Saturday, July 19, 2014

Taking on some initial inconvenience

1112: 

Going vegan might seem like a big step to take but, unexpectedly, taking the first step might not be too hard at all.  What I think probably happens for most people is that there’s such a feeling of relief, to be no longer part of the ‘system’, that food take on a new meaning in trialling new dishes.  Our choices come down to experimenting with new ways of preparing food, making plant-based meals, trying new recipes and thereby experiencing a personal metamorphosis.

Initially, the hardest part of such a radical change of diet is finding new ways of meal-making.  Without the huge variety of quick-to-cook or ready-to-eat foods, we have to get used to bringing things up from raw-ingredients, and that brings out our creativity (although today, at least here in Sydney, there are a lot of vegan ‘ready-mades’ available, and they’re not too costly.  It’s even better for vegans in UK, Europe and USA, although even there, vegans have nowhere near the same variety and choices that omnivores generally enjoy).     
         
Going vegan costs time, effort and convenience.  It means missing out on many heretofore-available treats.  But then, why is it that most vegans never consider that ‘going back to being non-vegan’?  It’s not because they’re extra nice people or extremely disciplined but because a plant-based-food diet is just too good to be true.


For a start, one is experiencing plant-driven energy, not the heavy, short-lived energy associated with rich, animal-protein foods.  And it isn’t just about food and physical energy either, it’s the thought process that goes with it.  It’s what Jeffrey Masson calls “a somersaulting-forward process”, opening up to an entirely new experience of your world ... and that’s just on the personal side.  It’s a feeling of helping to construct good health and not acting against the interests of the world.

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