I’ve Been a Vegan for Six Years, and Yeah, I’m Gonna Tell You About It

When I was in my 20s, my dad recommended that I read a book called The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. That was a pivotal moment for me as it set me on a journey toward understanding how the quality of my nutrition impacts the quality of my life. 

The more I dug into the science after reading Pollan’s book, the more I started to think that my future was plant-based. In 2019, after a few starts and stops, I went all-in on veganism. You can read more on that here. 

It took time to get used to living this way and how to get the right nutrients every day, but now it’s second nature. In fact, I find it so easy - and so affordable - that I can’t believe more people don’t live this way. 

Interesting things started to happen a few years into veganism: my health improved, my running improved, and my entire worldview shifted.

I’ve become more aware of how food production impacts the earth and how much social pressure there is to eat things that aren’t great for you or the planet. 

I feel super connected to nature - and I was NEVER that person. For example, up until my late 20s, I was determined to be a city girl and live out my career and life in Manhattan. Today, my favorite place to be  is the suburban park near my house with all the trees and birds. Who am I!? 

What’s more: my compassion for animals has increased tenfold. I’ve always considered myself an animal lover, but after learning about factory farming, and understanding the intelligence that many of the animals we consume possess, I will never look at meat and dairy products the same way again. 

Many people think of veganism as boring and bland - kind of like uncooked tofu. 

I can assure you that once you become educated about plant-based living and start to experiment with different ingredients, cooking techniques and recipes, and once you start to meet more people living this lifestyle, you’ll discover a world that’s more exciting, dynamic and colorful than you imagine.