Sacrifices of Becoming Vegan

Some years ago, as I ran around art studios and the Village in NYC, I was Vegan…my shoes were cloth (with no support, don’t know how I did it), I had very short hair and wore a cap. My nick-name was Calby, maybe I looked like a cartoon character? I got so anemic that a doctor could not hear my heartbeat - with a stethoscope! Holistic doctors I trusted told me I needed complex protein which could only be gotten from the cannibal like practice of eating - an animal. I was floored, having expected some Chinese Herbal formula to aid my iron absorption, or something to that effect.

It was because of my blood type, I was told, Mediterranean lineage, type 0 – meat eaters, grunt.  But I love animals with all my heart. Jane Goodall is my hero, and those like her who communicate with animals and know their language.  A favorite quote: It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions. -Mark Twain

So there I was, at a diner in Santa Monica, at this point, staring down a hamburger in front of me. Not just any diner, but one that serves organic, grade A dead animals. I looked at it a good long time, and thought about the big eyed gentle creature it came from. Biting into it took me back to my childhood, at the club – thick burgers medium rare, a tall icey glass of coke and those huge potatoe fries (I was very young at the time, I wonder how big they would look to me now) I don’t dislike the taste of meat, are you kidding?  A juicy, lean burger with the works or primo cut of steak – is very satisfying and grounding. And so It happened, I reverted back to being… a carnivore!! Mwaaahahaaa

The past how ever many years since, I felt guilty about it, but didn’t want to become depleted again. Also, I've been working hard for some time now, and really needed to restore my own furnace.  I’d blown out my adrenals - take Pantothenic Acid if you have the same problem.  I pulled myself back from the brink, but couldn’t let go of the ‘easy protein fix’.

Recently, I attended another Animal Rights Conference and some of the images I saw…well, at one point, I had to go in a corner and cried for 10 minutes.  If you have the heart for it, and want to truly see what is happening out there to so many of our ‘cousins’ in the animal kingdom… go online and buy, see, whatever – the DVD ‘EARTHLINGS”, directed by Shaun Monson, narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, music by Moby...with a cover recommendation by Woody Harrelson. The film makes an impact, it is as transformational as it is disturbing. 

Regrettably, these are images that everyone needs to see, so we can finally address the apathy and suffering inflicted on millions of animals.  My conscience will not allow me NOT to be a Vegan...aaaat least 75 percent of the time. 

Definition of 100% Vegan: You do not eat, wear or otherwise support anything that causes the suffering of animals along the way. This includes bull fights, rodeos, the circus, carriage rides in the park, pony rides where they are harnessed to be like a carousel, and have to keep walking in circles while looking at the butt of the pony in front of it, while giggling children get their pictures taken by mommy and dada. Not Vegan. There are many ppl who feel if you have something you wear alot, and it's made from animal, that you can eek it by (if your conscience doesn't call you a hypocrite, and you don't mind ducking your Vegan friends when you wear it). 75-90% VEGAN, is COOL TOO. Most people work their way back the food chain in increments. I have a bag stored of leather jackets and boots, that I can't let go of, but I don't want to see them. Only a matter of time. 

I mean, even to collect that soybean crop, a mule, horse or ox, was forced to carry over-capacity loads and work for the hu-‘MAN’. At some point, you just have to let it go. That being said, I don’t trust soy, over processed. I’ve found new products which are closing the gap of – not enough yummy meals for the Vegan pallet!

Grain meats…made by ‘Field Roast’, have various flavors of meat-like loafs and sausages…and I love them! Faves are the Celebration Loaf, stuffed with butternut squash, apple and mushroom pate (holla!), and the Lentil loaf. The smoked apple sage  sausage is a staple that I, and my dogs enjoy on a regular basis! These are great vegetarian meat-like substitutes, and their protein count is through the roof!  To make them even tastier…I use Hanes Organic Vegan Gravy in a package…add Agave and some pureed whatever taste I want, maybe corn - you can experiment with the gravy.

Last but not least (I have a sweet tooth),  Purely Decadent Vanilla Bean frozen dessert made with Coconut milk - I threw in some toasted Coconut and Hazelnuts. Ew la la. So yeah, cruelty free diets can rock. 

There are certain things, part of the Vegan sacrifice, that just can never be replaced. Like my beige suede converse sneaks, broken in to that perfect comfy place that took years of wear to achieve.  A signature piece of wardrobe that were more like friends than footwear. Those are the last to go, they're not in storage, they're in my closet, but I haven't worn them in...2 years? Maybe a photo of the absolute fave dead animal carcass product, and keeping it for the sake of art or momentum, is the way to go –  a reminder of their uber character, and your conscious evolution.