Tag: nutrition

Tips & Tricks for Going Meat-Free

kmgieron1

Personally, I have chosen to live a vegetarian lifestyle for about the last 13 years. While I will always encourage others to do the same and respect those who abstain from meat and/or dairy, I understand that changing a diet so drastically may be a large and intimidating step for some people to take. So, I’ve compiled a list of tips and things to remember that may help those who would like to transition to vegetarianism or veganism but are feeling unsure that they can do it successfully.

  1. Take it slow. Changing your diet does not have to be a drastic and immediate change. A gradual move towards vegetarianism or veganism will help ease you into this adjustment. Additionally, a slower shift is more sustainable, and likely to make it in to a long-term lifestyle move. Try beginning with just a once-a-week vegetarian meal, like a Meatless Monday challenge. Don’t be ashamed to take baby steps!
  2. Do some research. Read up on how to get all the necessary protein and nutrients from non-meat foods. Need a place to start? Check out my blog’s page on meat alternatives – it even gives you the approximately amount of protein in each one. Also look for some recipes that will introduce you to new plant-based food ideas. (You may want to start with some simple recipes so that you’re more inclined to actually make them.)
  3. Stock up. Once you know what vegetarian-friendly or vegan-friendly foods you’ll be wanting, go to the grocery store and make sure you get plenty of options. It’s easier to stick to a plant-based diet if you have the food available at home. It might also be a good idea to read up on the different food labels and what they mean so you can pick the best items at the store. (Check out my page “Learn the Language” for some quick information.)
  4. Host vegetarian/vegan dinners with your friends. Sometimes, it can help to have the support of your friends when you’re taking on a new challenge like this. This isn’t to say that the purpose of this get-together would be to change their minds and pressure them to cut out meat too. But having your buddies around all enjoying the same thing may help you start to feel more comfortable about choosing this lifestyle. (According to Self.com, “Studies show that failure to stick with a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is often attributed to feeling ‘different’ or isolated. Food is all about community and sharing, so do your best to share this lifestyle with people you care about—even if they’re not making the change along with you.”) Also, if you can create something really yummy that’s also vegan, you’ll impress them and they’ll probably support your decision even more and may even treat you to a plant-based dinner sometime.
  5. Remind yourself of why you’re doing this. Whether it’s for environmental reasons, health reasons, or animal/ethical reasons, it’s helpful to keep telling yourself why you are making this sacrifice/change. It’s a different experience for everyone, but if it gets particularly difficult for you, just tell yourself all of the benefits of making this switch so you can reinforce your decision and encourage yourself to keep it up.

Supportive Stars

kmgieron1

If you read my previous blog post, you know that I have had anxieties about being vocal about my vegetarianism. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that many celebrities have decided to follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle and are vocal about it. And they must believe it in strongly if they’re willing to discuss/encourage it, especially since their audience is obviously a lot larger than mine would be. So, I decided to do some research and find out which celebrities currently abstain from meat (or meat and dairy), and here are some of the ones that stood out to me:

Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi

Both Ellen and her wife Portia are strict vegans and have been since 2008. She had attempted going vegan much earlier, but it didn’t stick. “I’ve always called myself an animal lover, and yet I ate them,” she said. But then when someone said to her, “If you knew what chicken looked like or you knew how chicken was made, you’d never eat it again.” That did it for her, and she never looked back. In fact, Ellen and Portia are opening up a new vegan restaurant in LA!

Ellen Page

Another awesome Ellen has used her celebrity status on her social media accounts to speak out against factory farming. One such tweet: “Why are vegans made fun of while the inhumane factory farming process regards animals and the natural world merely as commodities to be exploited for profit?”

Kate Winslet

Kate is a vegetarian and her husband recently turned vegan. She says that using plant-based cooking is a form of self-care for them. She is also set to narrate a vegan film entitled “Eating Our Way to Extinction,” which will present veganism as a solution to issues such as “environmental destruction, the western diet health epidemic, and the twisted economics within the meat and dairy industries.”

Woody Harrelson

The owner of the world’s first organic vegan beer garden, Woody has been vegan for a long time and credits his diet to his good health. In the beginning, he turned vegan in order to keep his energy up; now, it seems like he is also supporting veganism for ethical reasons. He appeared in a video with another celebrity vegan, Sir Paul McCartney, encouraging viewers to reduce their meat intake due to the ethical and environmental complications surrounding animal agriculture.

Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth

The power couple recently celebrated their wedding and made it a fully vegan ceremony. Miley even used the hashtag #HotNonViolentAnimalLovingHusbandsAreHottest. Miley also has the Vegan Society’s sunflower logo tattooed on her, and she is constantly making posts on social media that make veganism look…well, cool. For instance: “There is nothing more beautiful than eating a meat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free cheeseburger in the sunset.” Miley’s husband, Liam, was actually inspired by Hunger Games co-star Woody Harrelson (above) to go vegan.

Evanna Lynch

Evanna became “fully vegan” in 2015 after years of being a vegetarian. She has said, “To hurt animals is to disconnect me from that most caring, compassionate voice.” She believes that humans should not use our power to suppress or put an end to animals, but instead we should be their caretakers. It seems like the same philosophy her character Luna Lovegood would probably have!

Natalie Portman

Natalie had been a vegetarian since she was nine years old and then made the switch to vegan in 2009. Talk about dedication! Last year, she premiered her “Eating Animals” film, which brings light to the animal abuse and environmental trauma that occurs due to factory farming industries. Her helpful hint? Trick your taste buds into not knowing the different between real and faux meat and dairy.

All of these celebrities, and the countless others that support vegetarianism and veganism, have inspired me to not be afraid to be open with others about my lifestyle choice. I’m doing this for the animals, I’m doing this for the environment, I’m doing this for myself. And I’m not alone.