Entering 2019 I made it a mission to live a more mindful and compassionate life. Through documenting my journey, I hope to showcase a less traditional approach to self-care and pursuits of wellbeing in order to connect with people like me. I am by no means a trained nutritionist, yoga guru or psychologist, but I hope to share some of the ways that I’m adapting my lifestyle in order inspire anyone else who doesn’t know where to start.
Addressing my own concerns about being converting to a plant-based diet
“You would have to give up meat??” Anyone who knows me will tell you, a feast dedicated to my favourite meals would consist of trays of hearty lasagne, multiple burgers with bacon, chicken wings in soy sauce, roast beef dinners and saucy pork chops. I am a lover of all kinds of cheese and am known to devour pots of ice-cream left unattended in my freezer. It sounds insane to ask someone to give up the foods that they love the most, after all, doesn’t food sit on the trinity of worldly pleasures? But it’s ridiculous to imagine that becoming a vegan means that you give up all the foods that you enjoy, you still eat, and with a creative enough mind and with the help of the internet you open yourself up to a whole new world of tastes, flavours, textures and satisfaction. Burgers and lasagne are still my favourite foods and here are my new recipes for them (that both myself and my family of meat-eaters love): - Vegan Lasagne - Mushroom and Zucchini burgers
“It won’t make a difference at all” Most people I know have an inner pessimist and an inner optimist. The pessimist will tell you that the problem you’re trying to tackle is too large, your contribution will be negligible, and you’ll never be able to see an impact. This voice is only reinforced by people around you telling you that you’re too small to change the world. All these hold some truth, and from time to time you might feel like they are the only truth. But the optimist in me says isn’t doing something better than doing nothing? This has become something that I try to remember in my everyday interactions with the world. Doing something is better than doing nothing. It is better for the environment if more people converted to a plant-based diet. One and a half acres of land can produce 170 kgs of meat, or 17,000 kgs of vegetables (See) It takes 15,000 ltrs of water to produce 1kg of beef and 255 ltrs of water to produce 250ml of milk. (See) Furthermore, a plant-based diet minimises deforestation (Animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of Amazon rainforest deforestation) which in turn would slow down species extinction. With the alarming statistics and facts that are available to us, you can directly calculate the difference you are making by not eating animal products, which in turn impacts the planet and makes a difference.
“But it would be so difficult.” Changing your diet entirely overnight is extremely difficult and I applaud those that have the determination and capability to do so. One of my friends watched several documentaries one night (Earthlings and Cowspiracy) and that was it decided for her, she became a vegan the next day. However not everyone’s journey has to look like this, personally, I still eat free range eggs, fish (cutting off this one soon), and organic honey. We are allowed to slowly transition into our new diets. You need to remember that it’s not a one size fits all lifestyle. I will most likely continue to eat free-range eggs as I feel like that is aligns with my ethics and doesn’t defy any of my reasons for transitioning anyway. At restaurants, I’m willing to be flexible and settle for the most vegetarian dish they have or inquire if they can make substitutes for their dairy products, leave out the cheese and so on. It is only as difficult as you make it.
“But like seriously, giving up meat? Cheese? Yoghurt? ICE cream??” The other day at the dinner table my Mum jokingly tempted me with a pork chop (again, one of my known ex-favourites) and although my mind considered taking a bite and brushing off my new diet, I couldn’t do it. This is where I realised that if you have a rooted belief in why you are doing something, then it is much harder to knock you off your path. If you know your “why” you can endure any “what”. The one reason that ultimately made me transition to a plant-based diet is the fact that it is better for the planet and far more sustainable. Scientists warn us that we have about 12 years before global warming is irreversible, eating a plant-based diet is a change I decided to make in order to minimise my carbon footprint. Furthermore, it aligns with my goal to live a more compassionate lifestyle, and this doesn’t stop at diet, but continues on to the products we buy, whether we’re supporting companies that test on animals and exploit people. These are my most important “whys” and put into perspective the “whats” don’t seem too difficult, too challenging or too unreasonable.
Photo's by Jenne Claiborne - a woman and chef I look up to!
Check her out on Sweet Potato Soul
Thank you for reading part 1 of the lifestyle series I am beginning to write this year! Who knows what part 2 holds?
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