Sandwich #1: almond butter on a whole-wheat sandwich thin, packed as a morning snack between classes.
Sandwich #2: a Boca vegan burger with mustard and spinach on a whole-wheat sandwich thin, also packed for lunch.
Enjoyed with carrot sticks, an apple and a honey graham Clif Z-Bar for a little something sweet.
Sandwich #3: Sabra sundried tomato hummus on whole-wheat bread, currently being eaten as I write this post. (Well, it's more like hummus on toast, but if I stuck 'em together it would be a sandwich, right?)
What can I say, I like bread :)
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Today is the last day of "vegan month"! As I explained in this post, I committed to veganism for 31 days, just to get a sense of how it felt to be a strict vegan. Over the course of this little experiment, I've learned a few things:
1. At home, already eat nearly 100% vegan. I never once wanted to make something that contained animal products, so I didn't feel deprived in that sense.
2. Eating out is the most difficult aspect of veganism. Though most restaurants can provide a vegan dish upon request, it's usually not a very fun or unique meal. Plus there's barely ever a vegan dessert option, which makes me sad. Dessert is my favorite!
3. It would be way harder to go totally vegan if I didn't live in such a veg-friendly city, and if my friends and family weren't so supportive. I'm lucky that my parents were willing to try vegan restaurants in Orlando, and that there are so many vegan options in NYC. It definitely made the whole month much easier!
4. One thing that I've noticed this month is that I have a much harder time eating processed (and therefore generally non-vegan) sweets in moderation than I do quality desserts (including well-made non-vegan sweets). That's by no means a reason to swear off of M&M's or Milano cookies, it's just something I'm glad to be more aware of.
So, the verdict? As much as I believe in veganism, I don't think I'll ever consider myself to be 100% vegan. I was happy with the way I ate before (occasional seafood, dairy, and cream-filled desserts), and I intend to go back to eating whatever I want, which frequently falls into the vegan category, anyway. I prefer not to label my diet, anyway- I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't need to define or defend your eating choices, as long as they keep you happy and healthy!
How would you describe your diet to someone else? Be creative!
