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Helen Bennett Harvey promises that no animals were harmed in the making of this blog. Vegging Out is a recipe for a new way of life. Or at least a new way of eating. Pull up a chair. Contact me at: hbennettharvey@nhregister.com

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Vegan school drop out

I tried but I could not do it.
I am not sure when or even why eating in general took on a civic meaning, but for me it has and I can’t escape it.
I believe that if more people ate less meat, more people would eat. Period.
Taking this to the next step, it seemed only natural that the benefit of not eating meat would be multiplied by subtracting other animal-based products from my diet.
I gave it my best shot. No milk, no cheese, no eggs. You get the picture. I did it.
But I could not stick with it.
The amount of organization it takes is extraordinary.
The amount of sacrifice it takes is...well, let’s just say it goes beyond giving up a typical birthday cake. (My husband spent $40 on a vegan one)
I have waited to admit it but felt I must: I gave up my short-lived vegan ways and while I am sticking to a vegetarian diet, I have added back milk-based items and eggs.
I know I could be accused of simply being lazy and I accept that as true. But the vegan lifestyle was a lot of work and, frankly, I truly missed having eggs. I try whenever possible to eat only cage-free eggs (yes, I know this is no panacea) and I do love eggs.
There. That’s done.

6 Comments:

Blogger Maria said...

I'm sorry you had a difficult experience with giving up animal-derived foods. I'm not sure why you found it so hard as my experience has been incredibly easy (for the past 12 years). Can I just say that if you spend more money in buying cage-free eggs, don't bother as they are just as cruel as regular eggs. I hope you can continue to include vegan meals going forward.

All the best

August 17, 2010 8:59 PM 
Blogger Make14Me.Com said...

oh im so feeling you...i think im starting over again...i stumbled upon you blog...i needed to know i was not alone playing hooky for a while...ill start agian...many thanks and laughs

August 18, 2010 6:10 AM 
Blogger Suasoria said...

Awww, I'm sorry too. Try to see it this way: nothing we endeavor to do is easy at first. If you wanted to learn knitting or archery, wouldn't it take you a while to get the hang of it? Veganism is the same thing.

The truth is we don't make ethical choices because they are "easy." Doing something that *isn't* easy is what puts us to the test.

In my experience too, there is some expense during the transition period. But many people over time pass up the mock meats, fake cheeses, pastries, and other processed foods and start eating healthy whole foods, which are a lot cheaper.

I love(d) eggs too. And butter, and brie. But it's been a long time, and I don't miss them. Now I can look at those foods without being tempted, because (a) I've lost the taste for them and (b) they just represent cruelty to me.

August 23, 2010 6:32 PM 
Blogger Helen Bennett Harvey said...

Thank you so much for all the comments everyone - and yes, I am still doing some vegan meals - but had to be honest that they are not all vegan. If anyone would like to submit a recipe or advice in a blog, please let me know and I will post it!

August 24, 2010 5:10 PM 
Anonymous Rich said...

Helen - I admire your effort and your honesty! While we have been vegetarian and Not-Just-Recipes is one of our proudest efforts, we feel it's time for us to take the next step.

We may well end up where you are - somewhere in between and doing both - as the cheese is one of the hardest things for me (I likes my pizza) and haven't found a vegan cheese I thought was worth more that using it as a handy eraser.

So...I continue to admire you and follow your posts and we will keep you apprised of the effort as we tackle the 21 Day Kickstart.

Thanks for all you do to keep us informed, laughing and appreciating the journey we are all making through this world!

Rich

August 29, 2010 10:00 AM 
Anonymous Graham said...

Its always hard to see people having a problem with non meat products. But stick it out, the rewards outweigh the pain.

December 07, 2012 7:47 PM 

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