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Notes from an Incidental Vegan
“I’m a vegan.” Though you are seeing those words on the internet, I am fairly certain you have a mental image of the girl you ascribe them to. She probably has long hair, perhaps in dreadlocks, and there’s not a doubt that she drives her Prius to Omega for summer vacation, right?
Wrong.
I have never fit that description but for 6 months I somehow adhered to veganism, an experience that proved to be much different than I ever thought it would be. So how did I transition from a lifestyle wrought with skim milk and Hamburger Helper to one without any foods from animal sources? Well, by now we all know that college has some very strange effects on the mind . . .
Just before I started college, I cleaned up my eating habits quite a bit. Once there, I stood in line with my plastic tray in hand, standing on tiptoes to see what was waiting behind the sneeze protectors. It dawned on me that I didn’t want to touch any of the meat in the dining hall. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing tastier than a well-stuffed pork chop, but where in the world was this meat coming from? Were the animals coming from a place that would gross me out if I had seen it in person? I couldn’t be sure, and so I decided to bypass traveling tacos and mystery meat until further notice.
Around the same time, I was (unfairly) blaming the dining hall food for the terrible cramps and bloating I had begun experiencing. I talked to a good friend and health food guru about it. “I don’t think it’s the food that’s bothering you,” she insisted. “It’s dairy. You know that stuff’s no good for you. Don’t have any for 2 weeks and see how you feel.”
What? My parents practically poured milk down my throat as a child because of how essential it is to “strong bones and teeth.” Surely, you’ve heard the same as me. Not to mention that everyone insists drinking skim milk promotes weight loss. How could this wonder drink be bad? I was startled to realize that a huge debate is brewing that says milk might not be healthy at all. After hearing so many horror stories about dairy, I decided that it might be the cause of my indigestion after all. So I ditched it for the recommended 2 weeks. No soft serve (!!), no yogurt parfaits, no milk and cereal. More than that, any baked goods, soups, breads, or anything else that contained milk or eggs was out of the picture. I just about went into withdrawals, literally.
You see, I’m certainly not a chemistry major, so I had to learn from experience that milk contains some proteins that give it an addictive quality (Which must be why I guiltlessly annihilate half-gallons of ice cream with a spoon). For those 2 weeks, I felt anything but better. All I did was crave everything I couldn’t eat. But after those 14 days, I had defeated my demon and my tummy was considerably happier without milk.
It was time to make a decision about whether or not to actually live life as a vegan.
Disgusting factory farms produce meat.
Dairy is pretty much riddled with opioids and can actually cause calcium deprivation.
My head was spinning. If animal-based foods are this gross, should I be vegan?
After much deliberation, I realized the answer for me was no.
Even though I have met many happy vegans, I suspended my foray into veganism after half a year. Though lightening up on dairy products made my stomach troubles cease, my energy was completely zapped; I didn’t feel as robust and alert as before. My verve was missing, and for me it was no coincidence that my yogurt cups were, too. I let a moderate amount of dairy back into my life, and I felt whole again.
So what now? I eat meat, but I try to do so consciously. I aim for certified organic meat, and I love when I am able to find good meat close to home. Basically, I want to know the animals I am eating lived a good life and were handled by knowledgeable people. I still pass by meat entrees in the dining hall, and when I pay $8 a pack for respectable hot dogs you know I’m not grilling too many this summer. But it works for me. I still drink milk in moderation, and that too is organic.
The war is still waging about whether or not there is any benefit to dairy. While I can’t offer any concrete scientific evidence that milk is healthy, I know it’s healthy for me because of what it gives to me. I can’t say that it works for everyone. The most important message I got out of my eating experiments is that everyone has to find their own food philosophy. We all can’t be omnivores. We all can’t be vegetarians. We can only do what works for our bodies and minds. At this stage of my life, I am turning veganism down. I’m still deciding, though, if I would turn down a Prius or not . . .
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Eimear says:
Sat, 7th Aug 201010:02 am
This is a brilliant post. Thank you for highlighting all the different aspects of food intolerances, and veganism. It was a very interesting read.
Linda says:
Sat, 7th Aug 201010:14 am
My story is similar.
I'm a picky eater, my freshman year of college we were required to purchase a (ridiculously expensive) meal plan. Of course I hated everything, & opted for pizza. Every. Single. Day. Ugh.
My face..which is usually problem free and smooth, broke out in a disgusting rash and I couldn't figure out why. I went to the doctor, who asked about my diet, & she said that I was probably lactose intolerant. I hate milk, so I didn't actually realize it until then, but, thankfully I was speared the digestive issues.
I cut the pizza & my face returned to its normal self in a few weeks.
Somehow, now I've managed to become vegetarian for ~1 year now, (not vegan, that's a little much for me lol) …not on purpose, but in general a few months ago, meat provided have just began to disgust me, with their methods of raising meat and hormones, etc.
Of course, I have to take multi-vitamins, because I do work out a lot and if I don't I'll feel really weak
.
JL says:
Sat, 7th Aug 20101:19 pm
I actually love milk and meat but this article was really insightful. My best friend is actually allergic to dairy so she has no choice but to not have dairy. I actually tried to give up dairy for a while but I only lasted two weeks. I. LOVE. MILK.
misnomer says:
Sat, 7th Aug 20104:48 pm
I think the important thing is to find a balance. Meat and dairy are harmful in excess, and can be bad for the environment, but they are the easiest way to get essential nutrients. My sophmore year I gave up meat and was always hungry, though not particularily tired or sick. Each year I forgo meat for a few weeks, and I eat more. I've decided that when I live on my own and am buying my own food, I will give up meat all except for one day a week.
http://studentswhostillhavesouls.blogspot.com
Wilberthe says:
Sat, 7th Aug 20106:14 pm
Great post! I've been a vegetarian for almost 5 years and a vegan for just a couple of weeks. I really admire the fact that you chose to educate yourself about factory farms (which is the reason why I gave up meat) and switch to a more compassionate way of eating.
You said that you felt that you were lacking energy when you stopped consuming dairy, so I just wanted to know (completely out of curiosity) did you try any substitute dairy like soymilk? I know how much I enjoyed dairy before I went completely vegan, so I can imagine how just cutting dairy out and not having anything to replace it with would suck.
Megan says:
Sat, 7th Aug 20108:07 pm
Interesting post. I've been a vegetarian for about six years now, and I'm no dreadlock-sporting, Prius-driving stereotypical vegetarian, either.
I've heard some interesting debates over dairy and the concept of person-specific ideal diets that you alluded to. A friend of mine recently introduced me to the theory that different blood types process nutrients differently, and thus cause legitimate needs in some individuals for, say, meat and dairy over leafy veggies, and vice versa. It's something I'd be curious to learn more about.
Concerning your mention of feeling listless while on a vegan diet–I've noticed over the past six years a more acute awareness of my body's nutritional needs. It may sound strange to a person who had never experienced a restricted diet, but one can actually "feel" when the body is low on a particulat nutrient–like protien, for example. If you watch for the signs, it's fairly easy to maintain a balanced diet and avoid listlessness.
If for nothing else, I think taking a brief stint with a vegetarian/vegan diet is worth all the insight. It's amazing how much our bodies will tell us when we take special note and actually pay attention.
Sally says:
Sun, 8th Aug 201010:47 am
I'm really glad you posted this. I am lactose intolerant and have been living a pretty dairy free life, but it wasn't until I at in the dorm cafeteria at orientation that I decided perhaps a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle would be suitable for my tastes. I cringe at the thought of meat in the dining hall and the dairy just makes my stomach curl. I'm really glad someone has the same views as me. I love meat at home when my mother cooks it, thought we eat it sparingly. So I decided at school to help keep off the freshman 15 and to save my bowels the hardship I would be a no lactose vegetarian. I'm not sure I can commit to a total vegan lifestyle, but it's nice to know someone out there is thinking like i am.
Holly - Emerson Coll says:
Sun, 8th Aug 20101:09 pm
Thanks for all the great feedback and discussion. I love hearing your own experiences!
Wilberthe, I discovered soy milk and tofu and loved it, but then I found out about the whole debate swirling about whether or not soy was good for you. I also thought it might be contributing to my stomach problems (via soy intolerance), so I avoided it. I do, however, love rice milk, and I drink soy milk now every once in awhile!
Megan, very interesting about how you can "feel" you lack something. I can to an extent, but not very precisely. I hear a lot of really informed foodies say that when you are really craving something, it's the body telling you it needs it. From my experiences, this is true at least some of the time.
So glad to hear from my fellow veggie lovers, dairy lovers, and food lovers in general!
Emily says:
Tue, 24th Aug 201010:34 am
Watch out with the stereotypes! Personally,I'm vegan mostly for the health and environmental factors. High cholesterol and early heart attacks run in my family, so since the beginning of high school, I've graduated from an omnivore to giving up red meat, and finally all meat.
After reading many articles on the environmental impact of the meat industry, the growing population, and global shift toward a more carnivorous diet, the choice to switch to veganism seemed obvious. Livestock accounts for 18% of greenhouse gases (transportation, in comparison, is only 14%!). Farming animals to milk and gather eggs bears a marked similarity to farming to slaughter.
I don't try to push my choices on others, but I also find that when I eat lighter, my long runs are so much more comfortable.
I hope I don't sound preachy, but I highly recommend the vegan diet!
Alison says:
Sun, 12th Dec 201011:21 am
I must say though, if you don't plan out a healthy balanced vegan diet, then you probably will feel malnourished. Many people report feeling more energy by eating vegan but you have to include fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.