Author: HannahfromAmerica

In the late 1960s, researchers at Stanford University created an experiment to zone in on the way a child acts and if and how these actions reflect the choices they make later in life.

The Experiment: To start off, the researchers took each individual child and sat them down in a room by themselves. They then took a particular snack, commonly a marshmallow, but sometimes a cookie or other treat, and they placed this snack in front of the child. Before leaving the room, they made it very clear that the child had two options while they were alone.
The first option was to eat the snack whenever they liked with absolutely no consequences whatsoever (this, of course, causing the child to perk his or her ears up). But the second option was to wait for fifteen minutes while the researcher was out of the room and not eat the treat, and in reward for waiting, the child would then be able to have two treats instead of one. No consequences for eating the first, but a more substantial reward for waiting for a short period. The researchers made sure the rules were apparent and then proceeded to leave the room.

The Results: As you may imagine, during these fifteen minutes, some of the kids ate their marshmallow immediately, others tried to wait but ended up giving into temptation, and a select few were able to pause the entire fifteen minutes without eating their snack. Now here’s where things get interesting.
The researchers then followed up with these children multiple times throughout their lifetime and analyzed a few different key areas of their lives. The shocking results found that in general, the individuals who waited the entire fifteen minutes for two snacks were described as being more competent by their parents, had higher SAT scores, had lower Body Mass Indexes, and more.

So why does this matter?

This experiment shows the power of being able to practice delayed gratification. It shows us that patience combined with willpower is a skill set that will take you far in life. But why is this? Plain and simple, the things worth achieving take time, and they all come with a ton of obstacles along the way.
With anything worth doing, there will always be things tempting you along the way that can and probably will slow down the process. You want to get that summer body? Those cookies (that probably taste amazing at the moment) will make it harder to do so in the long-term. You want to gain confidence in social situations? It may feel good to stay home every night of the week, but if you’re going to grow, you’ll need to get out and be uncomfortable. You want to build a successful business?
You’re going to, unfortunately, have to avoid a lot of daily time wasters that you may have once had. With whatever you’re trying to succeed in, there will always be things that will test your willpower along the way, and still, things that you may need to learn to avoid.

When we look at these marshmallows (or cookies or brownies), we need to see them as they are: instant pleasures. And although they may seem extremely tempting in the present moment, we have to keep our end goal in mind and to let our ambition drown out the noise of the temptations. Yes, it will probably taste delicious to have that marshmallow right now. But in fifteen minutes, how good is eating two marshmallows going to taste? And not only that but how good is it going to feel knowing that you resisted those temptations for those 15 minutes?
So I have to ask, where are the marshmallows in your life right now? What things are you struggling to avoid, and how can you practice delayed gratification with these marshmallows to take you closer to where you want to be in life? Now is the time to think, analyze, and start receiving daily action steps to create the experience that you want.

We live in a fast-paced world, plain and simple. With our smartphones and the internet, we currently have instant access to and are being constantly bombarded by new information at every moment of the day. Whether it’s the news, our Facebook feed, our Instagram, or whatever media we’re paying attention to, it seems like we’re always ‘in’ on what’s happening in the world. We hear a lot of great advice, we get bombarded with a ton of life lessons, and we take in loads of new information every single day. But even though we’re consuming all of this information, I have to ask, are we really listening?

This past week, I was scrolling on Instagram and came across a picture of the following quote:

“The tiny seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered in darkness, and had to struggle to reach the light.”

Shouldn’t this be common knowledge? Shouldn’t it be evident that life is hard? Shouldn’t people know to keep a positive attitude? Well, unfortunately, yes and no. In today’s fast-paced world, people hear this stuff all the time. They see it on social media, they listen to it from their friends, or they consume it in some other type of way. So they should know. But the sad thing is, because of this overload of information, many people find that they don’t know, because they never actually take the time to listen.

Unfortunately, when you hear cliches and quotes over and over, they start to lose their value. They begin to get watered down, you begin to get used to them, and over time you completely forget what they’re really about. Just as an example, take a second and think about the phrase ‘don’t cry over spilled milk.’ If you were to hear this or read this in passing, I’m going to assume that you wouldn’t pay it any thought — you’ve probably heard it a million times before, so there’s no use taking more than a few milliseconds to even think about it. But the fact of the matter is, this is such a powerful phrase that we can learn a lot from. Yet it’s still something that a lot of people seem to forget.

When it comes down to it, the things that we hear the most are often the truest, the things we are surrounded by are usually there for a reason, and the things that can potentially teach us the most are most often diluted to mean nothing. It’s unfortunate that as humans we are designed to drown out and devalue what we become used to — but it’s really just the way we are. But once we realize that this is how we are programmed, it becomes possible for us to make a conscious effort to take the time to actually listen. And when I say look, I’m not just talking about hearing or seeing. I’m talking about consuming, thinking, and analyzing.

“The secrets to life are hidden behind the word cliche.”

The next time someone says something as simple as ‘work hard,’ or ‘consistency matters,’ or ‘focus on the good,’ make sure you take the time to actually listen to what they’re saying.

I’ve got the perfect morning routine down to the minutes, but my nighttime routine still has some work to do.

There are elements of my nights that I love, but there are also things that I know need to be added or nixed.

So, let’s start with what I’ve got going for me: 

::: skincare / when I was younger and first started having to take care of my skin I was awful at it. In college, there were countless nights when I would go to bed without washing my face, even when I had a full face of makeup on. I cringe thinking about it now. But now I’ve gotten to the point of adulthood where I wash my face before going to be. And there’s nothing better than a freshly washed and moisturized face.

::: tea / I drink herbal teas almost always and make adaptogenic tonics every day. One of my favorites drinks before bed is an adaptogenic tonic using Four Sigmatic Reishi or Reishi mixed with ashwagandha from Moon Juice. Reishi to destress and relax and ashwagandha for everything. My night routine isn’t set in stone yet, because the summer hours, but it is nice to have a mug of something hot to sip on when you get into bed.

::: read before bed / in my ideal world I would read every night before bed, but I’m not there yet. But I always love the times that I do.

::: gratitude / sounds cheesy but Michael and I share what we’re grateful for that day, and it sends you to bed feeling really warm and fuzzy inside.

Things that I like but probably aren’t the best for winding down:

::: I love watching an episode (or a few) on Netflix or Youtube at the end of the day. Right now I’m on the last season of Law and Order: SVU. I know it’s not good to stare at a laptop before going to bed, but it’s these fun little things to help wind down from the day

What I need to stop:

::: staying off social media / I’ve gotten a lot better over the years but I used to have to scroll through Instagram until I got through all the new posts. Ridiculous I know. But overall I’d like to cut down on technology before bed.

What I would like to add:

::: mediation / I go through phases of meditating regularly, but I would love to start consistently doing it at night. And not leave it to the last thing or I will definitely fall asleep during.

::: journaling / while I’m all about morning pages, I would love to add regular journaling at night as a way to reflect on and document my day. I love looking back on old journals, and I think night time would be a great spot to start doing it consistently.

 

What are your favorite parts of your nighttime routine, and what would you change?

Alright ladies, listen up! If you’re an athlete, a gym rat, runner, or just bonafide yogi chances are you need a little extra get-up-and-go to support your active lifestyle and rockin’ body, right? Anyone serious about their health and performance knows the importance of nutrition for overall excellence. You can pump weights, run 10 miles, and do yoga until your joints become as flexible as rubberbands but without proper nutrition, you’ll only get so far.

Myths About Athletic Performance and Nutrition

We were once told that skinless chicken breasts, brown rice, and broccoli or egg whites with non-fat yogurt were “clean” athletic foods that could support a lean body. Meals of canned tuna and diced celery with lettuce are still eaten in suffering by many athletes and dieters thinking those foods are the best option. Well, that’s not entirely wrong. The brown rice, broccoli, celery, and lettuce are all pretty good for you, stellar even. But the other foods? Not so much.

Why Plant-Based Nutrition Improves Health and Performance

Animal-based foods contain very inflammatory sources of fats and proteins. When you think about it, at the heart of our food lies what we end up becoming. Food is just language to our bodies’ cells. Cells are pathways of communication that control everything from our metabolism to our brain function. They do it all. What are we telling them to become?

Athletes or active individuals need high-quality sources of nutrition, not inflammatory-promoting foods or foods with cholesterol, toxins, and contaminants from animals. Because these foods are so highly processed, we can never really be sure what happens behind the scenes of their production, no matter what marketing hypes may tell us or what sports performance magazines may promote. Ignore the advertisements for whey protein and Greek yogurt and go plant-based for performance instead. These foods provide raw, living nutrients your cells easily recognize and can process into energy, along with care for your muscles, heart, and overall body.

The Plant-Power Female Athlete’s Needs

Women need specific amounts of carbs, fats, and protein to thrive, nutritionally speaking. These macro-nutrients should come from clean, plant-based foods and should be eaten at each meal. This balance will provide the body with fuel for performance and speed up recovery, muscle growth, and repair. It will also prevent any nutritional shortages that can hinder performance.

Ladies, don’t diet. Reducing calories to lower levels than your body needs won’t only shortchange your active lifestyle but also your long-term health. Let’s ditch the dieting and wasting your money on pricey yogurts and whey-based protein shakes.

Follow this satisfying, healthy whole food meal plan for female vegan athletes instead:

The Female Vegan Athlete’s Plate:

Three Macronutrient Ratios Choices: (Choose One Depending on Your Nutritional Preferences)

• (A) 30% Protein, 50% Carbs, and 20% Fats
• (B) 40% Protein, 50% Carbs, and 10% Fats or
• (C) 40% Protein, 40% Carbs, and 20% Fats

Upon Rising. Water with lemon juice (decreases morning inflammation and increases energy) or a green juice made with kale, lemon, ginger, green apple, and cucumber (also decreases inflammation and provides vitamins and minerals)

Breakfast Choices (pre or post-workout):

• A bowl of steel cut or rolled oats mixed with unsweetened non-dairy milk and water, with sliced banana or a sliced apple, 1-2 tbsp. chia seeds and/or  1 tbsp. ground flax seeds, berries of choice, and stevia if needed
• A green smoothie with spinach or kale, acai berry puree, cranberries, blueberries and/or banana, a whole foods vegan protein powder, unsweetened non-dairy milk, and coconut yogurt or raw almond butter
• Chia pudding topped with fruit of choice and sliced almonds
• Steamed quinoa with 1/4 avocado sliced, 3 ounces grilled or sautéed savory tofu or tempeh, kale, and matchstick carrots
• Quinoa or wild rice cooked with unsweetened non-dairy milk, berries, and ground flax; add some almonds for more protein and fats if desired
• A baked sweet potato with salsa, kale, and tahini; one cup of plain soy yogurt with chia seeds on the side for protein
• Tahini spread over sprouted grain cinnamon raisin bread with an apple or orange on the side
• Coffee or chai, green, or herbal tea (nix the sugar and use stevia and non-dairy milk instead of cream)

Snackage:

• raw almonds with celery, red bell peppers, and raw carrots
• An orange or apple with 1/4 cup raw cashews
• Raw superfood trail mix made with raw almonds, coconut flakes, mulberries or goji berries, Brazil nuts, and walnuts
• A soy, coconut, or almond milk-based yogurt (choose unsweetened) with some flax and berries
• A green juice
• Orange with raw trail mix or raw nuts and seeds
• Apple with raw almond butter
• A bowl of berries with some soy yogurt or coconut yogurt (unsweetened)
• A post-workout smoothie
• A banana with a tablespoon or two of raw cashew butter
• Vegan protein pancakes
• Protein pudding made with a vegan protein powder, coconut flour, stevia, vanilla extract, and fresh blueberries (stir with almond milk into a pudding)
• Raw energy bites
• Raw fruit and nut bars like these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip ‘Lara’ Bars
• Celery, red bell pepper slices, raw carrots, and raw cukes (good for mid-day munchies, not as post-workout fuel)
• Water, water, water (and herbal tea or green tea if needed)

Lunch Ideas:

• 1 large salad with romaine, shredded kale, matchstick carrots, hummus, sliced red bell peppers, roasted sweet potato or roasted squash cubes, edamame, lentils or black beans, avocado and a lemon/mustard/tahini based dressing
• 1 large salad with kale, romaine, arugula, or spring greens with cucumber, raw olives or avocado, carrots, peppers, celery, chickpeas, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, dried raisins or strawberries, and a vinaigrette dressing
• Seared tofu with roasted butternut squash, steamed kale or spinach, and fresh sliced tomatoes
• Chickpea Salad Sandwich Deluxe with an orange or apple on the side
• A sandwich made from sprouted grain bread, raw almond butter, fresh sliced strawberries or bananas, and a container of soy yogurt (unsweetened) on the side with cinnamon and chia or flax seeds
• A bowl of oatmeal or steamed quinoa (see breakfast recipe suggestions)
• A simple bowl of lentils, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and kale
• A simple bowl of brown or wild rice, broccoli, butternut squash, and tempeh
• A black bean wrap with tomatoes, corn, avocado and other veggies of choice
• Water to drink (hydration is key for athletes)

Dinner Ideas (emphasize protein for overnight recovery):

Any of the lunch ideas above or

• Tempeh with sauteed carrots, spinach, and mushrooms
• A Buddha bowl made with black rice or teff, sesame seeds, avocado slices, broccoli, cauliflower, roasted butternut or zucchini squash, lemon juice to sweeten, black pepper and spices, edamame or chickpeas
• Breakfast for dinner such as soaked oats with chia seeds, coconut yogurt, and a scoop of vegan vanilla protein powder added, berries or pumpkin added, and cinnamon and stevia to sweeten
• Stuffed wrap with quinoa, carrots, avocado, chickpeas, and tofu if desired (add tahini for more fat and protein if you want.)
• Quinoa with black beans, salsa, sweet potatoes, and kale or spinach
• Vegan chili or a bean-based stew
• Marinated kale salad made with kale, lemon juice, mashed avocado, seasonings of choice, cubed sweet potatoes, and either tofu, tempeh, edamame, lentils, black beans, chickpeas, or quinoa for protein
• Water, tea, or decaf coffee to drink

Humans love tea. In fact, after water, we drink more tea than any other beverage. How much do we love tea, you ask? Well, on any given day, over 159 million Americans drink tea. In 2016 alone, Americans drank over 84 billion servings (that’s over 3.8 billion gallons) of some type of tea. While about 86 percent of tea drinkers stick with the black variety (green is a distant second), you’ll find a ton of varieties on your grocery or health food store shelves.

I’ve been into the concept of making my own herbal tea for quite some time now. For the past few years, drinking caffeine has been slowly leaving my diet. I don’t rely on it, nor do I crave it. Now, I almost never drink caffeine and I REALLY got back into making fresh herbal teas. I’m also trying to skip the whole tea bag thing, as they are notorious for developing microscopic mold and fungus. Loose leaf has even acquired this rap, and much like grains, how can I be sure how OLD the herbs really are?

Giving up caffeine and getting back to freshness inspired a whole new burst of creativity in my life. I began to concoct tea out of just about anything. Herbs, fruit, roots, spice—anything fresh and beneficial.

One of the saddest arts to fade in our society is a basic understanding of herbs, even common popular herbs available in America, and their beneficial properties/ ability to fight illnesses.

“What determines whether a tea is green, black, white, or oolong depends entirely on the degree of processing that the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant undergo after they’ve been harvested,” says Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., in The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. “Here’s the short summary: Black tea is fully fermented; oolong tea is partially fermented; green tea is not fermented at all but pan-fried and dried, and white tea is barely processed.” Herbal tea is made from other leaves, roots, and fruits and are not made from Camellia Sinensis, which also means they are generally caffeine-free.

The health benefits of tea :::

More often than I thought I would, I hear friends tell me that they tried to go vegan for a little while, but they found that they were just hungry all the time. Constantly hungry? That sounds pretty painful and definitely not like something anyone should endure. It also pains me to hear that some people experience this feeling when going plant-based because it’s not representative of how you can and will feel if your diet is done right. I definitely don’t want anyone to quit the plant-based journey because of an empty stomach.

The following are some solutions to maintaining your vegan diet without feeling like you’re constantly running on empty.

::: Eat more food   Ever heard of any diet that tells you to eat more food? That’s exactly the principle behind a balanced plant-based diet–the idea is to only consume whole foods that are minimally processed. Once you do that, you can eat as much of them as you want. Keep in mind that whole plant-based foods are dense in nutrients but less dense in calories than most foods that make up the traditional Westen diet. I generally don’t recommend to anyone actually track their calories in too much detail, but if you feel hungry all the time, go ahead and track them for a couple days. Most of us should consume between 2,000 and 2,500 calories a day. If you are far from that goal, then go ahead and add an extra serving of rice or a smoothie in your diet.

::: Reduce stress  A lot of us are stress eaters. That means that if we get stressed, or when work becomes overwhelming, we suddenly feel a big emptiness in our stomach. We often mistake this feeling for hunger and quickly devour something while sitting in front of our computer or being on an agitated phone call while walking to work. The truth is, this feeling of hunger is actually stress and we try to compensate this impulse with eating. Even if you eat a vegan diet, you might still feel incredibly stressed at times, so instead of changing what you eat, change how you eat. Turn off all distractions, sit down at a real table, and most importantly, chew and enjoy your food. This can reduce your stress attacks considerably and with them, the impression of being hungry.

::: Balance the plate  I think the misconception that vegan meals are all veg and nothing else gets to the issue at hand. I highly recommend having a mixture of grains, protein, and vegetables — it provides a great balance not only with flavor/bulk but also texture. Grains and legumes help keep the meal filling while the vegetables bring everything together.  While I like to keep balance within my meals (and eat a lot of vegan bowl meals), showcasing a beautiful vegetable or fruit can make a great hearty, vegan meal.

::: To Feel Satiated, Try Incorporating Starchy Plant-Based Foods According to Dr. McDougall, research shows carbohydrates lead to long-term satiety, enduring for hours between meals, whereas the fats in a meal have little impact on satiety.

Before you worry about getting fat eating carbs, I’d like to clarify that not all carbs are equal. Refined and processed carbs like white bread are a no-no. The processing and refining steps of refined carbs usually turn them into products stripped of nutrients (fiber, vitamins, and minerals) and loaded with salt, oils, sugars, dairy- derivatives, and chemicals.

However, complex, natural, unprocessed sugars, made in nature by plants, contain fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals which are all good for the body, reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Other than starch-based foods, I’d also like to add that nuts and seeds are also a great source of protein and can help you feel full.

According to Dr. Michael Greger, 90 percent of relevant studies have shown that subjects showed no weight gain from nut consumption perhaps because nuts are so satisfying and appetite suppressing that you just eat less throughout the whole day. Nuts may also increase our resting energy expenditure by as much as 11 percent, helping us burn more calories while we sleep!

Without further ado… below are 5 groups of plant-based foods you can incorporate into your diet to help you feel full:

Grains like wheat, barley, rye, corn, oats, millet, black rice, brown rice, purple rice, quinoa

Out of the grains listed, quinoa deserves a mention. I love quinoa (don’t we all?) especially since it serves as complete protein for vegetarians and is relatively low in calories.  Quinoa has significantly greater amounts of both lysine and isoleucine, which allows the protein in quinoa to serve as a complete protein source, providing amino acids your body needs.

Starchy Vegetables like squashes, carrots, yams, parsnips, artichokes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes

I love my sweet potatoes, which is high in vitamin A and C, protecting cells and tissues from free radicals and oxidative damage which accelerates aging and causes diseases such as cancer. Roasting sweet potatoes have also been shown to have a more favorable impact on blood sugar regulation and to provide the plant with a lower glycemic index (GI) value.

Legumes like lentils, beans (black, green, kidney, pinto, navy, garbanzo), peas, peanuts

Beans are high in fiber, protein, and plethora of minerals that are good for your body. And yes, beans can curb your appetite.  A recent study reported that subjects were more satisfied with their diet when garbanzo beans were included, and they consumed fewer processed food snacks during test weeks in the study when garbanzo beans were consumed. They also consumed less food overall when the diet was supplemented with garbanzo beans.

Nuts like cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts

Before you fret at the thought of eating fatty nuts, please note that most of the fats in nuts are good for your health. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders suggested that an almond-enriched low-calorie diet (high in monounsaturated fats) can help overweight individuals shed pounds more effectively than a low-calorie diet high in complex carbohydrates.

Seeds like chia seeds, flax seeds

Chia is the richest plant-based source of omega 3, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin, and antioxidants.  It also contains a right ratio of amino acids and essential fats. The indigenous population in Central America would use chia to sustain their energy and blood sugar levels so that they could sometimes run over 100 miles in a few days! When you eat chia seeds, they will expand c. 3x original size and keep your stomach full, especially since the seeds absorb water and expand!

 

 

 

 

 

Veganism has taken the media by storm in the past few years, with so many celebrities flocking to the diet.

That’s wonderful news for those of us who believe in the vegan lifestyle, but an unfortunate side effect of all this momentum is judgment. Some vegans judge others for not going vegan and non-vegans criticize vegans for being too judgmental.

If you are vegan, this article is for you. I am asking that you will consider the following 5 ideas to better represent veganism. I believe that the way to garner attention is not by bashing, judging, or looking down upon those who don’t embrace this lifestyle. It’s not by judging those who are not vegan.

Here are 5 Steps to Dropping Your Ego and Being a Vegan Without Being Preachy:

::: Be kind  Let me reassure all of you who are vegan that being kind to others works. Kindness (toward animals and yourself) is important to you or else you wouldn’t be vegan, right? Well, it’s equally important to be as compassionate to those who aren’t vegan. When you exude kindness, you have a glow of sincerity, which grabs people’s attention. If you’re trying to influence others to become vegan, the approach works.

::: Don’t be judgmental  Thousands of you who have become vegan were once were meat eaters. You were once part of “the problem” (so to speak), eating innocent animals on their journey to slaughter. If you think about your journey into veganism, it probably took some time.

It took me years to become vegan. My point is that it’s not only unfair to judge others, it’s also an inadequate approach to educating others. When you are a judgmental vegan, it is misrepresenting what should be a kind community.

::: Show (don’t tell) why veganism is amazing  Vegans have been accused of being elitists and I have seen many that behave like such. It’s ugly. It’s important to lose the ego. Live in harmony with others. Remember that when you are vegan, you have a responsibility as you are representing a global movement. If you want people to see how amazing it is to be vegan, you’re going have to show them a worthwhile reason to do so. Who has influenced you? What inspired you enough to change a habit in your life? I’d bet you weren’t influenced by an elitist who judged you nonstop.

::: Let your healthy mind and healthy body communicate for you  For most people, one result of veganism a healthy body. A healthy body begets a healthy mind and vice versa. Alicia Silverstone said in an interview that she really began to influence others when she stopped challenging them, debating why veganism was “better,” and when she stopped talking about it. She went about her fab life eating plant-based meals, losing weight and shining love! Suddenly people started to ask because they saw her skin glowing. They started asking about her diet because she was losing weight. It was then that she started to have a positive influence.

::: Get a life  Yes, I wrote that. I am encouraging vegans to take a step back from the label of ‘Vegan’. Who are you? Why are you defining yourself solely by what you eat or don’t eat? The healthiest people in this world are well-rounded individuals with much to offer others. Build upon all of your other interests in life: your character, your skill sets, and do not forget to share more of yourself with the world because you are more than a vegan even if being vegan is a big part of your life.

Be kind. Be lovely. It is these qualities that make one shine and bring the right kind of attention to anything worthwhile!

Five years ago I switched to eating completely vegan, and I’ve never looked back. Eating vegan feels right for my mind, body, and soul.

I have lost weight, my energy levels have soared, my skin cleared up and my overall health has never been better.

At first, going vegan can seem intimidating and there’s a good reason for that: Veganism is only just starting to receive mainstream attention and you may not have any family or friends that are vegan.

If you’ve been thinking about transitioning to a vegan diet, it isn’t as difficult or limiting as you may think. What I can assure you is that after fully embracing a vegan lifestyle, I’ve learned first-hand that all of the popular misconceptions about eating vegan are well, misconceptions.

::: I’ll have to eat boring food without flavor for the rest of my life!  

Wrong! In fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I had this fear before going vegan. However, making the switch to a vegan diet led me to discover amazing vegetables (collard greens, anyone?), fruit, smoothies, juices, spices, and snacks that I never had before.

When you have to take certain things out of your diet, you begin to go out of your comfort zone and uncover items at the grocery store and on the menu that you never would’ve tried before. The variety of food that I eat now is more diverse than ever.

I continue to be amazed at all of the incredible options I discover. Don’t even get me started on vegan restaurants and vegan bakeries, they are all out of this world (and all of my non-vegan friends agree!).

Begin to research vegan blogs and vegan cookbooks for recipes to get some ideas and remember that although you may be giving up some of your favorites you’ll be gaining a lot more. Veganism has a funny way of opening up your eyes to what else is out there.

::: I could never give up cheese! 

Almost everyone I meet who is considering going vegan has the same infamous concern, the separation anxiety they’ll feel from cheese. I used to eat pizza almost three times a week (I’m not bragging) and I had cheese in some form almost every day.

Before making the switch to eating entirely vegan, I remained vegetarian because I couldn’t ditch cheese. I even read that people may be addicted to cheese (well, that explains it…). I didn’t think I would be able to stop eating cheese until I learned what cheese was doing to my body.

Cheese is full of saturated fat and many researchers have found that cheese can cause acne and increase mucus production amongst a whole list of undesirable things that aren’t fair to put my body through.

I went cold-tofurkey on cheese six years ago and I have never relapsed or craved cheese once. If you are considering going vegan but you really think you can’t give up cheese, don’t let that stop you, there are a lot of vegan cheeses that come close to the real thing.

::: I’ll have to take a bunch of supplements and vitamins.

Rest assured, when you go vegan you won’t need to make extra cabinet space to fit all of your vitamins and supplements. I did a lot of research when switching to eating all vegan and I learned that the only vitamin that I was unable to receive from a plant-based diet was B12. A few vegan foods do have B12, but to ensure that I receive the right amount I take a supplement as many plant-based diet experts advise vegans to do.

When people learn that I am vegan many of them voice nutrition concerns. In addition to the protein police surfacing, there are a lot of questions regarding where I get certain vitamins and nutrients from. After answering this question for a long time, I started asking the question back (in a curious, friendly and non-defensive tone). Regardless of how we label our style of eating, how many of us know and monitor where we get necessary vitamins and nutrients from?

When someone is unfamiliar with a plant-based diet they may assume that eliminating meat and dairy means eliminating necessary nutrients. It’s an incorrect mainstream belief drilled into our heads at an early age that hasn’t seemed to go away yet…even with all of the research concluding that adopting a vegan diet is one of the healthiest things you can do.