Let me make this clear at the outset: I did not give up meat because I hated it. On the contrary, I enjoyed not just eating but cooking with meat too. But I gave up meat and fish and all other animal products, including dairy, eggs and honey, because I finally made the connection between animal cruelty and the food we so thoughtlessly put on our plates.
Of course, I knew all along that meat comes from animals. But like many others, I guess I chose to not think about the tough realities that lie behind the neat packages of meat that we toss into our grocery carts: about the terrible and short lives of the birds and animals raised to feed humans; about the cruelty of the ways in which their lives are terminated to turn them into "food"; and above all, about the needlessness of it all. Humans don't need to eat meat to survive: a vegetarian diet is not only more than adequate to fuel the body, but studies have time and again shown that it is healthier to eat a plant-based diet, compared to a meat-based one.
What's more, because it takes several pounds of grain to create a single pound of meat, an insistence on meat by a few of us means starvation for many, many others around the globe.
As someone who loves to cook, I have gained a lot by becoming a vegan. I've become more experimental in the kitchen, and I discover and eat new foods every day. While I still primarily cook Indian food- and believe me it is not at all difficult to cook great Indian vegan food- I also love trying out recipes from other parts of the world- and, of course, veganizing them!
I find that without exception, the vegan meals I make are far healthier than the meats I used to cook before. What's more, after the first few weeks had passed, I have never ever craved meat or even dairy products like cheese that I thought would be hard to live without. I now crave fresh, vibrant vegetables, a steaming bowl of vegan miso soup, vegan vegan chocolate chip cookies, hot Mushroom Biryani garnished with crunchy onion, creamy coconut chutney, or crunchy vegan "crabcakes"…the list goes on.
My refusal to participate in cruelty against animals does not stop at food. As a vegan, I do not wear clothes or carry accessories made from animal products: no leather, silk, or wool. I do not use cosmetics or other products that are tested on animals or contain animal ingredients. And believe me, it is not only not difficult to do this, it makes life far simpler. All you need to do is read the labels, and in the process you also become a more aware consumer.
I became a vegan for ethical reasons, because I loved animals and I realized I couldn't be a hypocrite that loved some animals and thoughtlessly contributed to cruelty against others. But there have been many, many rewards. I feel healthier, I keep my weight under control more effortlessly, and I am mentally more focused than ever before. But the best reward of all has been this: I feel much better about myself, knowing that I am doing all I can to lead a conscious, non-violent life.
Srividya
Hi Vaishali,
Its so cool to see a fellow-desi vegan! I turned vegan about 3 months ago and am loving it. I feel as if I am reading my own words as I read your reasons for being vegan. As someone mentioned, its quite easy to be vegan in the US. I love almond milk and soy milk. I am hoping to make the almond milk kheer soon for Tamil New Year. Love your blog and keep up the good work!
Vaishali
Hi Sharmila, Welcome! It seems obvious to us animal lovers that animals should have rights, but unfortunately we are still in a minority. Hopefully, that will change one day-- as they say, never underestimate the power of one. 🙂
Kudos to you for making the decision to give up dairy-- I for one felt much better after I did, and I've never missed it. And I thought I couldn't live without cheese!
Sharmila
Hi Vaishali,
I am absolutely thrilled at finding your website. I am a vegetarian and a die hard animal lover. I have mostly found myself alone when defending animals and their rights, where I would finally end up in tears. It is very reassuring to see an outspoken anti-cruelty supporter. Organic yogurt and cheese were the only vegetarian things that I was hanging on to, but you blog has inspired me to go completely vegan.
Regards,
Sharmila
Anonymous
Vaishali
I tried your method and the Soy Milk did not curdle rather my coffee had a frothy texture that a regular cow's milk would give.
Vaishali
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you -- you are very kind! I am happy you've enjoyed reading the posts because I really love writing them. 🙂
About soymilk in tea, are you by any chance heating it on the stovetop? I put the soymilk in a mug and first zap it in the microwave for about 15 seconds and then pour the tea or coffee over it.
I am wondering if curdling might be a problem with some brands. I use Kirkland's vanilla soymilk which I buy from Costco. It doesn't curdle when I add it to tea or coffee.
Lastly, and I am sure you're already doing this, but do make sure that you refrigerate the opened pack of soymilk immediately because it does spoil just as milk does if left out at room temperature too long.
Hope that helps 🙂
Anonymous
Dear Vaishali
Thank you for the reply. I usually combine milk, water; microwave it and then add coffee powder. You are right, for tea I combine everything in a vessel and heat it on a stove top. Unfortunately I do not have Costco nearby my home. I faced the same problem with different brands that I tried. But not I will try your method.
Thanks again
Anonymous
Dear Vaishali
I never get bored even if I read your posts n number of times. I do take soy milk in my tea and coffee but soy milk curdles. Any suggestion?
Thanks
uma
Thanks Vaishali!
Vaishali
Uma, on the contrary. Most of the cows on earth today were bred specifically for food. These cows-- called livestock-- eat about 70 percent of the grain produced in the United States today.
Were we to give up meat, there would be no need to breed cows in large numbers, and the cow population would drop dramatically. What's more, most of the forest land cleared to produce grain for the cows could be reforested because we'd need far less land to grow food for humans who eat much less than cows do. And we could conquer world hunger--you have to feed a cow 16 pounds of grain for each pound of beef you get from it after it's slaughtered. A pound of beef might feed two or three people at a single meal, but think of how many people 16 pounds of grain would feed, and for how many days?
Going vegan is a win-win for us, the environment, and for the cows 🙂
uma
Vaishali,
Thanks for replying back..
I have one more query.. if all humans turn vegan, will there be a negative effect on the ecological balance..to be precise will the cow population will increase or overgrazing will happen?.. am still reading about this..
waiting for your reply..
Vaishali
Uma, Kudos for trying! Turning vegan may seem like a challenge, but it is much easier than it seems. Milk substitutes are easy to find almost anywhere in the world now, and it is possible to make even Indian sweets with these substitutes that taste just as good. You can find a few recipes for vegan sweets here, , and in my roundup of the Sweet Vegan event here:
Eating out is not much of a challenge either. I don't know where you are based, but here in the United States it is really easy to find vegan options at restaurants and there are some great, exclusively vegan restaurants in almost every city. Chefs will often make small adjustments if you ask for them. And in India, there is a plethora of choices with all the vegetarian restaurants.
I can tell you for a fact that I've been eating much better since I turned vegan 🙂
About wool, it is possibly the easiest of all non-vegan fabrics to substitute: sweaters made with acrylic or nylon fibers and other non-animal wool substitutes can be easily found anywhere, and are as comfortable. I wear them and stay warm even in Washington's really cold winters. Even vegan coats are easy to find online and are quite reasonably priced.
The idea that wool does not harm the sheep is just as full of holes as the idea that milk does not harm cows. Investigations by animal rights groups have found that sheep used for wool are horribly abused-- the wool is torn off their bodies in large patches and chunks of flesh from their rumps are torn off without giving them any sedatives or pain relievers. I have seen videos of sheep whose legs are being chopped off even as the sheep is still alive-- if everyone saw that, no one would want to go near wool again.
uma
Hi Vaishali,
Turning vegan is difficult for me when it comes to milk in tea and milk based sweets... Also eating out becomes extremely difficult..
Perfumes, cosmetics are something which I quit using long back after reading about animal testing...Leather, last i used was in school .. shoes.. tell me what would you substitute wool with?
For now, i'll try to become a vegan...
Vaishali
Casey, Thanks, and welcome! I have a few dosa recipes on the blog, but for a masala dosa I'd recommend these: . If you try it, do let me know how it turns out!
casey
I suppose I'm about to join the legion of people who are just flat out stoked to find your blog! I am yet another "born" vegetarian, born and raised by a fantastic omni mom. I have been vegan for the last 5 years, after about a decade of failed attempts (cheese was always my downfall).
At any rate, I'm looking forward to reading your updates and I'm really looking forward to trying your dosa recipe this week. I have some great South Indian restaurants here in the bay area that are vegan friendly, but I'm excited to have a chance to make a giant veggie masala dosa at home!
have a great weekend!
Vaishali
Rashmi, Lovely to hear from you, and I agree that it is fairly easy to get great vegan choices in traditional Indian cuisine. Thanks for sharing your story, and kudos to you for living your beliefs!
Voracious Vegan, Welcome. It's great to hear from a fellow food-lover who shares my views on ethical veganism. Thanks for your kind words.
The Voracious Vegan
Another beautiful post! Your decision to go vegan is just like mine; I loved the taste of meat, just not the suffering behind it! To be a compassionate human being you must be vegan! Loving your blog...