I think I can call myself a vegan this week, you know, just throw it into casual conversation as I scarf down my salad, “Oh, I’m a vegan. How was your day?” After my week one diligence, I have earned this title.
This week, I watched my friends enjoy the chocolate-covered strawberries and whipped cream as a Valentine’s Day treat in Eickhoff. This was the day I discovered the wonders of soymilk in my coffee because coffee is the only thing that can cure a moment like this. Last week I thought I couldn’t have coffee so I switched to tea; now I realize I should have just switched from half-and-half in my coffee to soymilk or almond milk, which I also discovered recently. This makes me a happier person, knowing I can have coffee. I won’t be an angry vegan now; everyone is thankful.
Just as I thought this week was going to be easier, I went to a great Chinese place with my boyfriend for our anniversary. I realized this vegan escapade was poor timing about halfway through my meal because I absolutely love Chinese food, and there are very limited options for vegans on the menu, and by that I mean there’s one option- vegetables. Leafy greens, however, make anyone and everyone I know a little gassy, so happy anniversary to me!
Knowing what I can and can’t eat is definitely getting easier. I started making a list of food I couldn’t have – ice cream, chocolate, burritos, but that was just self-destructive. Now I have an ongoing list of foods I can have – ketchup (most excited about this one), all the fruit and vegetables I want, Oreos (thanks for that one Sarah!), and many more, plus the foods I have yet to discover!
I feel like I have been living in a closet of meat-lovers all my life, and I didn’t even know there were all these delicious, healthy foods to be discovered. I never feel like I’m sick after I eat, I’m always digesting (I have issues, so this means more to me than it does to you), and I’m shedding some extra pounds, which is way overdue.
It is definitely still a challenge to not social eat, my own form of “social drinking,” but I’m working on it. Maybe I need a weekly meeting. “Hi, my name is Allison, and I eat.”