What can YOU do?

The other day I was talking to my mom on the phone and she had a great idea for me to post various ways that you can all help animals without it seeming like I'm pushing you all to drop everything and go vegan this second! She definitely shed some light on the fact that while I am personally very passionate about animal advocacy, I need to realize that such a big change in diet/lifestyle can be a bit trickier for some people.

Even I used to eat meat! It disgusts me now to think back on it...but it didn't take me long to say "Hey, this just isn't right" (for me, at least) and go vegetarian. And I have not been vegan for very long at all. I only started the transition a few months ago, actually. But now I will NEVER go back. I know that for a fact.

I think there are a lot of misconceptions about veganism. Vegetarianism, too. That all we eat is kale and salad. That we only care about animals, not people. That we hate anyone and everyone who isn't a veghead. That we don't get any protein. That we're all weird hippies. That we're scrawny and weak. That we don't eat any delicious food. The list goes on! But trust me, these are all ridiculous stereotypes and none of them are true.

In fact, I eat more yummy things than I EVER did before I became vegan. I am discovering so many delicious foods and recipes. It's wonderful! Also, I care a great deal about animals AND people. If you read one of my previous posts with 20 Reasons To Go Veg, you'll see that you help the environment and human beings in addition to animals when you go veg. I don't hate people who aren't vegans/vegetarians. In fact, some of my closest family members and friends eat meat. While I'm not crazy about their choice, I still love them. I'm certainly not scrawny or weak. Especially after this internship! And dancing. Haha! Did you know there are quite a few vegan bodybuilders? Look it up! Also, there are SO many ways to get enough protein and other nutrients and vitamins as a vegan or vegetarian. It's funny that no one ever cares about other peoples' protein intake, health, or nutrition until they hear that they're vegan or vegetarian...Then suddenly everyone is a doctor.

So once you get over the "vegheads are weirdos" mindset, maybe you'll be interested in giving it a shot! If not, I have come up with a list of tons of ways you can do little things to help! Trust me, every little bit helps.

-MEATLESS MONDAYS: Encourage your family to participate in meat-free meals every Monday! Eliminating meat even just one day per week can make a big difference.

-ONE STEP AT A TIME: Try cutting just one animal product out of your diet. Just chicken, just beef, just pork, whatever you think will be easiest for you to let go of. If that works, try eliminating another! Already vegetarian but interested in veganism? Go about it the same way; Start out by just cutting out milk, or just cheese, or just eggs.

-DONATE: There are tons of animal rights/rescue organizations that can ALWAYS use your help! Can't donate money? Donate your time! Don't have the time? Most groups are always appreciative of donations such as old blankets, towels, etc. for the animals. Check out their websites/send an email/make a phone call. Often times they have a Wish List and many of the items on it are things you might find lying around your house!

-RESEARCH: Do your research. Educate yourself and your family. Find out exactly what you are supporting. Not sure about a product or company? Make a phone call! It's really important to know where our food comes from. I have a previous post about the truth behind "humane" meat, milk, and eggs basically explaining that the labels about products being certified humane, cage-free, free range, etc. often don't mean anything. But many small, local farms treat their animals much better than large factory farms, and while I think that "humane slaughter" is the biggest oxymoron out there, at least some places have animals that are not constantly tortured and abused prior to their slaughters. Make a phone call. Make a visit. Find out where your food comes from and how the animals are treated. Avoid purchasing products from companies that use gestation crates and other horrors.

-THOUGHTFUL SHOPPING: If your big problem is giving up the taste of meat, there are other ways you can help! Did you know many shampoos, conditioners, makeups, and other toiletries/accessories/beauty products are tested on animals and also contain animal products? It is SO easy to find cruelty-free and vegan products. There are thousands, and you can find them at almost any drug store or grocery store. You don't even have to make a trip to a speciality store! I have found a lot of mine at places as simple as Hannaford. Check the backs of bottles to see if products say they were not tested on animals and/or don't contain animal products/are vegan. Also know that many brands have certain products that were not directly tested on animals, but they are owned by larger companies that DO test their products on animals, or that there are certain ingredients they test on animals. Once again, just doing a little research can help you find the answers to these questions.

-SKIP THE FAST FOOD: Avoiding places like McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, and all of those other fast food places is a great step towards benefiting animals, your health, and the environment. If you boycott fast food, you will be helping SO much!

-TRY ALTERNATIVES: It's truly amazing how many wonderful substitutes there are out there! It's really easy to replace dairy with something else tasty since there are so many options including almond milk (my personal favorite), soy milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk (which I need to try!), coconut milk, hemp milk, and oat milk in all different flavors! Do be careful when purchasing these products, as well. For example, I almost purchased Silk almond milk before discovering that Silk is owned by Dean Foods, one of the largest dairy manufacturers//distributors in the U.S. So now I get Almond Breeze, Trader Joe's, etc. Likewise, you can easily replace butter with Earth Balance (which I honestly think is tastier than butter, and it's way better for you, too!) Cream cheese can be swapped for Tofutti or Follow Your Heart. Other cheese alternatives include daiya (which I can't believe I have yet to try, since everyone I know loves it!), other types of tofutti, nutritional yeast, and various other products, some soy-based, some not. The amount of alternatives for eggs is endless! For baking and cooking: ground flaxseed mixed with water, mashed banana, applesauce, silkened tofu, soy yogurt, and EnerG Egg Replacer, to name a few. Another tasty dish is tofu scramble, which you can make like scrambled eggs minus the cholesterol and cruelty!

-PLANT-BASED PROTEINS: If you are concerned about getting enough protein as a vegetarian or vegan, fear not! Beans, nuts, quiona, seitan, tofu, and tempeh are all simple and affordable (especially beans and nuts!) options. There are tons of great brands like Gardein, Tofurky, Morning Star, Boca, Amy's, Garden Burger, and many more that offer a variety of frozen products, deli substitutions, and more.

-PICK A PARTNER: It can be tough to make big changes alone! Grab a friend, family member, spouse, or significant other and see if they will take the journey with you in trying new things!

-PINPOINT YOUR PURPOSE: If you are interested in making the veg transition, figure out why! Is it ethical reasons? Health? Environmental? All of the above? Listen to your heart and figure that out, and then you will be able to remind yourself why you have made this choice even when it seems tricky!

-MIND THE MEDIA: There are so many great resources out there; books, documentaries, cook books, websites, etc. about vegetarianism, veganism, animal rights/advocacy/liberation, cooking/recipes, health, environment, factory farms, etc. I would be happy to provide anyone interested with a great list depending on your interests!

-VOLUNTEER: Even if only for a day, volunteering for animal organizations makes a world of difference! If you can do it for even longer, great!

-PATIENCE: Be patient with yourself. It can be a tricky transition. When I first went vegan I would "cheat" and have cheese sometimes. I would get really mad at myself. Don't do that! It takes time. Every little bit helps! Don't be too hard on yourself. Just give it a try. :)

Quote of the day:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead