Why Did You Go Vegan?

Noelle

I went vegetarian during my freshman year of high school (I am a freshman in college now) one day while eating a peice of Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken. It just suddenly occured to me that I was eating a chicken.

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Duh, I know, but I saw it sort of running around and pecking the ground (not a very realistic scenario for the particular chicken I was eating, I know, but then I didn't.) I threw it away and that was that. I was a bit afraid to break it to my parents, and didn't at first, but Thanksgiving was coming up so I began to gradually (well, as possible as that is) make them aware...they were generally okay with it, except for the motherly concerns for my health and my dad's confusion as to why I could not eat the tuna casserole. (Catholics. They can't eat meat on Fridays, but they can eat fish.) My mother was very supportive, rather than nag she stocked the freezer with veggie burgers and asked me constantly if I was "eating all my veggie burgers for my protein" like they were vitamins or something. And so life carried on in this manner for four years, and even my dad finally realized that chicken, too, is not vegetarian (confused by the 'chik'n patties'.) Then, I came to college. Immediately, I was inundated by all sorts of new things. All of the sudden, I had to be aware. What are my political beliefs, what do I know about human and animal rights, and is eating eggs and dairy products hypocritical? I began researching and educating myself, and decided I had to become vegan. I thought, at first, I would do it VERY gradually. Maybe just cut out eggs, and after awhile when I am very comfortable with that, dairy products. I'm not good with doing things gradually. I made my decision just before Christmas break, and by the time I was home, I was vegan. My mother's reaction? "aaaarrrrrgggggghhh..." (but in a good natured sort of way.) My dad, well, he just looks confused. My mother had been very good so far. When we baked Christmas cookies, she bought egg replacer and vegan margerine, and she's quite big on beans. She's trying very hard, so I'm trying to make it easier for her and not giving her the third degree on everything she cooks. If she says it's vegan, and it doesn't look too suspicious, I don't say anything. I'm still in transition now and there's time to teach her about all those hidden animal ingredients later. Recently, she baked some 'vegan' chocolate chip cookies, assuming dark chocolate to not contain any dairy products, and, I mean, she baked me cookies! I didn't say anything until later, just to let her know for next time. Really, the hardest part about it all has been my clothing. I still have leather shoes, a belt, etc., but I've decided to keep them until they wear out so as not to waste, and just not purchase any more leather/wool, etc. Being a vegan at college is a little difficult, as my school has very little in the way of vegan food (pretty much...bagels, salad, and fruit. period.) but I've made the need aware to Dining Services. It's not too bad for me because, although I live on campus, my house is just five minutes away and I can always go home for food. Well..yup. I suppose that's it.

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