Over the past few years, I have concentrated on a healthier diet for my family based on real, unprocessed ingredients. Because our definition of a balanced meal was a meat and two sides (often something processed from a box), it was a gradual change for us. Surprisingly, we started to really enjoy clean eating – not only how our food tasted but how it made us feel. Real, unprocessed food gave us more energy and helped get us to a healthy weight. But the more I learned about our food – specifically how it’s processed and made – the more I realized there were additional improvements we needed to make in our diet. That lead me to veganism. Although I do support animal rights and oppose cruelty to animals and the way food manufacturers raise meat, it was not the deciding factor for me going vegan. To be completely honest, I thought eating a vegan diet was going to be a challenge. It has been just the opposite for me. I haven’t missed eating meat or cheese at all and I am feeling great and losing the stubborn layer of fat that’s been lingering over my belly for years.
Here are 7 of the reasons I decided to eat a vegan diet:
1. It’s good for your health and your waistline. Consuming more fruits and vegetables regularly can lower your risk of certain cancers as well as result in lower rates of obesity. Vegans tend to weigh, on average, about 5 to 20% less than meat-eaters. Reducing obesity and body mass has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease as well as type II diabetes, along with other obesity-related illnesses.
2. Vegan meals are very budget-friendly. If you’ve seen the price of beef lately, you’ll definitely appreciate the cost-effectiveness of a vegan diet. Buying fruits and vegetables locally grown and in season saves money and gives you the freshest produce available. Beans, grains, legumes and nuts can be purchased in bulk at a huge cost savings and prepared quickly into delicious, tasty meals that your family and your budget will love.
3. Plants provide plenty of protein. One of the main arguments against veganism is the concern over adequate protein. However, foods like quinoa, lentils, beans, tofu and spinach are loaded with protein so it’s easy to get enough protein in your diet.
4. Protecting the environment. Beef and dairy products are expensive to produce, leads to pollution, uses lots of land and water and energy. Eating a vegan diet has far less impact on the environment and the food produced can be used to feed far more people than animal products can. This is especially important in countries where poverty is an issue; the foods fed to cattle can be used to feed starving populations at minimal cost.
5. Avoiding antibiotics and toxins. The demand for meat has reached levels that require manufacturers to speed up growth time. This is done is injecting animals with antibiotics, toxins and hormones to accelerate growth and plump up meat unnaturally. These hormones and toxins are not healthy or natural for our bodies to consume.
6. Creativity in your food. Many of us grew up eating meat with every meal and that became a habit that carried with us into adulthood. Not only could meat be found on every dinner plate, it was often the main food source. Replacing meat can help you come up with creative replacements. There are many options that can be substituted for meat in your regular dishes and you’ll never miss the meat. Tofu, for example, can be crumbled and cooked like ground beef crumbles without all the fat. Seasoned with taco seasoning and you’ll never know the difference between a beef taco and a tofu taco. Veggie burgers can be made out of almost any ingredients so you’re sure to find a recipe that you love.
7. Adds more color to your diet. Removing meat from your plate allows room for other foods, perhaps some that you’ve never tried. Not only is eating a variety of fruits and vegetables good for your body with the different vitamins and nutrients, you’ll get to experience a variety of different tastes and textures that your tastebuds will thank you for!
Even if you don’t want to commit 100% to a vegan diet, eliminating meat and dairy from your diet even once or twice a week can give you many of these benefits.
What are your thoughts about a vegan diet? Share them with me in the comments below!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
April 2, 2015 at 4:55 amThose are all valid reasons. I love my cheeseburgers way to much to go vegan, but my sister in law is a vegan and loves her lifestyle.
Holly says
April 2, 2015 at 5:42 amTwo months ago, I made an epic change in my diet for health reasons and am now 100% gluten free, and 85% vegan. I eat chicken once a week, fish once a week, and one ounce of hard cheese with my apple every day. Still not ready to give that up (yet). BUT… just making the changes that I did I can totally see an improvement with how I feel, my energy level, and I dropped three pounds in five weeks. I’m actually having a lot of fun being creative and making new recipes for my family. Hugs, Holly
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Jeanine says
April 2, 2015 at 7:56 amGreat reasons! I would love to go vegan but sadly I’m super picky when it comes go food and I csnt stomach most vegetables so I wouldn’t have much to eat. It sucks but hopefully one day!
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Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
April 2, 2015 at 9:22 amThis is a great article. My entire family – including me – are huge carnivores, so I don’t see us going vegan. I like the idea of cutting back, though. Thanks!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle recently posted…Rice Krispies Easter Egg Treats
Catherine S says
April 2, 2015 at 10:51 amThese sound like great reasons. I don’t know if I could completely give up me, but I could start eating more veggies.
Ashley {Growing Up Momma} says
April 2, 2015 at 12:57 pmAlthough I am not currently vegan, all these reasons ring near and dear to my heart and are many of the same explanations that keep us eating at least 2 out of 3 meals meatless every day. I cannot even begin to explain how much better we all feel, and the weight loss has definitely been a plus 😉
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Kelly Hutchinson says
April 2, 2015 at 5:52 pmI went semi vegetarian about a year ago but laziness got me back on the meat train. I really need to get back on.
Lisa Bristol says
April 2, 2015 at 7:42 pmI have many Vegan family members. I love trying new Vegan recipes i can share with them. There are so many great health benefits from a Vegan diet.
Chubskulit Rose says
April 2, 2015 at 8:16 pmWe love veggies but we also love meat lol. I used to be a vegan when I was single then I got married to a meat lover so I started eating meat now too. I keep it balanced though.
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touristmeetstraveler says
April 2, 2015 at 9:48 pmI love my veggies, but I just can’t see it being all I can eat; I get very bored of them fast!
R U S S says
April 2, 2015 at 10:13 pmThis is so timely! I enrolled in a vegetarian meal program last week initially to see if I can “survive”. I did like it and am considering to slowly switch my diet to vegetarian mostly because of the health benefits that this kind of diet can give to ourselves.
It’s a delight to know that protein does not entirely come from meat. The vegetarian meal program that I had last week had lots of quinoa and spinach.
R U S S recently posted…Carpe Diem: March 2015
Elizabeth O. says
April 2, 2015 at 11:44 pmI’ve been thinking about going vegan. Will be doing it for my health and diet!
Gabriel says
April 3, 2015 at 3:41 amWe are switching to a whole food type diet, not a full vegan, but trying to cut out processed foods. We are also making an effort to be locavores, growing or getting as much food as possible from local sources.
Most people aren’t aware of how much more resource intensive growing meat (especially beef) is. Great write up.
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Roselynn says
April 3, 2015 at 3:46 amI have been thinking of going vegan for a very long time. I don’t normally eat meat except for chicken and it’s not very much. I think the transition would be easy for me.
Roselynn recently posted…Easter Nail Art
Kori says
April 3, 2015 at 8:27 amI’ve thought about going vegan but I’m not sure if I could stick with it. I like too many foods to give them up.
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chanelle says
April 3, 2015 at 10:43 amI have the desire to eat healthy, especially since my energy levels fluctuate quite a bit and it is harder to get rid of the squishy belly as we get older. I like your tip of starting off with eliminating meat and dairy from your diet a few times a week. I think I’ll try that.
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Shannon Gurnee says
April 5, 2015 at 12:48 amThis is a great post, but I don’t think I could ever go Vegan. I have to have my meat. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Ann Bacciaglia says
April 5, 2015 at 10:14 amThere are so many fantastic health benefits to a Vegan diet. I love when i can change an old recipe to be vegetarian and my family can not tell the difference.
Chene Atkins- Whittington says
April 5, 2015 at 8:44 pmI went raw vegan for a month and really enjoyed how I felt during and afterwards but now I’m a vegetarian. I still need to figure out how to eat vegan with 6 different people in the house.
Ashleigh Walls says
April 6, 2015 at 7:00 amI live in a very big farming town and appreciate the work the farmers go into giving me all the food they provide. I definitely try to eat more meatless meals to help with my waistline.
Debi- The Spring Mount 6 Pack says
April 6, 2015 at 8:28 amWhile I am not a big meat eater, I am not sure that I could go vegan. That being said, I do try to eat a lot more veggies than a traditional diet.
Debi- The Spring Mount 6 Pack recently posted…Teriyaki Chicken Stir- Della Rice Bowl
Tonya C says
April 7, 2015 at 7:22 pmA few people I know are vegan and now after reading your post I see why. Such great nutritional benefits. Thanks for the info.
Tonya C recently posted…Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Viewing Party!