“Stop Eating Animals” sign Photo by Simon Matzinger on Flickr
Learning about a different lifestyle can be seen as challenging, but receiving information from an insider’s perspective is very eye-opening.
My friend Julia Bennett is currently a sophomore studying cybersecurity at Loyola University Chicago. Bennett has been a vegan for little over a year now and was vegetarian 6 years prior.
When I asked Bennett to define ‘vegan’, she said how it means to not eat any animal products as well as not participate in something that is detrimental to our environment.
The decision to become vegan was not difficult for her because of her past vegetarian habits, dietary needs, and ethical beliefs.
“Since I’m highly lactose intolerant, the first transition was because the two food groups (meats and plants) were not bonding … but now it’s become more ethical,” Bennett stated.
According to The Vegan Society, the ways that meat and animal products are made increase major carbon footprints, deforestation rates, and species extinction. There are many other reasons as to why becoming vegan is so healthy, for both the environment and yourself, but these are just a few major points.
Man standing on tree stump looking out at other tree stumps. Photo by Dave Herring on Unsplash
When Bennett started her no-meat lifestyle as a vegetarian, she acknowledged the difficulties of that transition.
“At first, it was a little difficult finding meals to make and stuff, but then I just kind of got used to it. Instead of trying to find stuff that replaces meat, I just find stuff that isn’t,” Bennett stated.
One thing Bennett stresses about this lifestyle is that the transition does not have to be extremely sudden, but educating yourself about the matter should be first priority.
“Slow changes should just definitely start with research on what eating more ethically means and then little things like limiting certain food groups down,” she said.
“Animals are not ingredients” sign Photo by Yohann LIBOT on Unsplash
Bennett mentioned how there are online communities that have helped her through her journey and have supported her every step of the way. Since the pandemic makes personal connections tougher for beginners, online communities are the best alternative for ways of gaining insight and support.
Starting vegan diets can look intimidating, but just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day!
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