Veganish
“These are my confessions,” as the lyrics of Grammy Award winner Usher’s hit song admits. The truth is, I am imperfectly vegan. How does that work? I turned to veganism in January 2020 after wrestling with vegetarianism since July 2017.
This transition was mostly for ethical, but also dietary purposes, because I don’t agree with the mistreatment of animals by big meat companies. The highly publicized lawsuits fought and won or fought and lost against Big Tobacco and Big Pharma have nothing on Big Meat with its much more stringent legal codes. In addition to the abusive treatment of animals, who are already over medicated with antibiotics to fight chronic infections, and their everyday wretched state of existence, the destructive fallout to our environment is unforgivable. There’s a lot to say about these conditions and perhaps I will digress in another post. However, this one is about being veganish. But, before I signed up for veganhood, there was vegetarianism.
I turned to vegetarianism because I wanted to change my diet in ways that would improve my health. I had just undergone a myomectomy, the surgical removal of non-cancerous uterine fibroid tumors through a robotic procedure. Uterine fibroids disproportionately affect African American women who are statistically considered a high-risk group. A proliferation of uterine fibroids means daily encumbrances with oftentimes debilitating effects such as severe and prolonged bleeding during menses, anemia, physical pain, and infertility which may contribute to a loss of wages due to an inability to perform duties at work and an overall diminished quality of life. It’s difficult to be productive when you’re losing blood at the rate of needing a blood transfusion. This was not my situation, but a recurring predicament of other women I know who were suffering from uterine fibroids and required blood transfusions. You instantly become an expert in foods that are high in iron: beets, broccoli, leafy greens, peas, and of course, red meat, fish, and poultry. I am fortunate in that my surgery was a success. The doctor removed (10) uterine fibroid tumors: the largest was the size of a grapefruit and the smallest was the size of small lime. Amazing! 10!
Doctors don’t really know what causes fibroids, with some of the data pointing to genetic factors, however, I believed that adhering to a healthy diet with very little processed foods may help prevent the regrowth and so I switched to a vegetarian diet. It was a way to honor my body that had already endured so much and was in recovery. I found that my digestive system was also craving gentleness and nurturing sustenance. I believe in eating intuitively. This means listening closely to your body and it will tell you what it needs in terms of nutrition, relaxation, hydration, affection, and how to restore its vibrant health.
So far, so good. Three years later and fibroid-free. Some might say that diet has nothing to do with regrowth of fibroid tumors and perhaps this is true. However, the medical community still knows so very little about these things so why not try a healthier diet? Again, some might argue that you can have a healthy diet and still be an omnivore and that is a personal choice. However, for the reasons I just mentioned above, that’s not an option for me. Eventually, I decided to follow a vegan diet and lose all dairy products. Believe it or not, this is more attainable than first imagined. But, like the old product placement slogan goes, “Uh-Oh Spagehttios,” I’ve had some “uh-ohs” along the way.
Veganish means I ate potato salad and forgot about the egg in it! I was foggy brained when this happened having worked for almost seven hours straight without eating. It’s the little bit of egg in a potato salad here, a little mayo there that gets me. Trust, I never forget I’m vegan and eat a roast beef sandwich. I find there are usually good options especially when planning ahead. I shop at the grocery stores that have the best vegan options, especially when it comes to brands like LightLife, Beyond Meat, Morning Star Farms, and other local varieties. We didn’t have so many options just a few years ago.
Explore the fruits and vegetables you’ve never tried before. What do jackfruit, starfruit, and dragon fruit taste like? What’s the big deal with Okinawan purple sweet potato? Plenty for those who’ve gone purple sweet potato and never gone back. What about kohlrabi, Romanesco broccoli, nopal, jicama, bitter melon, or all of those wacky winter squashes with their beautiful bumps and fiery colors? Or what about choosing locally grown fruits and vegetables and eating in-season? Many community gardens and farms are looking for volunteers and sometimes offer plots for you to grown your own crops. Exploring new fruits and vegetables is an adventure waiting to happen and with more of us cooking at home, it’s a good time to expand our options out of the land of mashed potatoes and kale.
This path has also introduced me to new vegan friendly restaurants and so far, my favorites are vegan soul food and vegan Indian food. These restaurants are an extension of a vegan community that I have found to be very helpful in finding healthy options and kitchen hacks. If you know you’re going to be away from home for a while, pack your own snacks, bring your own water or tea, and have a plan. Veganism has taught me to think two steps ahead regarding where I’m going and how long I’ll be away from home. It’s taught me to pack snacks and bring a little extra in a separate baggie for a friend who’s also hungry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve handed out extra apple slices, mixed nuts, or a whole pb&j sandwich to friends and strangers. Veganish for me means that sometimes I might forget about the egg in the potato salad, but not the pork in the beans. I can’t even say that one day I’ll be perfectly vegan, but I can remind myself why I began this journey in the first place. Veganish means nourishing my body with respect, love, and healthy sustenance while cherishing the earth in the process.
