My reasons for going vegan

By Gloria Stovall

People decide to become a vegan for various reasons including humane, health, environmental, religious and financial-yes, overall a vegan diet actually costs less than a non-vegan diet, if you are not buying processed vegan foods. My two main reasons for going vegan was for the love of animals as I love and adore them, most ardently. The other reason was for my health, as I could not afford health insurance at the time and I knew I had to start eating a healthier diet to avoid paying out of my pocket for medical expenses that could have been prevented had I been eating cleaner…hence a vegan diet.
Generally speaking though, I am a passionate animal lover and knew I would eventually go vegan sooner than later. I grew up eating red meat, ham, chicken, turkey, fish, dairy, eggs and just about everything else that comes from an animal and never gave it any thought as to what was actually involved in the slaughtering of the animal I was consuming, but something thought-provoking happened when I was in my late 20s. I came across a video and quote by Sir Paul McCartney “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” The video was extremely disturbing and opened my eyes to the cruel reality of the treatment of animals, inhumane conditions and slaughter methods of the animals I was consuming on a daily basis, had to endure. I am ashamed and embarrassed to admit this, but up until I saw that video, I was literally ignorant and oblivious to the truth about slaughterhouses, commercial farming and yet I called myself an animal lover.

That video was painful and troublesome to watch as ignorance is bliss but when your eyes and hearts are opened to the truth and cold hard facts, something inside of you is stirred, born, a new beginning, a new chapter in your life. You begin to change for the best and stop living for only yourself. My journey to becoming a vegan began when I saw that video, but you must know, I did not miraculously go vegan overnight…it did not happen like that for me. I wish it did but it just did not happen that way for me. While some people have been able to go vegan overnight, it was a longer process for me as I loved food and giving up 80 percent of what I had been eating for the past two decades was not as effortless as taking a nap in the afternoon. For about the first year after watching that heartbreaking video about slaughterhouses, I initially started off as a vegetarian, not eating red meat and pork while continuing to eat dairy products, eggs, poultry and then I slowly gave up milk, butter, ice cream, eggs, turkey and fish. Chicken, milk chocolate and cheese were the most difficult foods for me to stop eating as they were so yummy and had always been my comfort foods, but with fervent praying and will power, I completely removed them from my life. I was in my early 30s when I became a vegan and without giving away my age, I am close to my mid 40s, so it has been well over a decade since I went vegan and it feels incredible.

There is so much more to write but my stomach is craving a boiled potato with broccoli so I must close for now, but I will be in touch soon. Thank you for stopping by!