Healthy food is actually full of true flavor, just like Bernie Sanders

Here's a connection that many people raised on junk haven't figured out yet. Vegan food or healthy food in general is actually more flavorful than junk food. So forget what you've been told about vegan muffins tasting like hay and such because it simply isn't true. In fact, right now, I'm eating a slice of heavenly, healthy, homemade vegan banana bread that's absolutely to die for.

And those fruits and veggies? Holy crap, you guys, they are just bursting with guilt free, nutrient dense flavor. True, they don't contain all that supposedly yummy, yet actually boring, flavorless gloppy artery clogging fat. But they do contain that protein everyone is so worried about vegans getting.

Nuts are delicious. Beans are delicious. Super-foods will rock your taste-buds. Think berries! In fact, everything I eat as a vegan is absolutely scrumptious.

Ya, so while I've certainly heard of vegan foods that are boring and tasteless, I've never had any that fit that description. If you have, maybe it was a non-vegan that made it. After all, they have no idea what they're doing, diet wise so why should their cooking be any good? Just kidding. Bwa ha ha

Make the connection, you guys. The meat and dairy industry is like Hillary Clinton: Very good at using false impressions and dirty slanted politics to sway your vote or in Hillary's case, make sure you don't get to cast it or be counted.

Vegan food is delicious, well intended and good for you. Always has been. Always will be. Just like Bernie Sanders. Ha ha ha

Vegans like Prince are not immortal, but....

Many of us in the vegan community were shocked to hear of the death of Prince. Some may not have known that Prince was vegan. Others may be wondering how a vegan could die so young. It's important to remember that while Veganism, in and of itself is the healthiest, most natural diet, it still does not make us immortal. Yes, vegans die too. Of course we do. It's just surprising when vegans die so young.

Making the connection with good health does not guarantee a long life. It simply increases your chances, helps save the planet and gives all animals, humans included, a better fighting chance. We shouldn't expect immortality on top of all that goodness.

Vegans can get the flu. They can catch diseases. They can even die of heart attacks, although their chances of having heart disease are extremely low compared to their omnivore counterparts, for sure.

Prince didn't die because of his vegan diet, but I'm willing to bet that possibility will be mentioned. Be ready to hear this kind of thing from those particular naysayers who are willing to jump all over anything that might be construed as evidence against the vegan way of life.

Hopefully, respect for Prince will be enough to discourage them, but who knows?

Be strong in your convictions, please, because you are doing the world a lot of good. Remember that everyone on this planet will die someday. Remember that Prince did not die because he was vegan but because he was human and all humans die.

And aside from that, let's celebrate the life of a man who dedicated said life to compassion by being as kind to the naysayers as possible. And let's also celebrate by continuing on our own compassionate journeys. It goes without saying that Prince would be pleased with such a tribute.

Vegans like Prince are not immortal but they do set a wonderful example for us all to follow.

Nothing really matters to me, except....

What matters to you? Is there one thing that you value/hope for/work for above all else? Is there a quality that defines you or are you just a massive, seething ball of all your beliefs and experiences? I think it's the first one and here's why.

This morning I'm thinking about all the connections that led me to go vegan for life. And the amazing thing is that as I look back on my journey, I can very clearly see how all my convictions are actually unified and related. Now, I'm nobody special. Just a human being like everyone else. That's why I figure, it must be the same for everyone.

I was a very little girl when I first learned where the meat and fish on my plate came from, how polluted our world is, how much we humans manipulate nature, how much corruption there is and how many people go hungry every night. Now, I didn't know way back then that all of the things that horrified me about the world were connected. Still, I find it interesting that even as a very young child, my path was settled.

When it comes down to the nitty gritty, there is truly one thing that drives me. It acts as a hub for all my convictions. That thing is, of course, compassion. Everything that matters to me comes under the heading of compassion. Everything I abhor represents a lack of compassion.

Nothing really matters to me, except....compassion.

-And it's not just about veganism, per-say.

*I detest bullying, superiority and the putting on of airs.

*I am not amused by bad-mouthing and mean spirited criticism.

*Getting even is not important to me. Now, show me that you are strong enough to mend/end a heated dispute and you will have my utmost respect.

*Money, power, looks and fame do not impress me.

*Good character blows me away!

*Bragging simply proves to me that there is little to brag about.

*Having a degree, certification, etc. often means you will better integrate and conform. You will have a financial advantage over those who don't. It does not mean that you are smarter, work harder, shine brighter or are of better character than those who do not have it. It just means you have chosen a different path than they have. We all work hard in this life because life is hard for us all.

*I'm not impressed with how well you fit into or are able to manipulate this broken society. I am impressed with those who see it for the horrific lie it is and refuse to be a part of it.

*I am not perfect by any means and I probably never will be. I understand that we all have our faults. That's why I try my best to reserve my hatred for non-compassionate behaviors, not the people who succumb to them.

Hate the behavior, not the person.

I have to pause here and say, that it's very difficult to do that. I'm working on it and I'm not there yet.

I hate that not everyone is compassion and character driven. Connecting with the fact that not all my friends and loved ones see the connections is probably the hardest thing that I face on a daily basis. It makes me overwhelmingly sad for them and for the future.

But we are human animals aren't we? And the real aha moment comes when we figure out that we will never be completely perfect. We will never have ALL our shit together. We will never get it ALL right. But hey, it doesn't hurt to try.

And I guess that's why I choose compassion over all. Because even though it may be a lost cause, the fact that the human race as a whole is incredibly fallible and really great at screwing things up for everyone just highlights the importance of living as compassionately as possible.

Can compassion outweigh our mistakes? Can we set such a good example that following it becomes the norm instead of the exception? I don't know. But it may create some bright moments in a world of darkness. It may give someone hope where they had none before.

And that, my friends is worth the effort for me. How about you?

Connecting with the superior human

A glaring example of our blatant superiority complex.

Do I have to? Honestly, I'd rather not connect with “superior” humans. Unfortunately, a vast percentage of our population feels that they are actually superior to other animals. In what way? Well, supposedly, we have souls and they don't. Also, our brains are bigger.

Are those the same brains that are systematically annihilating our planet. Are those the souls that are OK with taking one life to appease another?

Those are superior? Ya. I don't think so.

Other animals only take what they need. They don't pollute. They don't lie, cheat or steal. They don't engage in bigotry or superiority complexes. In other words, they don't lord it over other species. If they are carnivores, they don't lock up their prey or breed them specifically to die. In other words, if they do have souls, their souls are much cleaner than ours. In fact, you might even say that human beings are the low spot on the totem pole in that regard.

We're not at the top of the food chain, either. The food chain is a web, not a pyramid. No one is at the top. We all depend on each other. And surprise, humans are scientifically classified as primates. That means our teeth and digestive system are not designed to tear flesh or digest meat. Our legs are designed to get away, not chase down and follow up by ripping open. We are prey, not predator.

Run way, run away.... Bwa ha ha ha

The omnivorous habits we have developed are killing us because they're not in sync with our biological make-up.

And about those bigger brains. We should use them to make rational decisions that help, not hurt us all. Then, maybe we'd have something to boast about.

I have no need for rude and negative people in my life who feel that they are better than anyone, other animals included. And that's not because I feel like I'm better than them. It's because the angry, self centered energy they emit isn't good for the soul. I do best around people who are trying to do no harm and create a positive vibe. The hippie in me loves the hippie in you. LOL

Of course, this world is full of all kinds of people. And some of those people haven't yet figured out that we are all equal. Maybe they're caught up in old traditions. Maybe it's just that they're used to things being the way they are and haven't thought about it much. Maybe they're just plain stubborn. I know I am, but in the opposite way. Ha ha.

At any right, whether I want to connect with the ugly, it's a part of some otherwise kind and caring individuals, as well as some cherished loved ones. It happens. Life is a journey. I get it. Some folks just aren't on the same path. I still love them just the same. Because doing otherwise would make me a “superior” human. And folks, that's just not in me.

Vegan eyes wide open concerning holiday traditions

Coloring Easter eggs costs many lives. Read on to find out why.

It goes deeper than you think. I'm talking about the enormity of the exploitation involved in holiday celebrations. Making the connection that holiday traditions of the past are cruel and inhumane can be hard. But inventing new traditions is uplifting!

When vegans think about holidays like Easter, they see things that others may not, due to their extensive education on issues that others may not even realize exist. Take those Easter eggs. Do you have any idea how many male baby chicks were ground alive or suffocated so you can have eggs to color. It's astounding!

If you eat lamb for Easter, do you ever think about this? That was a baby who died painfully to fill your plate when they just wanted to live. The same goes for Christmas ham, Thanksgiving turkey, corned beef for St. Patrick's day, etc. All “food” animals are killed well before maturity. They're all babies. Even the whipped cream on your pie or fruit salad and the marshmallows in your sweet potatoes cost many other baby animals their lives.

(And aside from that, I'm sorry, you guys. Really I am. More so than you can imagine. But there is also absolutely no such thing as humane slaughter or a humane farm. That's because taking the life of a being that wanted nothing more than to live their life peacefully can never be humane. And breeding/creating/raising another animal for the sole purpose of slaughter is far from humane as well, even if you use “humane” practices, because in the end, they are all going to die before their natural life is over. And that, my friends is what we would call murder if that animal were human.)

It really is sad how many holiday traditions involve the exploitation and/or consumption of other animals. It's hard to face that. It's hard to give up old rituals like coloring easter eggs, that perpetrate the continual use and abuse of other beings. But give them up we must. And that brings us to the good part.

Is there a good side of giving up years of tradition? Absolutely. It's making new, cruelty free traditions a part of your life. You can make your own traditions. Those traditions can be something to be proud of, rather than something to be ashamed of. They can be positive, rather than involving lost lives, slavery, imprisonment and abuse.

It really is possible to celebrate holidays with true joy and without harming other beings. Cruelty free traditions can make you feel so good about yourself! Even if you're not vegan, why not give kinder holiday celebrations a whirl? You might even find out you prefer them!

Avoiding meat and dairy temptations as a Vegan

This is your Butterball turkey. Visualization is a powerful tool for fighting cravings.

A few years back now, I started transitioning from Vegetarian to Vegan. Around the same time, my partner, Gary, decided to go from Omnivore to Vegetarian, leaning toward Vegan. It's been such an interesting journey for both of us. We're learning a whole new way of life. That being said, food temptations are a definite challenge. Here's how we tackle the cravings on a daily basis.

Who has a more difficult time with temptations?

I've been Vegetarian for around 40 years. I don't crave meat at all. It's not even a part of my life anymore after all these years. Still, as far as food cravings go, my partner and I are just about even. I was a real cheese-a-holic before. I put cheese on everything, not realizing that the dairy industry is even more cruel than the meat industry, or that they were completely interwoven. So, while Gary's addictions leaned toward meat, my cheese addictions are every bit as difficult to overcome.

Slipping up

We have slipped up and had small amounts of dairy here and there. Gary has never once gone back to eating meat. It seems his willpower is a bit stronger than mine, though far from perfect. Happily, we've gotten better with every slip up. We're now at the point where there will likely be very few slip ups. That's because the last one was a doozy. We ordered a spinach and artichoke dip, thinking it would mainly be healthy. As it turns out, what we got was a bread bowl full of nasty. The “dip” was spinach and artichokes mixed with mayonnaise and baked in a bread shell. If that's not enough to turn one Vegan, I don't know what is. Yuck!

The gross out factor

Even though the dip was disgusting and set us back for days, it taught us something. Slipping up isn't a treat. It just serves to make us feel downright disgusted with ourselves. It lets see our forbidden foods for exactly what they are, piles of globby, fatty nothing. We're both confident we'll face our temptations with a little more resolve after that experience. If we are tempted, though, despite the gross out factor, we have another little trick up our sleeves. It's not pleasant. It is very effective.

Education

In my job as a writer, I do a lot of research. Like most writers, I write what I know and what I experience. Right now, I'm experiencing the Vegan lifestyle. I research Veganism on a daily basis. In the course of my work, I come across countless videos and articles on animal cruelty. Gary and I watch them together to reinforce our convictions. Watching them has turned out to be a valuable tool for fighting temptation.

Visualization

Last night before bed, we watched a particularly graphic video of typically cruel slaughterhouse practices. It would not leave my head. It joined me in my dreams. Which brings me to my next point. The main way I avoid temptation is by keeping those images in my head. When I'm tempted to eat dairy, I think of baby calves being dragged from their mothers and eventually slaughtered so that we may have their milk. When I'm tempted to have eggs, I picture baby chicks being ground alive.

Think that's horrendous?

You're right. It is. That's the whole point. It's why, along with health reasons, we've made the choice to go Vegan. Therefore, we use the negativity to inspire us. We keep temptation away by recalling why we're doing this. So now, on the weekends, when we're tempted to have a cheese sub, a pizza or something else that's not on our diet, we think twice. We visualize. We remember why we're doing this. Guess what? Meat and dairy just aren't that tempting once you see them for what they really are.

My vegan journey is pulling into the station

Yes, I know. A lot of vegans think we should be able to snap our fingers and change decades of bad habits overnight, due to the horrors of animal exploitation and more. That would be great. Unfortunately, what I have found is that, personally, I am human and fallible. I have had times when I was all vegan for months. I have also had setbacks. Times when those old craving got the better of me. But now?

Well, now I am quite confident that I have attained my goal of transitioning from a vegetarian to an all vegan diet. In fact, I think I'm there now and will not be going back. What makes me so sure? Well, the thing is that I have come to the point where I can take or leave cheese, my greatest temptation. In fact, the thought of all that fatty gloppity-goo that I used to eat, well, it kind of turns my stomach.

I just don't need or want it any more. Last night, Gary had some cheese ravioli because it was still in the freezer from our mutual vegetarian days. He's not quite as far along in his journey as I am in mine. And you know what? I had absolutely no desire to eat it. That is HUGE for me. You have no idea!

So, I made a little angel hair pasta with herbs for myself and loved it. I didn't even top my creation with Parmesan, another bad habit of mine. Oh ya, I used to love Parmesan so much that I would put ¼ cup on my pasta every time. No Parmesan? That's a truly colossal triumph for me.

I also have a love of real butter. That's been a toughie for sure. We still have some in our fridge right now but I am also confident that I can buy some yummy coconut oil based “butter” next time and not ever go back to the “real” thing again. So, when that happens, I will be officially all vegan where my at home diet is concerned.

Now, about those restaurants. I know that there are a lot of places to dine out where it's not evident exactly what they put in their sauces, etc. However, I also feel that I have gotten to the point where I can and will request those changes and substitutes and where I can boycott any restaurant that does not have choices that are vegan or cannot be modified to be vegan.

I actually prefer vegan restaurants now. I will go to a non-vegan restaurant with non-vegan friends. But I will not eat non-vegan food at that restaurant. I will not backslide to being a vegetarian just because there are more of those choices than vegan choices. After all, it's just one night. I can live with eating the one vegan thing on the menu now without feeling deprived of options. And if there are no vegan options? Well, my friends will just have to choose a different restaurant.

And vacation this year? Road trips? There will be no more “lesser of two evils” or eating local favorites for the tradition or nostalgia of it. I'm determined. Even if it means bringing my own vegan cheese and/or telling them to make it without cheese. Whatever I have to do, I will do. And maybe, just maybe, doing so might spark something in others that starts them on their own journey or at least nudges them to accommodate vegans more than they already do.

Now, I know it's not just about diet. But diet is the most difficult thing to change so I started big with diet. I have also eliminated a lot of other non-vegan choices from my life. I gave my precious leather fringe jacket from the 60's away a long time ago. I'm on a budget so I've kept a few of my other non-vegan clothes. Plus, I figure it's more respectful to use and not waste them, since the animal has already died. But I don't buy leather any more. It's also not very environmentally conscious to toss/give away perfectly good clothing and buy more.

And of course, there are incidentals. There are things I know about, but cannot boycott, like that gas for the car is a latent animal product or that cars are made from animal products or that the artist paints I already have from before are not vegan. And there are, of course, products that exploit animals that I don't know about or couldn't possibly know about, that will likely and unfortunately, remain in my life until I do know about them and/or can find viable alternatives.

And how did I get to this awesome point where my diet is completely vegan with no turning back in sight?

Well, I believe that ironically, the reason I have gotten to this point is that I have allowed myself mistakes. Making mistakes is, of course, the best way to learn. I have undergone a very gradual, unforced process and accepted the fact that people are not perfect and I am no exception. I have said this before, but I am not good at those “Have to's” as I call them. I'm a rebel. And rebels need time in order for true change to stick.

For me, a vegan diet was not an overnight transition. But I am there now. I can, have and will just say no to buying and eating my greatest non-vegan nemesis, cheese now. I can and will just say no to buying and eating any more “real” butter too. Oh, I'll finish it off, so as not to waste it, but once it's gone, that is IT my friends. No more! It won't be easy. The power of well worn thought paths is strong but I'm stronger now. I know that I can do this.

I can now say that I am as cruelty free in my diet choices as I can be in this society. I can also say that I will eventually conquer the rest of what is in my power, sooner rather than later. It's been a long process because I'm a tough nut to crack, even when I'm the one doing the cracking. LOL But I am there. I am proud and I am vegan strong!