written by HC Hofstra contributor, Devon Preston
I entered my freshmen year at Hofstra University with the fervent ambition to re-invent myself. I was in a new place; I had the opportunity to start over and try things I’d always wanted to try.
Thus this marked the perfect time to go Vegan. I’d never given much thought to the idea off abstaining from all animal products; I knew it would be difficult was all. But I had entered a novel mindset, one where no task was impenetrable.
Veganism can be defined as the abstinence of all dairy, egg, and meat products. Many Vegans also eliminated honey from their diet, but I’m sticking to the bare bones, no pun intended.
As imagined, there are a lot of things I had to avoid when adapting a Vegan lifestyle. Sure, any meat was out of the question, but I now had to be considerate of what everything I consumed was made of. Most candies were out of the question, and yes that meant that I had to cut ties with my longstanding chocolate addiction. Yet I could have dark chocolate, as long as it was more than 60% cocoa.
For many, this lifestyle may seem more torturous than beneficial, yet I can confidently say that there are multitudes of perks in being a Vegan. For one, you are forced to stop and really think about what you are consuming. Going into college, I was terrified of gaining the freshman fifteen. But becoming a Vegan has forced me to stop eating blind and made me realize the importance of keeping in mind what you are eating. When it comes to packaged foods, I have to scan the ingredients which pushes me to take into account what kinds of preservatives may have been used as well as how many calories are in each serving. This allows me to consider whether this item really is a healthy choice.
Another benefit that I have found with being Vegan is the physical payoff. Cutting out meat and dairy slims you down, reducing bloat in that tricky midsection. I have coupled being a vegan with exercise, striving to work out for an hour every day. While this may have seemed daunting at first, I have become able to fall into a focused routine of diet and exercise, which is essential for anyone looking to keep off those extra pounds. Now you may be wondering what you can eat as a Vegan.
Surprisingly, a lot of things are vegan these days. My favorite ‘vegan treats’ includes Silk (which in my opinion is much more satisfying than any glass of whole milk I’ve ever had), Oreos (they are made of soy), Corn chips (they’re also gluten free), and Nutella (you have to seek out the Vegan kind). So even though there are things that you can’t eat as a vegan, there are so many foods out there that satisfy this kind of lifestyle. And did I mention what being a Vegan means in the grand scheme? By cutting out animal products, you are severing your ties with the hidden harsh realities found in the food processing industry. We are shut away from the cruel practices inflicted on these animals, led to believe that this is just the way it has to be. But we are brainwashed, just check out the Peta website if you don’t believe me.
So if you’re looking for a change, seeking a way to drop the freshmen fifteen, or are as outraged by the treatment of animals as I am; consider adopting the vegan way of life. I know I don’t regret my decision; this way of being has become apart of me.