My Plant Based Journey Part 2

Good day, my friends.  I hope you all are finding ways to stay cool in this heat wave we are having across the country.  It's a bit on the toasty side.  Don't forget to check on your elderly friends/family/neighbors.

So, I am back for Part 2 of my plant based journey.  I believe I left off with the last entry that the first time I tried being plant based, it didn't work for me.  However, Covid then happened.  And when covid started, I said to myself that I wanted to be healthier when it was over than when it started.  I decided that I would give being plant based another try.

The second time I made the attempt (and also the first time), it was primarily for my health.  Of course, I love animals and was concerned about their welfare.  However, I think a lot of us block out what is actually being done to them.  We ignore the truth, I know I did. 

I like to learn things.  I love to read.  I watched pretty much all the Netflix food documentaries.  I read many books about the plant based diet and other ways food could help us with our health.  Along the way, I learned about all the inhumane treatment of animals.  Believe me, it is horrendous.

I started back up with the plant based eating plan in April-ish 2020.  I don't like saying vegan/vegetarian.  I again like to focus on what I can eat, not what I'm not eating.  For the first few months, I slowly transitioned to not having meat.  The last meat I ate that wasn't seafood was in September 2020 and it was a Slim Jim.  I used to love those!  For maybe about another 6 months after that, I again would maybe occasionally have some sort of seafood.  Shrimp was one of my favorite foods and I would treat myself to it sometimes.

Since about spring of 2021, I very rarely had seafood.  At the beginning of the pandemic, I did stock up a little on cans of tuna and such and I hate wasting.  On the rare occasion, I will add a can of tuna to my pasta.  But that's like once every 5-6 months.  I should just donate the rest to a food pantry and be done with it.

So, for about a year, I have been pretty much a "vegetarian," not consuming any meat.  As far as eggs and dairy, I normally wouldn't go out of my way to have it, but I would use it.  I try to avoid them, but I wouldn't stress if they were in something.  (I can't really drink regular milk anyways, but I could have it in something.). I will say that I liked butter in things.  On toast, in pastries, or on some cooked veggies.  But I decided not too long ago that I really want to try as hard as I can to be a vegan.  However, if I have the very sparingly item that has either eggs or dairy in it, I am not going to be upset.  After all, I am not going to give up on Reese's.  I still like to refer to myself as plant based, but essentially I am an imperfect vegan.

While I started being plant based for my health, I would say that the main reason I am now is for the animals.  An animal's life is more important than my taste buds.  Also, it is really important for the environment to limit animal products. 

And don't worry, I get my protein.

And there you have it, my plant based journey up to this point.  I am still learning.  One of the things I am trying to focus on now is how to be a better animal/vegan advocate.  I want to be able to communicate with others better.  I am currently doing a short program through CEVA, Center for Effective Vegan Advocacy.  I am learning many ways to be a better communicator through them.

I hope that you enjoyed ready my journey.  If you have any positive/constructive feedback, please feel free to use the comment section.

Also, you can follow me on instagram at plantbased_brandi

Thank you for reading!

Kindness Is The Right Choice

 In today's world, there's a lot going on.  Some of it's not pretty.  However, I truly believe that there is far more good out there than bad.  Yes, we may sensationalize the bad, it gets the headlines.  We can't help but hear many stories on it.  But, there are many good things going on, too.  I hear about many people helping their neighbors out.   It may be something as simple as a few kind words being said to a stranger in the store.  It could be helping someone that has a flat tire.  It could be paying for someone's groceries.  

When you have the chance, choose to be kind.  You will never be wrong when you do.  There may be some people out there that manipulate and take advantage of things, but that's on them.  If I have the chance to help someone, I will try my best to help.  It could be that I hold the door open for someone.  It might be I help someone that's a few dollars short at the store.  

I remember a time in my life where things were a struggle.  And you never know, I could be put in that situation again.  There have been many kind people in my life that have made a huge difference to me.  From kind words, to giving me books, to helping with groceries, to giving me gas cards.  I am trying to pay that forward as much as I can.

Trust me, you will never be wrong by choosing to be kind.

Feel free to follow me on instagram: plantbased_brandi