Photo used with permission by Britney Willford.
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know that I follow a Whole Foods Plant Based Diet.
You also know that I follow the advice of Dr John McDougall, who recommends the exact same diet – centering mostly on healthy starches for the majority of your calories.
I do this for my health and the health of my family.
I call myself a Brand New Vegan. And I AM a Brand New Vegan. A dietary Vegan.
And I am CONSTANTLY reminded that Veganism is strictly about the animals, not about personal health or plant based diets.
Really?
Why not both? Can’t I follow a Plant Based Diet AND be Vegan? Why does it have to be one way, or the other?
What’s wrong with being a Plant Based Vegan?
What is a Vegan?
Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. From ‘junk food vegans’ to raw food vegans, and everything in between, there’s a version of veganism to suit everyone. Yet one thing we all have in common is a plant-based diet. – The Vegan Society
The Vegan Society is a registered charity and the oldest vegan society in the world, founded in 1944 by Donald Watson, who coined the word “vegan” to stand for “non-dairy vegetarians” who also ate no eggs.
The Vegan Society, the very heart of Veganism, and the founder of the word Vegan.
And did you read what they said?
A Plant Based Diet with a version of veganism to suit everyone.
To me this says we are ALL following a plant based diet. True – some of the foods we eat are more processed than others but still basically plant based. Which is why I make the distinction of eating mostly Whole Foods. I try to avoid as many processed foods as I can, even if they are plant based or vegan.
So then why all the bickering and finger pointing?
For the Animals
I get that ethical Vegans want to end the horrible cruelty to animals. I completely and totally support that.
Factory farms should be outlawed. No living creature should have to be tortured their entire lives just to satisfy one’s craving for cheese or bacon.
American’s ate over 1.25 BILLION chicken wings on just one single day last year. Do you know what day that was?
Super Bowl Sunday.
I still have a hard time wrapping my head around that. 1 BILLION animals – just for a few quick bites to satisfy a craving.
Disgusting.
Ethical Vegans – believe me, I get it.
For the Planet
And I support saving Planet Earth.
We’re doing some major damage right now – trying to raise enough animals to satisfy all those fast food cravings.
Global warming
Deforestation
Overfishing our oceans
Polluting our rivers and streams
Antibiotic resistant bugs and viruses
We’ve got to stop. NOW!
Before there’s nothing left for our kids or grandkids.
For Your Health
But let’s be honest here – your health matters too!
Or it should, which is why I follow a whole foods, plant based diet.
We all know that you can be Vegan and eat junk food every day – but how healthy is that? Not very. Processed food is still junk food whether it’s vegan or not. And there can be a lot of oil in processed vegan foods, which is definitely NOT healthy for you, especially your arteries.
If we could just put our health as high of a priority as the animals – we could do so much more for the cause. That’s all I saying.
Think about it.
Vegans are only 5% of the population – and half of those are vegetarian.
That leaves 95% of the people that we can have an impact on. 95% of the people who are eating whatever fast food, junk food, processed foods, meats, cheeses, fish, dairy they can get their hands on.
And how many of them are sick, fat, or obese? A lot of them.
Think of the impact we would have, on the animals, the planet, AND the people, if we just helped a few people begin a healthy plant based diet.
Huge.
My point is – the healthier you are, the more vibrant you are, the more you feel and look absolutely amazing every single day.….the more people are going to take notice and ask you what you are doing.
They may not come out and say it, but 95% of the population want some of that.
THEN we can share our story, help someone become healthier, and save even more animals.
Healthy Vegans, saving lives, saving animals, healing our planet.
Plant Based Vegans
It’s not just about the diet, and it’s not just about the lifestyle. It’s both.
That’s what I’m talking about.
