I grew up in a family of hardcore carnivores. Long story short: we love meat. Not just a family that enjoys a regular American diet, but a hardcore, Texas BBQ type of family. Literally one of my earliest memories was of my mother seasoning a roast for Christmas dinner.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when my friend was scrolling through my Insta. They pointed out that at least a fourth of the people that I followed were Vegan cooks, bloggers, or models. Really?! A carnivore with a secret passion for almond milk, tofu, and seitan?
This inspired me to do an experiment. I wanted to know if I could survive a day as a vegan college student. Because veganism is a lifestyle, not a diet, I had to assess the products in my cosmetic bag. Using my social media mentors, I first assessed my cosmetics. I found that most of my products either had glycerin, beeswax, or a shady past with animal testing. Out of everything, I used daily, on five of my products were Vegan and cruelty-free.
(Cruelty-Free Products)
(Cruel/ Non-Vegan Products. I definitely cheated and used deodorant, my bad. )
I also knew that leather and other animal-derived clothing materials we a no go, and cotton was my fabric of choice.
For breakfast, I had a bagel and fruit. It was yummy, especially the fresh strawberries. But I’ll admit that I got jealous once I saw my boyfriend pull out a tub of cream cheese. After breakfast, we went to Starbucks, where I ordered a grande coconut milk mocha macchiato. Recently their menu has expanded to be more inclusive of food allergies and dietary restrictions. In all honesty, I couldn’t taste the difference in the drink (probably because it is so sweet!).
For lunch, we went to a local spot in walking distance from the school. Although Arepa Mia doesn’t have vegan options, they can make any arepa vegan and cruelty-free. I had the Domino without cheese and cilantro sauce. This was REALLY delicious! (Picture: The Domino)
The day was off without a hitch, right up until dinner time. That’s when things started to get really tough. I was on a volunteer field trip that afternoon, and towards the end, we decided to stop at a Jimmy Johns. I couldn’t bare the thought of eating soggy vegetables on a loaf of bread, so I opted for a cheap and carb-loaded vegan option: a plain loaf of bread. Hey, I didn’t say I would make a great vegan.
(I call this one: Contemplating why I do stupid things for HerCampus)
Later that night, I was again challenged by something that nearly broke me. ProBo was hosting an event that would feature a pièce de résistance of golden, crispy Chik fil a nuggets. Below is a visual account of my struggle.
(The smell is oh so delectable, yet very much so meat)
(I’m looking rough from all this will power).
Thankfully, I made it through the day and, right after midnight, I ordered a pizza and called the experiment done. Although I may not be changing my lifestyle anytime soon, I did learn a thing or two through this experience. I know now how difficult it can be to find vegan-friendly options, especially when you’re on a budget. Hopefully, as producers become more and more aware of the growing market for cruelty-free products, vegans and non-vegans alike will be able to make an impact by purchasing with the planet in mind.
(Delicious.)