Narrative: My Vegan Story

Trigger Warning: Eating disorders 

Five years ago, I decided to go vegan. Going vegan was a huge life change for me; especially coming from a family where meat was in every meal we ate. I never thought I would make such a big lifestyle change. I vividly remember being in high school, talking to a girl who was a vegetarian. I said to her, "It's great what you're doing, but I could never do that. I love meat way too much."

Here I am, five years later, and I am a passionate vegan advocate. This is my story.

The summer going into my junior year of high school, I wanted to eat as healthy as possible. I struggled with an eating disorder all throughout high school and was on to my next way of staying thin, which was eating clean. 

I started watching all these vegan fitness YouTubers, and they were all so thin, and I wanted that. I saw them eating so much food, but still staying so skinny, and I was so surprised. 

I researched the vegan diet and found that because there were so much fewer calories in plant foods compared to meat, it was very easy to naturally stay thin. So that's where my journey started. 

I started eating so much fruit, beans, rice, and potatoes. I found that when I started eating these foods that I was so scared to eat before, I enjoyed them so much and didn't feel gross anymore. Once I stopped eating meat and animal products, everything changed for me. I had so much energy, I would go on runs every day (and I used to hate running!). The foods I was eating now truly fulfilled me and made me feel satisfied. 

The next time I went to the doctor, I had actually gained back all the weight I had lost when I was restricting, but I didn't feel bad because my body felt so good.

All the beautiful, colorful, foods I was eating were nourishing my body and giving me the energy to go and run, hike, bike, and more. 

I gained the weight back, but I also gained back so much happiness that my eating disorder robbed me of for so many years. Going vegan opened me up to so much more food than I wouldn't let myself eat before because society deemed carbs as the "enemy".

Initially, I did go vegan for the wrong reasons. But once I became vegan, I started educating myself more on the effects of animal products on our environment, and all the terrible things the animals go through. I watched the documentary Earthlings and my heart broke into pieces. 

I saw the way these beautiful animals were treated, and I knew I could never consume them again. I became an ethical vegan, and animals became the most important thing to me.

Becoming an ethical vegan gave me my life purpose. It might sound strange, but before animals, I never really knew what I wanted to do with my life. Once I realized all the horrible things that happened to them, I dedicated my life to saving them and advocating for them. 

Now, I want to be an investigative journalist and go undercover to expose the conditions they face. I also want to go to law school to become an animal rights lawyer.

As you can see, going vegan has done so much amazing things for me, and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Interview With A Plant Based Dietitian!

As the plant-based diet trend continues to grow, so do the number of dietitians who promote this lifestyle. When I became vegan, I turned to Youtube to find other vegans to get ideas and inspiration for my own vegan life. One of the Youtubers I watched was a girl named Amanda Sevilla, also know as Applesandamandas on Youtube. 

1. How long have you been vegan?
I have been vegan for 4.5 years.

2. As a dietitian, what have you learned most about a plant-based diet and the way it affects the body?

A plant-based diet has a profound impact on the arteries, kidneys, blood circulation, brain health, and most importantly, digestion. It is naturally lower in fat, void of exogenous cholesterol, low in saturated fat, and high in antioxidants, water, and fiber. Of the 10 leading causes of death, 7 of them (heart disease, cancer, lower respiratory disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, kidney disease, and diabetes) are diet-related and a plant-based diet has been shown to remarkably improve the state of health with those who suffer from these illnesses.

3.  Since becoming a dietitian, have you found more evidence that a vegan diet is the healthiest diet to be on?

Absolutely. I am exposed to HUNDREDS of people at the hospital who all come for- what I have learned-problems related to their current condition which is usually preventable such as heart disease, diabetes type 2, and kidney disease. Being a dietitian has also primed my brain for reading studies and articles, and I've only found good things about a plant-based diet whereas there are good and bad things about other ways of eating i.e. keto, low carb high protein, etc.

4. What would you recommend to people who want to become vegan but are having doubts about the health aspects?

Do your research! Read The China Study, Whole, Proteinaholic, How Not To Die, and more. But don't just stop there. Research the claims made in these books and your own oppositions. Find out how to read studies and see which studies/information is funded and by who. It might blow your mind how much-biased information is out there. Pretty much all studies I've found that support plant-based eating is not funded by The Vegetable Industry or The Fiber Department. Make sure you use your own judgment to come to your own conclusions.

5. Would you recommend veganism to all your patients?

I definitely would. However, it is not appropriate at the hospital/acute care level to suggest to someone to change their whole diet at home while they are laying in bed. I offer information and let them know that they can speak with me if they want information. Usually, the plant-based print outs I leave are from the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

6. How has becoming a vegan changed your life personally?

It has taught me so much about patience when talking to people, about how to navigate social situations, how to be friendly but not a pushover when it comes to my beliefs. It has given me a reason to stand up for something, to spread something. Being vegan solidified my childhood dreams of becoming a physician and now I'm actually working my way to achieving them. Before I wanted to save people but I didn't know how to. Now I do know how to, and it starts on the plate.

If you want to follow Amanda on social media, you can find her on Instagram or subscribe to her on Youtube. 

Favorite Vegan Spots In NYC

I am incredibly lucky to have attended school in New York City. Being a vegan in New York is so easy, and so fun. There are so many options, and below I will give you a list of some of my favorite places to eat out in New York as a vegan/vegetarian (in no particular order).

1. Juice Generation
This really isn't a restaurant, but it is my favorite place to get an acai bowl in New York. I have tried countless places, but none of them come close to Juice Generation. They have locations all over the city and do not disappoint. My go-to order is the PB Acai. All of their ingredients are natural and healthy. Especially in the summer, it is a great treat to cool off too.

2. Champs Diner
Possibly one of my favorite restaurants in New York. Champs Diner is located in Bushwick, Brooklyn. It is almost always jam-packed on weekends, but the food is worth the wait. All the food you loved before you went vegan, you will find at Champs Diner. It is known to be vegan comfort food, and it is just that. My favorite dish at Champs is the cookie dough pancakes.

3. Screamers Pizza 
Another amazing spot in Brooklyn. They have a huge selection of pizza, and the cheese is incredible. Definitely check this out if you are ever in Brooklyn.

4. The Cinnamon Snail
The Cinnamon Snail not only has great food but amazing desserts. They have endless amounts of pastries to pick from, that not only look delicious but taste amazing.

5. by Chloe
by Chloe is pretty well known in the city, and also has many locations. They have great healthy food, and my go-to is the Quinoa Taco Salad. 

Get To Know The Animals You Eat: Esther The Wonder Pig

In one of my previous posts, I discussed my day where I got to hang out with Esther The Wonder Pig and her friends! (You can read that here)

In this post, I am going to tell you all about Esther and her story, and how she changed my life. I touched on her story a little bit in the previous post but will go into more depth about her here. 

Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter were living in Canada when Steve got a call from an old college friend. The friend knew that Steve loved animals, and she had a "mini-pig" she was trying to rehome. 

Steve knew that was a big commitment, but when she reached out again saying if he didn't answer soon, she had someone else who would take the little pig, he jumped on the opportunity and little did he know his life would never be the same. 

He went to pick up the little pig he would call Esther:

                                     Photo Credit: EstherTheWonderPig.com

Steve was under the impression that Esther would grow to be the size of a large dog, but boy was he in for a surprise. 

After telling his partner Derek, Derek was not pleased and did not want to keep her because they already had two other dogs and two cats. But eventually, as Derek saw Esther's personality and how intelligent she was, he couldn't help but fall in love with her.

When they took Esther to the vet, they were in for the news of a lifetime: Esther was not a mini pig (fun fact: mini pigs do not actually exist!) but a full-sized, commercial pig who was born on a farm that would eventually turn her into food. The vet said she could grow up to 600 pounds, and she did just that (Esther currently weighs somewhere around 500-600 lbs).

When they found out she would keep growing, they knew they could not stay in their house in the city where there was no room for a pig. Steve started posted pictures of Esther on her own Facebook page and saw that she was gaining many supporters. He would eventually start a fundraiser to raise money to buy a farm where they could live, and take in other abandoned animals who needed a home.

They reached this goal and ended up raising almost half a million dollars, and bought a farm in Campbellville, Ontario. Now, Happily Ever Esther is home to so many different animals who get to live the rest of their lives with no worries of pain or sorrow.

Esther, because she is the queen of the farm, lives inside the home with Steve and Derek, and her dog and turkey brother, Phil and Cornelius. Esther actually has two beds, one in the living room, and one in her own room. Esther has millions of Facebook fans who come to see her over the tour season. 

                         Esther, Phil, and Cornelius: Photo Credit: Esther The Wonder Pig Facebook Page

I, myself, travel up to Canada every summer to go see Esther because she has impacted my life greatly. During a time where I was struggling with severe anxiety and depression, I would watch Esther all day and smile. I loved watching her get into trouble and seeing how smart she was. She would open the door with her snout, knock things over to get food to fall on the floor, and more. She also loved going swimming in her pool and getting belly rubs.

Many people might see Esther and think she is different, and one of a kind of a pig, but she is not. All pigs have feelings and want to live. Getting to visit many farm sanctuaries, pigs are incredibly affectionate and have many traits similar to dogs. 

If there is any reason why you would leave pigs off your plate, do it for all the pigs who never got the chance to experience a life like Esther. If you want to follow Esther's daily happenings, follow her on Instagram at Esther The Wonder Pig, or visit her facebook page.

"8 Proven Reasons Why Vegan and Vegetarian Diets Ruin Your Body" Response

As I searched for blogs relating to veganism and health, I came across one that really angered me, with the blog post titled, "8 Proven Reasons Why Vegan and Vegetarian Diets Ruin Your Body" You can read here Blogpost.

The creator of this blog is a man named Alex Fergus, whose bio says he's passionate about health and wellness. While it's great that he's running a blog to share his advice, there's a difference between not wanting to follow a diet as a personal choice rather than saying the diet is not healthy as a whole.

In his blog posts, the first thing he says is that it is not possible to get the needed amount of protein on a vegan diet. It's 2019 Alex, and this is simply not the case.

It is more than possible to get enough protein as long as you are consuming enough food as a whole. When I went vegan, I tracked my nutrients on a great website called "cronometer" where it breaks down all the food you're eating, and I never had a problem getting enough protein. There are so many plant-based foods that are protein-rich like nuts, legumes, plant-based meats, and more. Also, some of the biggest and strongest animals on our planet are actually plant-based, such as elephants, gorillas, and rhinos. Would you ask them if they're getting enough protein? Probably not.

Another thing he mentions is that it's hard to consume enough healthy fats. Also wrong. 

I myself, and my vegan friends have never had a problem getting enough fats. As mentioned, it's 2019 and there are so many options to choose from: flax, chia, hemp seeds are a great source of healthy fats. There's also almonds, cashews, and other nuts. There are also so many vegan cheeses and "plant-based dairy" items to pick from that contain all the nutrients and are free from all the added hormones in real dairy products. 

The last thing Alex mentions is that being vegan only feels good in the beginning, but fades as your journey continues.

I have been vegan for over five years, and have felt great in the beginning, and to this very day. If you do it right, you shouldn't have a problem eating a vegan diet, unless you have an underlying health problem. It is also very unfair of him to make such a large generalization because I can guarantee there are so many people who have been vegan for a long time who still feel great. 

Overall, I felt his post was really just a way to get people to not go vegan. He's provided outdated information that can easily be solved now due to the demand of veganism. He, of course, can choose not to be vegan, but it is not right of him to put down the diet as a whole.

How To Go Vegan

I promise going vegan isn't as hard as it seems, but hopefully, I can give you some tips/ instructions if you're looking to transition to living a plant-based lifestyle. 

1. Do your research

This is a very important step. Many people who go vegan on a whim and don't do their research end up falling back into their previous diets. It is important to learn about all the foods that are out there, and how to do it right. I know many people who have tried to go vegan, but then complained about how about lethargic they felt, and when I asked what they were eating, it was clear they were not eating enough. Eating enough on a vegan diet is so important because you're cutting a big amount of calories out of your daily calories. One thing that I felt has helped me eat enough is eating every couple of hours. I also will eat more calorie-dense foods like peanut butter, pasta, and rice.

2. Eat what makes YOU feel good, not what you see other vegans eating.

A common mistake I made when going vegan was following what the Instagram famous vegans ate. Many of them only ate fruit and other "healthy" food. I even made the mistake of cutting peanut butter of my diet because a popular vegan YouTuber said fats would make you fat, even the healthy ones. I ended up losing my period and felt miserable. As soon I introduced it back into my diet, it was a huge difference and I felt much better. I can't stress enough to eat what makes you feel good. If eating pasta and potatoes makes you feel great, do it. Don't try to emulate other vegan diets. You will thrive off of what makes you feel good, and it will help you stay vegan. 


3. Watch documentaries.

There are so many educational and informative documentaries about planted based lifestyles on Netflix that could help you go vegan. Some of the ones I watched were Forks Over Knives and What The Health. Both of these gave me a lot of food ideas and also break down more of the facts of why a vegan diet is healthier than the standard American diet.

4. Go at your own pace.

If you're a meat-eater, or a vegetarian and are trying to transition to a plant-based diet, I would recommend going at your own pace. If you do things too fast, it may be harder to sustain the vegan diet. A lot of people go vegan overnight and end up returning back to eating meat because they found they craved so many things. If you transition slower, it will help with those cravings and also get your body accustomed to the lifestyle easier.

5. Figure out why you want to go vegan.

If you figure out why you want to go vegan, you can take the following steps that will help you stay vegan. For example, if you are going vegan for the ethical reasons involving animals, I would suggest watching the documentary Earthlings. Although this documentary is heartbreaking, if this won't keep you vegan, I don't know what will. It goes deep into the animal agriculture business and everything you don't see as a consumer. It's very graphic, but as mentioned, will remind you why you want to go vegan and help you stay vegan.

6. Don't become a judgy vegan.

A lot of new vegans go through the phase of judging other vegans and meat-eaters. They give their input when no one asked, and it becomes hard to be around them. If someone is trying to go vegan and isn't as far along as you, don't judge them. Everyone is trying their best given the situation they are in. It also does not help the movement to be judgemental of other people's diets because it's not exactly the same as yours. 

I hope these tips helped on your journey to becoming vegetarian or vegan. If you have any other questions or tips, leave me a comment and I'll be sure to discuss with anyone who is interested!

Are Humans Carnivores or Herbivores?

After browsing on Wikipedia in the "Plant-based diet" section, I noticed some things that I felt needed to be changed. After doing much research on the topic, it's clear to me by science that humans are natural-born herbivores, not omnivores or carnivores like Wikipedia suggest, 

"Humans are omnivorous, capable of consuming diverse plant and animal foods. Fossil evidence from wear patterns on teeth indicates the possibility that early hominids like robust australopithecines and Homo habilis were opportunistic omnivores, generally subsisting on a plant based diet, but supplementing with meat when possible." source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant-based_diet#Humans

 I went in myself after researching and changed the short paragraph to this:

"Humans were not always omnivores. Back in prehistoric times, there were no hunting tools for humans to hunt, so they were gatherers. Another fact that proves that humans are meant to consume plant foods only is by looking at their digestion compared to real carnivores. Human intestines are much longer in length than carnivores. Carnivores, such as lions, intestines are much shorter because they're meant to process meat quickly and pass through fast. Humans, on the other hand, having their intestines much longer, can lead to clogged arteries when digesting meat because it takes much longer to pass through. Another major fact that shows humans are herbivores is by looking at our teeth compared to carnivores. Human teeth are short and flat. Humans also chew side to side (which is a herbivore specific trait) whereas carnivores chew up and down to tear through raw meat. Yes, humans are capable of eating meat, but they are not natural born carnivores or omnivores according to human physiology. " source: http://www.adaptt.org/veganism/humans-are-herbivores.html   

 I feel as though it is important for people to be correctly informed on this topic, and I believe the post before was misleading as it could make people believe that they are in fact, natural carnivores, like other animals like lions when we are not. It only takes some little research to spot the major differences between humans and real carnivores based on our physiology.

Wikipedia is one of the most popular websites that people go to for information, so it is important that the information is true and accurate, which is why I felt it was so important to change to correct information that is backed by facts. 

My Response to "10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went Vegan"

Matt Frazier, a writer for HuffPost, wrote an article titled, "10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went Vegan" which you can read here. 

In this article, Frazier talks about all the things he wishes he could go back and tell his former self what would happen when he went vegan. Reading his advice for his pre-vegan self, I can relate to much of what he said.

1. "The Jokes Will Never Stop"

This is true. No matter how much people respect you for being vegan, there will always be the time you get people saying, "But bacon though!" or "So all you eat is lettuce, huh?", and more. My family has come a long way, but to this day, I still get called "extreme" for not eating certain foods. For example,  this past weekend, I was at my grandma's house and my dad ordered pizza for dinner. He got me a Margherita pizza with no cheese. When he picked it up, and my grandparents saw it, the first thing they said was, "How can you eat that with no cheese? That's not pizza," Those kinds of comments hurt a lot more when I was younger, but now I'm just used to the fact that not everyone will understand your reasoning for going vegan, and that's okay.

2. "Giving Up The Cheese Isn't Nearly As Hard As It Seems"

This is one of the reasons why people don't want to go vegan, believe or not. When I went vegan, I found there were more alternatives to cheese than ever. Giving up real cheese was not at all as hard as people made it out to be. I found when I stopped eating cheese, my skin cleared up and I felt a lot better. It was not the life-changing crisis people made it out to be.

3. "You Will Impact More People Than You Realize"

This is true, and one of the most fulfilling things that could happen as a vegan. Over the course of me being vegan, I have seen my mom stop eating turkey because when we visited a farm sanctuary, she met a turkey who changed her life. She saw that he had so much personality, and she realized she couldn't eat it anymore. My dad as well has stopped eating all meat except fish. Seeing my family realize that this lifestyle is so beneficial has been amazing to watch. I even have had friends told me they went vegan because of me, and nothing feels better than that.

4. "Be prepared for a feeling of responsibility, and the compulsion to hold yourself to a higher standard than before."

This is especially true. When people find out you're vegan, they begin to think you're also up to date on all the important social justice movements, and that your lifestyle is pure in all aspects. In some ways, this can be true, but in others, it can be really difficult. For example, because I'm vegan, people also think I'm 100% plastic-free. Although I'm trying really hard to get there, I'm not right now, and because of the vegan title, I have been judged for that. Also, because I don't eat many veggies, but mainly carbs, I'm also told I'm a "fake vegan" (whatever that means). That is also hurtful because I'm vegan for the animals. Not to be a healthy eater.

These are just some of the things Frazier listed, and I relate to them all. It will always be hard being vegan (not because of the food, but dealing with the people who do not approve of your lifestyle) but the positives have always outweighed the negatives for me. Going vegan will always be one of the best things I decided to do, and I'm proud of that.

Are vegan stereotypes real?

As a vegan, people are always associating you with certain stereotypes. When I first went vegan, many of these were real. Years later, I've learned how to advocate for veganism more effectively, and laugh at the stereotypes. In this post, I am going to comment on a video about vegan stereotypes, and tell you if they're true or not. 

In the first part of the video, much like the thumbnail, the vegan is portrayed as a food shamer. She goes around yelling at people who are eating meat, saying "Meat is murder!" As much as I wish I could say I didn't relate to this at one point, I definitely did. When I first went vegan, after finding out all the horrible things done to animals, I was heartbroken. Every chance I got to tell someone what they were eating caused an animal their very life, I told them. 

I would tell my grandparents they were eating dead animals who wanted to live. I didn't care if I came across as an "angry vegan". Now, almost 5 years later, my approach on this has changed drastically. I still don't care if people think I'm an angry vegan, but I definitely don't go around telling people that their food is murder. I realized over the years that that actually hurts the animals more then helps them because it makes vegans look bad.

The second stereotype was the vegan food is tasteless and boring. This for sure is not true. It's 2019, and the world is filled with so much flavorful, delicious, vegan food. I can eat anything I want: pancakes, burgers, mac n cheese, and more. Especially living in New York, the opportunities are endless. When I first went vegan, it was a little harder because the world was not as open to a vegan diet. I also didn't know what I could eat and what I couldn't, so most of the time, I did eat fruit and vegetables which weren't the most exciting. But as I learned more, it became so incredibly easy and fun to be a vegan in 2019! My diet consists of everything I love and more.

The third stereotype was a vegan shoving vegan food down a non-vegan's throat. Although I never did this exactly, I did push family members to try different vegan foods to expose them. I still do this today but in a different way. I just make my food look yummy and a lot of people want to try it. The second part of the stereotype was the girl not letting anyone eat her food - this I can relate to because most of the time my food is so good I don't want to share with anyone else!

The next stereotype was the vegan-only eating lettuce most meals, but the actual vegan eating a huge burrito. This is very true because people always think vegans are super healthy and just eat lettuce. As someone who hates lettuce, I can assure you this isn't true. As mentioned above, I can eat anything I ate before, just made vegan. One of my favorite foods is chipotle because the burritos are so big and can be made completely vegan!

The next stereotype was the typical vegan working out intensely, verse what a lot of vegans do which sit on the couch eating chips because it's her "rest day. I can relate to this 100%. Although I do love working out, most days I just want to lay down and eat vegan cookie dough.

The last stereotype was "vegans are hippies" vs what actual vegans are, and then the video listed a bunch of celebrities, politicians, actors, and authors who are vegan.  This was my favorite part because it showed that so many people are vegan and that it really is not difficult. Some of the people the video mentioned that were vegan were Miley Cyrus, Cory Booker, Ariana Grande, and more. Even today, more and more celebrities are showing just how easy it is to be vegan.

Overall, the video was pretty accurate and funny to watch. It was funny to see how I was years ago, and where I am now. 

What People Think You Eat On A Vegan Diet vs. What You Actually Eat

A lot of people think when you go vegan, that your diet will be very restrictive. But it's 2019, and more vegan options than ever.

When people ask me what I eat, they usually assume it's this:

Here is what I actually eat:

and this.....






As you can see, veganism is anything but restrictive. Yes, you can eat lots of veggies and salads, but you can also eat donuts, pancakes, cakes, and so much more. Many grocery stores and restaurants are now carrying vegan options (that isn't just salad or french fries) and they are just as yummy as the real thing!

In my over four years of being vegan, I have never felt restricted or upset because I couldn't eat something. I am also very lucky that I live in New York where there are so many vegan restaurants where I can eat wherever I want, and not have to worry about any animal products.

I eat all my favorite foods that I ate before I went vegan, and so much more. Many people worry that you won't be able to find something that tastes similar, but there are so many options. For meat eaters, there have been two amazing plant-based burgers that have come out in our time that taste and look like the real thing.



The Beyond Burger is made out of all plants, contains the same amount of protein, and tastes just like a real burger. You can find these at Whole Foods.

Another burger, that is now being served at many fast food places like Burger King, is called the Impossible Burger.



Both of these burgers are great choices for meat eaters who want to try to eat more compassionately. Almost everyone loves them, even non- vegans!

What's your favorite vegan food? Mine is definitely vegan pancakes from a restaurant called Champs Diner in Brooklyn.

Comment below your favorite vegan thing you're eating right now!

The Different Types of Vegans

There are many different reasons why someone might go vegan. Some do it for the animals, some do it for their health or the environment. In this post, I will explain the different types of vegans, and what is usually most important to them!

1. The Healthy Vegan

Health vegans are vegans who decide to stop eating animal products for health reasons (hence the name!). There are branches of this kind of vegan though. They may have done research and realized that eating a plant-based diet is much healthier than the standard American diet. They may also be very focused on their appearance and the state of their body. Many of these vegans are also fitness lovers who are obsessed with eating lots of veggies and maintaining the best health possible. 

2. The Environmental Vegan

In recent times, many people have turned vegan for health reasons. We are all aware of the effects of animal agriculture on our environment, and that it is the leading cause of climate change, ocean dead zones, and species extinction. This kind of vegan's main concern is the environment and doing everything we can to lower our carbon footprints and prevent wildlife extinction. If we don't take care of our planet, we won't have one to live on, "Animal agriculture puts a heavy strain on many of the Earth's finite land, water, and energy resources. In order to accommodate the 70 billion animals raised annually for human consumption, a third of the planet's ice-free land surface, as well as nearly sixty percent of global freshwater, is devoted to growing livestock" (source)

3. Human Rights Vegan

This is probably the least talked about vegan because many people are not aware of what it actually means. A human rights vegan is someone who doesn't consume animal products due to the awful conditions it puts humans in. Slaughterhouse jobs are one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and many people who work there suffer greatly. Most slaughterhouse workers are immigrants. Not only do workers suffer from PTSD from seeing the brutal annihilation of animals, but also leave with physical injuries as well, such as "musculoskeletal disorders, MSDs, an array of injuries to workers muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves that cause sprains, strains, or inflammation"(source Lowe 5). They also barely make any money to provide for their family, with wages as low as 11 dollars an hour, and long workdays.

4. The Ethical Vegan (may also be called the junk food vegan)

One of the most popular reasons why people go vegan is for animals. Whether they saw documentaries such as Earthlings, Forks Over Knives, or What The Health, they cannot continue to eat the animals due to seeing the horrible treatment animals face. Animals face castration with no pain medications, are separated from their mothers too soon, and are given no time outside to feel the fresh air. Once people realize where their food comes from, they don't want to be part of that anymore. Many people also visit farm sanctuaries where they can interact with animals they once ate, and see that they are loving creatures just like their precious pets at home.

As you can see, there are different reasons why people go vegan. One isn't more important than the other, because they all have a great impact on animals, our planet, and health. I fall under the ethical vegan, but I 100% support the other reasons too.

If you're a vegan or vegetarian, which category do you fall under? Comment below!

Get To Know The Animals You Eat

Since most people aren't aware of the personalities farm animals display, I decided to make a list of different personalities traits and things about farm animals you may not know about that may change how you look at the animals you eat.

PIGS: 

Pigs are considered the fourth most intelligent animals, behind elephants, monkeys, and dolphins. Many studies show that they can learn to play video games, operating the controller with their snout. They are also smarter than dogs. Pigs are incredibly loyal to their herd, and very social animals. When piglets are born, a mother will actually "sing" their piglets to sleep. Pigs also enjoy belly rubs just as much as your dog does! 

COWS: 

According to studies, cows have an amazing memory and can actually remember information for a long period of time! They also are known to hang out with the same cows they "get along with" and form a clique, and avoid hanging out with the cows who have hurt them or they simply don't like. Many cows have even been seen to be crying with real tears when they are in pain or separated from a family member. They also will continue to make noises searching for their loved ones. They love cuddles and despite their large size, are very gentle animals.
(source)

TURKEYS: 

One of the most eaten animals, turkeys are also very intelligent and form very strong bonds with their families. Another super cool fact is that a turkeys head can change based on their mood. Turkeys are pack animals, and as mentioned before, have very strong familial bonds! They sometimes travel in the wild with up to 200 other turkeys. Like many animals, turkeys also can form strong bonds with their owners. This turkey named Cornelius demands attention from his dad all the time! (source)

CHICKENS:

Scientific studies have shown that chickens can actually show empathy for each other. Chickens also have a great memory and can remember up to 100 different faces, including humans! An experiment showed that chickens can realize that just because something that was taken away from their view and is not there, the object still exists. This is something 3 years old cannot comprehend. 
(source)

I hope you learned something new about the animals we don't think so much about. Regardless of the species, all animals have different personalities just like we do.

My Day At Happily Ever Esther

It’s not every day that you get to meet a famous pig. For a few years now, I have been following Esther The Wonder Pig on social media. I came across her page on Instagram years ago and read her story. Her dads, Steve Jenkins, and Derek Walter thought were told that she was going to be a mini pig, not growing larger than a big dog; but when they found out she would be the size of a normal commercial pig, their worlds changed forever.

They were faced with the difficulty of raising a constant growing pig in their house right outside of the city of Toronto. Soon enough, they were forced to move to a bigger house with more land. Esther's dad, Steve, started an Esther The Wonder Pig facebook page to post cute pictures, and when the page gained a lot of traction, he decided to start an Indigogo fundraiser, where they raised almost a half a million dollars to create their very own farm sanctuary. They would rescue abandoned and abused animals who needed a home.

They eventually opened their sanctuary to visitors, and I had the opportunity to visit this magical place. My family and I arrived for the tour on a hot summer day and were met with many friendly faces. We signed in and were told to wait and relax until the tour started. They offered us drinks and some light snacks. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

A volunteer started the tour and told us about the history of the farm. Although I knew a lot from reading online, getting to see the residences I saw pictures of online was so exciting. We first got to meet the birds of the farm, which included some chickens, roosters and a beautiful peacock. After that, we moved on to the pigs, which was my favorite part because pigs are my favorite animal. I recognized the pigs from online; Len, Bobbie Girl, and Captain Dan. Captain Dan had floppy ears and was so sweet. He came up to the fence and let me touch his snout.

After the pigs, we saw huge cows who were just happily walking around or laying down on the grass. All of the animals looked so happy and at peace; something that was very far from their life before Happily Ever Esther.

And finally, we got to meet the queen of the farm, Esther The Wonder pig and her turkey friend Cornelius. Esther opened the back door of the house with her snout and came outside to say hi to everyone. She went to the bathroom and took a watermelon treat from her dad, which she happily ate while everyone took photos. After that, she took a dip in her piggy pool and laid down and rested a while. Soon after the tour was over, I got to meet Esther’s dads. Steve and Derek are the loveliest people I’ve ever met, and I am so happy I got to meet them and spend the day with some beautiful animals. Her dads even let me go behind her fence and take a photo with her. She was even more adorable in person and I can definitely say meeting Esther and her family was one of the best days of my life. Most people say DisneyLand is the happiest place in the world, but for me, it’s Happily Ever Esther.

Why I Went Vegan And How I Answer Skeptics

5 years ago, I decided to make a huge change in my life; I decided to cut all animal products out of my diet. When I first did it, I remember my family was not happy with me. They said it was causing a huge inconvenience when it came to family dinners and weekly groceries. But I couldn't go back to consuming animals; after what I learned, everything changed for me.  I stopped eating animal products because I learned where my food came from. Once I came face to face with my food, I knew I couldn't continue. It was when I visited my first Farm Sanctuary and had the chance to interact with farm animals that I realized I couldn't eat the way I did before. To me, when I thought of meat, I instantly thought of the face of a beautiful cow or pig. Going vegan was not hard for me. Most people think it's too difficult to give up such a big part of your diet, but once you make the connection, it's not hard at all. There are many things that people worry about when giving up animal products, and I'm here to reassure you that if you do it right, none of it is true.

You won't die from protein deficiency.

Many people believe they will fall ill due to lack of protein on a plant-based diet, but as long as you eat enough calories, there's nothing to worry about. Carbs are the most important group of nutrients because every cell in your body runs off of glucose, which comes from carbohydrates. You can also get plenty of protein from plant-based foods such as beans, nuts, and mock meat. In my five years of being vegan, I have never once had a protein deficiency.

Being vegan is too expensive.

This is especially not true. As a college student, being on a budget was really important, and I had to watch every dollar I spent. When I stopped consuming meat, my grocery receipt actually went down. Meat is considered a luxury, while foods like rice, beans, and potatoes are some of the cheapest foods around. You can also buy them in bulk so they'll last much longer.

If being vegan is the best possible diet, how come B12 deficiencies exist?

The only reason you get B12 from meat is that the farmers inject the livestock with B12 shots. B12 doesn't come from the animals, but the dirt that fruits and vegetables grow in. Since we have such strict food requirements now and our food is washed so thoroughly, the B12 is not naturally found in animals, but from them being injected with vitamins.

Being vegan is too restrictive.

Also not true. What I eat now compared to what I ate before I went vegan is so different. Going vegan opened me up to so many foods that I didn't eat before. Also, it's 2019, and veganism is growing, so there are so many options now; all different kinds of plant milk, vegan chocolate, and your other favorite foods that can be "veganized".

Although going vegan is a major change, the benefits outweigh any negatives. I may not eat meat anymore, but the changes I've seen from eating only plant foods has been an incredible journey. My skin has cleared up, I have way more energy than I did before, and most importantly, I can go to bed every night knowing I haven't caused any animals any harm.