Vegan Pizza

I recently made this pizza that turned out to be so yummy.  Pizza, bell peppers, and mangos! I got the pizza crust at Whole Foods in the bread area. I love Whole Foods because they are so great at labeling vegan foods. I topped it with a bunch of veggies and used grated cashews as parmesan.

 

 

 

 

This is my fridge as a Vegan. Lots and lots of veggies and fruits. :)))

 

Is being Vegan really possible?

When I think of being Vegan, I think of someone who is doing the most good by doing the best they can to cut out all animal products. When others judge me as a Vegan, I can come across as a hypocrite. Why a hypocrite? Because our society has done a phenomenal job of sneaking animal products into EVERYTHING. When I say everything, I mean everything. This includes plastic, cardboard, body soap, cleaning products, paints and the big one was medications! Not only is there animal products in medications but the FDA requires animal testing.

I really hope one day our society realizes that animal testing is so archaic given the era we live in today. Surely it is not necessary anymore. If we can put a man on the moon, are we not that intelligent to figure out alternative ways of testing?

This was very hard for me to accept. I even tore off my bumper sticker that reads I think therefore I am Vegan. It was just all in all discouraging for me.

The only sane way I could see this situation is I am saving many animals by being a dietary vegan and I am doing my best to filter out products with animal ingredients or animal testing but while I am doing my best, I cannot cut out animal products completely.

Call me a hypocrite if you may but I am still saving more animals then you.

Teacher of the grocery store

Today was so awesome. My friend from school said I'm rubbing off on her and she wants to try out being a Vegan for 3 weeks. Today we went to Whole Foods and I walked her down every isle, giving her advice on what and what not to eat, how to read labels, and she got to try some food. I really think she had a great time. I hope it took the overwhelming feeling away. At the end, my advice was listen to your body and let your body and your conscience be your guide.

Weight loss

My journey as a Vegan was never originally about losing weight. I started off at 174 and last time I checked I was about 163. So I've lost about 10lbs. I really thought with cutting out the meat and dairy, I would inevitably end up losing something. Only problem is I have replaced those things with alcohol. I can feel my body wearing down easy. So because of this, I'm feeling a little discouraged today. I had to go try on and get fitted for a dress for my sister-in-law's wedding and it absolutely looked hideous on me! I think the next phase in my diet overhaul is going to be eliminating alcohol and incorporating a good exercise plan. Hopefully at least.

The inevitable is happening - Thanksgiving is tomorrow!

Its happening whether I like it or not! I am just really having the Thanksgiving blues this year. First off I miss my family being together. My mom passed away over 6 years ago, grandpa passed away this year, my siblings are in California, and my Dad has been invited to many places for Thanksgiving. However, I am thankful this year that my Husband and I will have our first Thanksgiving of our own. Just us two and our doggies. The day is going to be full of football and Christmas movies.

Secondly, this is my first year to be Vegan. It's difficult because I have wonderful traditions that were made when my mother was alive and that I have tried to hold onto dearly over the years. It's my way to feel close to her. While I won't be cooking my famous dressing and loaded mash potatoes, I will get to have a Vegan version of Thanksgiving which won't be the same but will be be tasty I'm sure. I imagine I will look back on this post a year from now and would have moved on to a happier state and ready to dhow my Vegan Thanksgiving who's boss! My Husband told me that he's having a Chinese dinner for a Thanksgiving since the next day he can go to his sisters and eat a Thanksgiving meal. He knows tgat I will not allow a turkey to be cooked in my household. I have secured an order of Vegan Thanksgiving prepared by Whole Foods. Looking forward to trying it, I pick it up today. 

Thirdly , it kills me how many animals are killed for tomorrow. Millions! This just makes me a hot mess when I think about it. How can someone be so compassionate-less?

We did adopt Tom the Turkey for Thanksgiving. He is so stinking handsome! He fell off a truck on the way to slaughter. I have invluded a picture of him. We adopted him through Farm Sanctuary and I just love that place and all it stands for. 

I was hoping that by me adopting a turkey, it would resonate something within for my family (Husbsnd included) but it hasn't and I am so sad for that. Poor animals!

Thanksgiving Blues

Traditionally speaking, Thanksgiving has been a deep rooted Holiday for me because of all the wonderful memories and little traditions I shared with my family when my Mom was alive. Also, since my birthday falls right around and sometimes on Thanksgiving, it has always been my favorite Holiday.

This is the first year to spend Thanksgiving as a Vegan. This means that I have a choice to turn past traditions into new ones, however, I struggle with integrating my Vegan values in with the standard Thanksgiving dinner that my family participates in. So I have really put up a fight this year because I just don't want to be around or affiliated with the mass need to kill a turkey in order to have a Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey's suffer a horrific death for Thanksgiving and either people don't care or they are not educated. In talking to people I know and in general, I have noticed a complete lack of compassion and that in itself is giving me the Thanksgiving Blues.