I am really tired of all of these veg-elitists.

I was reading a twitter post today, and it made me really sad. Someone was trying to eliminate eggs/dairy from his diet, while continuing to eat fish. Rather than being commended for making this switch, one that would undeniably change his health and the health of the planet for the better, he was chastized for trying to consider himself a vegetarian. That he would even think to associate himself with the term was so offensive that we had to post and make sure he knew it. Really, guys?

I get it that veganism and vegetarianism are a commitment to do everything in our power to reduce the suffering of animals and the planet. And yes, many people lack the information they need to make the same choices we do. But why do we choose to alienate those people who share our views, all be them less commited than we? Are these really the pepole we should be spending our time attacking? Shouldn't we be spending our time more productively, attacking the system that has created such cruelty?

Since I began this journey, I have communicated with many compassionate, understanding vegans who accept that everyone adjusts to this choice differently. Unfortunately, for every one of them I find, I find several more who are only interested in demonstrating how much more commited they are than everyone else. And I know from personal experience, that's not the way to "convert" people.

I believe everyone who is willing to sacrifice to make a difference should be commended, and I wish more people could see the good that can do.

-vi

I am (sometimes) a lazy vegan.

Some days I come home from work, and the last thing I want to do is think about what kind of healthy vegan meal to cook. Those are the times I love Trader Joe's. Granted, my closest TJ's is 100 miles away, so when I go, I always bring a cooler and stock up on some frozen essentials. One of my faves is their Vegetable Gyoza:


They're super easy for my lazy days (I just stuck them in the microwave, and voila!) and really, really yummy. They're also pretty healthy, so they are a guilt-free fallback plan. And don't they look appetizing?

Anyone else have some favorite frozen vegan fallbacks? Any recommendations so I can stock up next grocery run?

-vi

I am a part of a community.

So this whole internet veganism thing started as a test, both to see if I could do it, and if I could find people who could help support me. Turns out, I have been pleasantly surprised.

I thought that this transition would be extremely difficult, but having the support and expertise of the online community, through blogs, twitter, forums, etc. has really shown me that not all vegans are the die-hards I anticipated. They're all people who, while they make choices that are still, in many ways, unconventional, they have struggled in their relationships just as I have. And most of them are reasonable people like me.

I want to change the world, but I don't want to scare away the people that I love. I want to be open-minded, and the best way to do that is to keep doing what I have been doing. I am still on the learning path, and I hardly have this whole vegan-thing figured out. What I do know is that without such a supportive vegan community, I would have given up out of fear and loneliness. Thank you, everyone who has supported me thus far. Without your advice, I would have quit striving long ago.

-vi