You Decided To Go Vegan…Now What?

Firstly… I will say, “Congratulations!”

Second, third, and fourthly… Mother Earth appreciates you …animals appreciate you... and your own body\mind will appreciate you …for living the vegan lifestyle.

Perhaps, this very morning, you were enchantingly awakened, by an auspicious sunrise, and now, you… are newly vegan. Consequently, you are wondering what new vegan wonders you can perform, with the rest of your day. In the following paragraphs, I will offer some suggestions to help… ease… your transition into veganism. Do I seem to hint that …maybe, it will not be easy to do?

I do not mean to doubt you. It’s just that… well… you see… I was groomed for my vegan vocation, by the School Of Hard Knocks. My first attempt at a vegan transition …failed. (That story… another time). It may be your destiny to sail on a magic carpet, that gently lands you on the sands of success. But, for those on the hard bumpy road, let me say, “Though veganism is more than just a diet… the diet aspect… is, itself, a… hurdle.”

Let’s begin with an introduction… to some of the vegan food-products available, on the commercial market. Myself, I started by …replacing some everyday items like mayonnaise, butter, bread, cheese, and milk; …with vegan brands. This was my first move; because I was in love, already, with rice and beans, which are vegan …naturally. Soon after, I began “veganizing” traditional popular basics, as: chicken fried rice; lasagna with Italian-sausage; cold-cut sandwiches; burgers; pepperoni pizza; meat-balls\meat-loaf; holiday roasts; huevos rancheros; and on and on; until …wow …I discovered an amazing reality. If I am the first to tell you this, then …here it comes: vegans can eat any food\recipe in the whole wide world. How? Because: (A) animals are not food …the concept of “animals as food” is a facsimile… the GENUINE thing is plants for food… the COPY is animals for food. Do not get attached to the “copy” …the copy is false\mis-leading\harmful; (B) any recipe… from pork-pie to tiramisu… can be prepared with plants only… (this is why chefs can turn beans into cheeses\burgers); (C) when eating plants -plants only- in the correct manner …you will not sacrifice; you will gain …let me be clear… you may “give-up” an artificial-appetite, but your food-experience will become that of “ultimate satisfaction” …even better… than ‘before.’ As I mentioned earlier, “Veganism is more than a diet.”

When I was a new vegan, I could not fill my pantry with dependable food-products, until I sampled across the entire “rainbow” of options. Through trial and more trial; finally, I found the items, I was looking for …to satisfy my taste. Since everyone’s taste is different, I suggest you try and try again, until you find the products that suit you. Or you may come to one of my Cooking With Compassion cooking classes [Natural Grocers, Vitamin Cottage - Wyoming & Montgomery] (admission is free). I am available, immediately after each class, to direct your questions. Also, I can walk you through the store, …pointing out stuff, directly, …right there on the shelf.

Some vegan butter choices are …Earth Balance, Miyoko’s, Kite Hill, …and one of my personal favorites, Country Crock plant-based butter.

For mayonnaise, I use …Follow Your Heart, Vegenaise, Earth Balance, Hellman’s Vegan Mayo, and another of my favorites …Sir Kensington’s Vegan Mayo.

Now let's talk about milk. There are many varieties available. And me, I’m a big milk
drinker, since way-back; so, I wanted to sample every kind of alternative milk I could get my hands on. There is milk from: almond, flax, soy, oat, cashew, pea, coconut, quinoa, hazelnut, sunflower, hemp, peanut, wheat, multi-grain, and more. There are a plethora of brands, also, that offer plant-based milks such as: Ripple, Silk, Milkadamia, Oatly, Pacific, Good Karma, Califia Farms, etc. If you peeked into my fridge, today, you would find Silk brand: Organic Soy (unsweet); and their Original Oat. There is condensed milk, cream, yogurt, ice cream, and so on. I do cook with milk. I prefer: Almond milk when baking; oat milk for creamy mashed potatoes; and soy milk in my coffee.

Commercial cheeses are diverse too: spreadable, sliced, blocks, crumbled, shredded,
finely grated parmesan, smoked, peppered, bleu, feta, etc. I use: Go Veggie, Follow
Your Heart, Field Roast, Miyoko’s, Daiya, Kite Hill, and Violife, to name a few …depending on what I’m cooking.

Earlier, in this article, I stated that, “Veganism is more than a diet,” and it certainly is. Veganism is wisdom. Wisdom is …proper-prosperity. Prosperity is created through …non-violence …as in… “Attention humanity, you have two options: you can kill each other and become extinct; or you can “let live” …and seek for that basic contentment that is the very omni-bliss of Nature.”

That bliss… is veganism. That bliss is …proper prosperity.

Non-violence towards animals, extends beyond: letting them live. Animals should live; and live well… this ideal simply reflects a successfully …creative & self-maintaining… beauty, …from the infinite power of Nature. Happiness is the purest beauty.

Vegans do not support the killing of elephants and the robbing of their ivory tusks… so, vegans do not purchase ivory treasures -n- trinkets. If the killer profits from killing; then, the killer is elected as “Judge” …and every dollar spent in that direction, is a vote that elected them. The material bodies of animals, these days, are in the manufacturing-recipe for retail-items …that surround human contact… from food to shampoo …armchairs to zippers. Some products contain no animal parts; but somehow, the animals lost their homes when their natural habitat was destroyed, by the company manufacturing the product. Do your own contemplation and research …see how deeply, subtly, and pervasively the blood of animals has seeped …into the world’s human-driven cultures.

Do you want toxic chemicals, in your household’s cleansers? Do you want to use make-up that was aggressively-tested on an innocent bunny? Do you want to put damaging lotions and makeup on your own face and body? Get to know the labels on the outside of the store’s products. You will find obvious references (or not) to veganism, that will ensure that you are harming, neither: yourself, the planet, nor the animals.

You might be thinking, “This is overwhelming.” Certainly, the transition to veganism could appear difficult at first. But I know from personal experience …it is not difficult to do …though it might prove difficult to understand what to do! We humans don’t like change, when it involves self-sacrifice. Winning the lottery …that seems like a big change that no one will complain about. We like to get comfortable and stay there. Herein lies the betrayal, of our own …innocent ignorance… we fail, innocently, because we don’t know yet, and our comfort zone …holds us close. The truth is, you only need good basic information. Embrace the changes that make you a vegan. You will come to find that your decision to become vegan is one of the best you can make.
I say this because, in my outreach endeavors, one of the most common comments I hear goes something like this, “I wish I had become vegan …sooner.”

Food issues aside, for a moment, let me encourage you to find a vegan community.
Connect with other like-minded individuals who are on the vegan trail, with you. And, yes, virtual connections, are still connections, if that is what it must be. I believe in supportive communities. Others’ journeys, …your journeys… can be mutually inspiring. We all want a vegan world, and we want you to succeed.

Obviously, I did not convey all of veganism, in this short article. But I hope this helps in some way to further your journey into veganism. I love being a vegan advocate.

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Why Animal Experimentation Should Be Banned

Animal experimentation has long been a controversial topic, with growing calls for its ban due to several compelling reasons. Firstly, animal testing is often cruel and inhumane. Animals used in experiments are subjected to procedures that can cause significant pain, suffering, and distress. They are often kept in unnatural and stressful conditions, which raises serious ethical concerns.

Secondly, animal testing is unreliable and often ineffective. Many diseases that affect humans do not naturally occur in animals, and artificially inducing these conditions in animals does not accurately replicate the human experience. As a result, treatments that appear promising in animal tests frequently fail in human clinical trials. For example, 92% of drugs that pass animal tests fail in human trials due to safety or efficacy issues.

Moreover, animal experimentation is expensive and time-consuming. Conducting experiments on animals requires significant resources, including time, money, and specialized facilities. These resources could be better spent on developing alternative methods, such as cell-based models and computer simulations, which can provide more relevant and faster results.

Lastly, there are now viable alternatives to animal testing that are more ethical and often more effective. Advances in technology have led to the development of sophisticated models that can mimic human biology more accurately than animal models. These alternatives not only reduce the need for animal testing but also offer the potential for more reliable and humane scientific research.

In conclusion, banning animal experimentation is not only an ethical imperative but also a practical one. By investing in and adopting alternative methods, we can advance scientific research in a way that is both humane and effective.

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Breaking the Cycle of Atrocities Across Species

History has shown that when harm or oppression is allowed toward one group—be it humans or animals—it creates a dangerous precedent for that harm to spread. By normalizing cruelty or injustice in one context, society becomes desensitized, making it easier to apply the same treatment to others. This shared vulnerability connects all living beings, underscoring the importance of recognizing and addressing wrongdoings wherever they occur.

To prevent this cycle, we must first cultivate awareness and identify acts of cruelty and exploitation, regardless of the victim's species. A wrong committed against an animal or a person remains a violation of ethics and compassion. By taking action to confront and eliminate these injustices, we can create a culture rooted in respect and empathy. This proactive approach not only protects vulnerable individuals but also strengthens the moral fabric that unites all species.

The path forward lies in understanding that our actions, whether toward humans or animals, ripple outward. By standing against all forms of exploitation and oppression, we build a world that upholds dignity, fairness, and kindness for every being.

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Books

If you are looking for more information on all aspects of veganism here is a list of books you might consider.

The 30-Day Alzheimer's Solution, by Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, MDs, 2021

What's Missing From Medicine, by Saray Stancic, MD, 2021

The Future of Nutrition, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, 2020

Nourish, by Reshma Shah, MD, and Brenda Davis, RD, 2020

How to Eat Right & Save the Planet, by Bill Tara, 2020

How to Survive a Pandemic, by Michael Greger, MD, 2020

Fiber Fueled, by Will Bulsiewicz, MD, 2020

How Not To Diet, by Michael Greger, MD, 2020

We Are the Weather, by Jonathan Safran Foer, 2019

The Joyful Vegan, by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, 2019

The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and Thomas M. Campbell II, MD, 2017

The Cheese Trap, by Neal D. Barnard, MD, 2017

The Alzheimer's Solution, by Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, MDs, 2017

Plant-Based Muscle, by Robert Cheeke and Vanessa Espinosa, 2017

The Forks Over Knives Plan, by Alona Pulde, MD, and Matthew Lederman, MD, 2017

The Healthiest Diet on the Planet, by John McDougall, MD, 2016

How Not To Die, by Michael Greger, MD, 2015

Living the Farm Sanctuary Life, by Gene Baur, 2015

Whole, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, 2014

Becoming Vegan, by Brenda Davis, 2014

Power Foods for the Brain, by Neal D. Barnard, MD, 2014

Food Choice and Sustainability, by Richard Oppenlander, DDS, 2013

Healthy Eating, Healthy World, by J. Morris Hicks, 2011

Comfortably Unaware, by Richard Oppenlander, DDS, 2011

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, 2008