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Why I'm a vegan

Is it really possible to be a vegan and still be healthy? Rachel's 18 and been a vegan for three years and she thinks so. Here's her advice on making the switch to a vegan lifestyle.

Rachel

Rachel's been a vegan for three years

When I was young I ate well-balanced meals with some fast food and sweets on the side. Normally this would be perfectly healthy, but the fast food and sweets started to make up the majority of what I ate. This imbalance made me put on weight and started to affect my confidence and my self image. I wanted a new healthy lifestyle so I contemplated a vegan diet. On reflection I realise how unnecessary these feelings were, but I was young and impressionable.

Making the change

When I proposed the idea of a new diet to my Mum she reacted with the typical questions: Why? How? Will it be healthy? We discussed the issue in depth and she eventually agreed it was my choice, as long as I remained healthy. At first I was really rigid with my diet and went as far as cutting out salt, fats and all those things the media warned me off. But I soon realised this isn't healthy as these things are essential for your body to function normally. I've now become more laid back about my eating habits and focus more on enjoying food than on my image.

I was a vegetarian for two years before going vegan. A vegan is defined as: "a vegetarian who only consumes plant-based foods, and no foods of animal origin such as eggs and dairy products." It wasn't a difficult transition as I didn't eat many eggs or dairy products anyway. The hardest part was becoming more rigorous about reading the ingredients in foods. I'm vegan out of preference, not specifically for the protection of animals, so I still wear leather and don't scrutinise over products, other than food, that contain animal ingredients.

Eating out as a vegan

Eating out can be hard and requires a bit more research than normal, but fortunately there are a few vegan restaurants in my area. I also find that many places offer vegan alternatives, it's just a matter of asking more questions before ordering, and most places are happy to cater to your needs. At home it's easy - I share all the cooking with my Mum, who's now a vegan too.  

"It's a misconception that a vegan diet is unhealthy; this is only the case if people don't eat a well-balanced diet."

A healthy vegan diet

It's a misconception that a vegan diet is unhealthy; this is only the case if people don't eat a well-balanced diet. I get all the nutrients I need from foods that are fortified with calcium, and I take iron and omegas 3 and 6 supplements. I also make sure I'm eating the right amounts of complex carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, dairy and protein substitutes and essential fatty acids. The internet has been invaluable when it comes to discovering vegan-friendly products such as vegan chocolate, egg substitutes, dairy substitutes and so on.

I'm sure that some people aren't convinced when I say I don't miss any foods that I can't have, but I honestly haven't denied myself anything in the process of becoming vegan - in fact I've learned so much more. I've found loads of great recipes that have helped me to develop a diverse diet that's both enjoyable and nutritious. I also feel a real sense of adventure making different foods like cakes, cookies and breads - the possibilities are endless once you start researching. My new-found knowledge means that I can have all the things I used to enjoy without much effort.

I really like to make my own Indian food, especially making my own naan bread and curries from scratch. These are much healthier alternatives to the pre-made versions, which often contain hidden animal ingredients. I also love to make homemade pizza with crumbled tofu instead of cheese and vegetable-filled sushi rolls - they sound hard to make but are surprisingly easy to do.

Advice to would-be vegans

If you're considering a change of lifestyle and becoming vegan I would give one piece of advice. Only make the change if you truly don't want meat and other animal products anymore, because if you still enjoy these foods you'll find it hard to enjoy veganism. From the minute you deny yourself something, you only end up wanting it more. The main thing is to take pleasure in life, which for me includes veganism. It's just a personal choice.


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