What is a vegan?
A vegan is an individual who abstains from consuming any type of animal-derived products, including animal by-products such as whey, casein, etc.
Where did the term vegan come from?
Donald Watson, founder of the very first Vegan Society, coined the term vegan in 1944. Watson founded the Vegan Society in order to differentiate vegetarians who ate dairy and egg products from those who did not. He took the first three and last two letters of the word vegetarian and formed the word vegan, which he referred to as “the beginning and the end of vegetarian”( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganism).
Why did you decide to become a vegan?
Well, the long and short of it is simple: music. In high school and college I listened to a lot of punk and hardcore music. A lot of the bands were either promoting veganism in their music and/or overtly identifying themselves as vegans in public. Veganism was always kind of dancing around in the back of my head. In high school, I got a copy of Propagandhi’s Less Talk More Rock album, which sent my brain spinning! Track 2 “Nailing Descartes to the Wall” is an intense two minutes of head pounding, factory farm hating, calling-it-like-we-see-it amazingness. When I was nineteen, I remember very clearly, having a lavish dinner at one of Atlanta’s poshest chophouses with friends and family. I had the Surf and Turf and left dinner feeling so full and just kinda gross. On the way home, for some reason, I pondered the idea of becoming vegan. At least I could give it a whirl for one week and see how I feel? So the next day, I did it! It was difficult at first. I bought some books and looked a few things up on the Internet. I started reading and analyzing labels.
This was one of the most eye-opening changes in my daily food routine. I rarely looked at labels before this. I was stunned, appalled, and saddened by the unbelievable amount of crap that is sold to the public as food safe for consumption. After the first week, I felt FANTASTIC! I knew there was no way I could go back. One piece of advice that I would like to give those who have tried consuming a strictly vegan diet and felt sluggish, constantly hungry, and or unsatisfied (I hear these reasons the most for giving up on the vegan diet): EAT MORE! I increased my daily food consumption to about five meals per day. I was always hungry when I first became vegan. Despite eating more, I was still losing weight and feeling great. Eventually, my ravenous appetite tapered off and I began consuming a more moderate quantity of food each day.
But I still eat A LOT! I love food, for real!
The real deal cincher was when I read John Robbins Diet for a New America. I finally got it. What in the heck are we doing to our food supply?!?! And this is legal?!?!? No way. I will not be a part of this.
I am lucky enough to have made my way across the country to Native Foods Café, where I am constantly inspired by our customers, new and old, vegan and omnivorous, who are really getting into the food movement. We have customers who have eliminated life-threatening diseases, lost significant amounts of weight, and improved their lives as a whole solely by changing the way they eat. Once you make that connection, it is almost impossible to disassociate yourself from what you eat ever again. I really cannot say it enough, WE ARE WHAT WE EAT.
By Holladay Allen
Native Foods Tribe Member
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