Veganmofo
November 4th, 2007 @ 13:10
Vegan month of food is here! I’m joining in, I might not post every single day, because I’m lazy like that and sometimes I feel like I’ll just scream and shout if I have to think about food one more time. It passes quickly though, food is such a passion of mine. Anyway, joining late, might not post every day but still, it’s great. The logo is made by Katie over at Don’t Eat Off the Sidewalk (and buy her new zine when you’re there!) A list of participating blogs can be found at Isa’s (of the PPK) blog. A bunch of people over at the PPK forums thought it would be a good idea to have VeganMoFo instead of joining in the American NaNoWriMo. I like it!
Veganmofo: How I went vegetarian, and then turned omni then vegetarian and now vegan!
I first went vegetarian when I was 14. I was in school and I figured vegetarianism was cool (I didn’t know then how right I was, being a vegetarian is one of the coolest most compassionate things you can ever do). For a couple of weeks I had only vegetarian food and I thought it was great. Not only was I cool, I was also fed great stuff at school and didn’t have to eat the same junk every one else had. It also made me feel like I was special and ‘alternative’. It only lasted about a month and a half though. I got severe bacon cravings and figured that since bacon is so good it can’t be wrong. My little sister who went vegetarian at the same time as me stayed vegetarian and eventually turned vegan. I still think bacon is one of the best things ever, but I never eat it unless it’s the tofu kind.
Two years ago I started on the path to vegetarianism again. It took time and effort, my partner at the time didn’t seem to like the idea much and I wasn’t that into cooking so we mostly just replaced our hot dogs with soy dogs. That relationship went to pieces just before xmas that year and I moved in with my mother again. Some time in February last year I decided to go vegetarian. To be quite honest, I think I just needed som change. I was tired of who I was and needed change to move on. My solution was vegetarianism and a lip ring. The piercing didn’t last but being vegetarian stuck. Now, I’m not saying vegetarianism is something people do because it’s cool or because they want to be rebels. My decision was based on compassion and lots of thinking. It’s just that the time for change was right so I finally took the step and went vegetarian. I’ve been vegetarian since and there truly is no going back now. A couple of months ago I went vegan and so did my partner Alex. It’s a wonderful choice we’ve made.
Being vegetarian/vegan IS cool, but not in the way I thought when I was 14. It’s not fun always being the odd one out and it’s certainly not fun or cool being hungry in town and not finding anything to eat. It is cool however to be in a movement that’s radical, fun, tasty and compassionate. Veganism is the way of the future, foo shoo. Now, go bake some vegan brownies (because I SAY SO!) and be happy and cheerful!
Woo! It’s fun to be veganmofo colleagues, and even more fun to read your story and get to learn a bit more about you. I agree with just about everything you are saying, I think I became a vegan at a moment when I was craving a big change in life as well. I became vegan when I was living by myself in graduate school, at the same time that I discovered yoga, and started going to the gym and exercising more, so all those things are interconnected for me…
Comment by bazu - November 4th, 2007 at 3:18 pmHi Emmie, I too went vegetarian when I was 14, but stayed that way like your sister did, and a few years later went vegan. So, I’ve been vegan for about 10 years, and during that time my veganism has changed as much as I have. Now, I even blog about vegan cooking (I added you to our blogroll by the way) with my spouse! In the last few months, it’s been a great inspiration for me to find out about the huge amount of like-minded vegan bloggers from around the world, and have a sense of community that way.
Comment by Anni - November 4th, 2007 at 6:09 pmHi there,
I’ve lurked over at your blog before, but don’t think I commented much before.
As a 14 year old, I don’t think I ever would have considered going vegetarian and definitely not vegan. Ironic because, I wouldn’t cook meat because it grossed me out. I’d only eat it if it arrived on my plate. Also, I didn’t like things with bones or skin. I certainly admire the folks that were aware and brave enough to try that at a young age. I also applaud their families for being so supportive.
For me, vegetarianism came about because of a simple bet with a friend. Which one of us could be vegetarian the longest? I won and after 30 days I ate a nice big steak. It made me pretty sick. I tried to go back to my carnivore ways, but my body was not interested in it. That’s when I started thinking. If you stop eating vegetables, you don’t get sick when you start again.
The longer I was vegetarian (5 years), the more I learned about the economic, environmental, health, and ethical reasons for the diet change. This information and the great bloggers helped me go vegan about a year and half ago.
Bacon was a favorite of mine. Have you ever tried the recipe where you slice tofu super thin and marinate it in liquid smoke, soy sauce, and agave etc… —Then fry it up super crispy? It is the closest to bacon I’ve had since going vegan.
Your Swedish post makes me think of my friends in Stockholm. I’ve not seen them in awhile, but we used to visit about once a year. I’ve got great memories of my time there. —My Swedish vocabulary consists of about 20 random sentences and phrases they taught me.
Comment by Jody (vegchic) - November 5th, 2007 at 6:01 pmI went vegetarian as age 16, and then vegan at age 18 (8 months ago!!), but I never had a “lapse” in between those times (I stayed veg the whole time). I loved reading your journey-to-veg story!! And I wholeheartedly agree – veganism IS the way of the future :0)
Comment by VeggieGirl - November 5th, 2007 at 7:15 pmGreat story. I went vegan a few years ago, after being a vegetarian nearly forever. Lapses are pretty normal, so it’s great that it seems to have stuck this time. Congratulations!
Comment by rani - November 5th, 2007 at 7:36 pmI started young, too. I was 12 years old when I decided to take the vegetarian route. My friend pointed out a rodeo on tv and talked about how disgusting it was. Always being a lover of animals, this got to me. That’s when I made the decision.
But, like you, it didn’t last too long. I went back to eating meat. But my plan was to become vegetarian again when I was ready. I think that a lot of people flip flop when they are young and make the decision on their own. Eventually, we ‘find ourselves’ and realize what is ethical and important to us. Now look, we’re full-fledged vegans who love to cook!
Comment by Suzie - November 5th, 2007 at 11:08 pmHey, cool to read your vegetarian-vegan story, Emmie! Always enjoy learning more about fellow vegan bloggers. I reckon I’m going to do a post on this topic soon too.
Comment by Anna @ Veganista - November 6th, 2007 at 12:30 amI love that you originally went veg to be hip, but you’ve returned based on compassion–ethical vegans are the coolest kids in school, in my opinion. Your story is interesting, thanks for sharing!
Comment by theresa - November 6th, 2007 at 4:34 amAwesome story. My son went veg in high school, then vegan in college. Two years ago I went from omni to vegan and have never looked back.
Comment by Diann - November 7th, 2007 at 4:06 amI love reading about other’s veg beginnings. Like you, I flip-flopped for a while when I was a teenager before finding my way. I’ve been a vegan for almost 2 years now and I can’t ever imagine going back. I have fond remembrences of the flavor of meat – like bacon. But my new knowledge creeps me out every time I think about myself of someone else eating it. I am so thankful that there are meat alternatives that help us recreate those tastes and feelings of comfort.
Comment by VivaciousVegan - November 11th, 2007 at 6:28 pmInteresting! I went vegetarian at 13, but stayed veg for 5 years, then I went back to eating meat (ugh!), back to vegetarian, & now I’m vegan! I also did it thinking it was hip & cool (hehe), but of course, I didn’t want to harm animals either.
Comment by Melisser - November 13th, 2007 at 8:15 am