t say I’m fully vegan or vegetarian but I prefer plant-based meals. My body digests these foods easier and I feel more energetic.
If you are thinking of making a similar transition, just try it out and see how it feels for you. You are not obligated to declare your “food” choices for the whole world. Because each day may be different.
When we were in South Africa, I tried meat a few times because I heard it was better than what we eat in the States. I stopped labeling myself with my food choices, but I like to say I prefer certain foods over others.
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