Vegetarianism: 3 Reasons Why I Choose To Be A Vegetarian

My decision to not eat meat technically started a few months ago, but has been in the works for several years. Coming from a family that incorporates meat into every meal, you would think I'd be genetically programed to enjoy its fleshy consistency; however, my personal preference is quite the contrary. I have consumed my fair share of cheeseburgers throughout the years, but there are so many forms of meat that I have never enjoyed eating. As the years pass, I have slowly terminated certain meats from my diet. Earlier this year I made the decision to become a vegetarian—I suppose the correct terminology would be pescatarian because I would find life difficult to enjoy if I had to live without sushi. There are 3 major reasons why I decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.

1.) Let's face it, I am a crazy animal lady! The thought of killing an animal brings a quiver to my lower lip—whether it be for meat, skin, fur, bone, etc. I don't want to be responsible for any animal suffering pain or experiencing fear of being repeatedly tortured and/or killed. I will admit, I can't even watch most of the videos out there today. It deeply saddens me to see any animal struggling or in pain. In my younger years, my views were still the same, yet I was able to disassociate my food from the reality that it was once living. However, I am unable to maintain the same willful ignorance as I become more knowledgeable on the topic of animal rights. There are countless meals which can be prepared without meat. This encourages me to get creative in the kitchen and prepare tasty meals (that satisfy my carnivorous husband).

2.) The older I get, the more health-conscious I become—especially since we plan to get pregnant in the near future. I want to focus on being the best woman I can be and that includes being the healthiest woman I can be. Vegetarianism helps me hold myself accountable for what I am eating. Each time I put a piece of food in my mouth I have to think about what is in it. Last year I would have no problem dipping my breakfast biscuit into my moms infamous gravy without ever thinking about the ingredients. Her gravy is made with fried sausage, one—it's pork (and who knows what else?!) and two—it's fried and extremely unhealthy. Deciding to be a vegetarian causes me to become more aware of the ingredients in the foods I am consuming. This allows me to stop and think before I eat anything and question if it is a healthy choice of food. Being vegetarian also forces me to eat more fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Instead of eating an egg and ham sandwich for breakfast, I eat a fresh fruit smoothie or oatmeal. Instead of eating a turkey sandwich for lunch, I eat a salad. Instead of eating a steak for dinner, I eat a veggie burger. I am able to incorporate more nutritious foods into my diet, that will help me to lose weight and remain healthy, without including meat.

3.) Since becoming a vegetarian I have learned to become more patient and excepting of other people's opinions and beliefs. Daily, I want to pull up videos on my iPhone for my husband to watch when he mentions craving ribs or beef stew for dinner. And no matter how much I know it won't change his perspective, I have a burning desire to inform him anyways. But the fact is, he is educated. He knows and understands what happens at slaughterhouses and to him it is just "the circle of life". Now don't get me wrong—he is a great guy and an animal (or should I say pet) lover, but he whole-heartedly believes that God put animals on this earth to feed humans. As his wife, I have to respect his decision to eat meat—just like he respects mine to not. He is completely aware of the facts and has made an educated decision, which he is entitled to. I strongly believe every individual should live a life that makes him/her happy and fulfilled, but I also believe people should spend more time educating themselves on the horrific events that occur at slaughterhouses and the frightening circumstances these animals are forced to endure. If someone has educated themselves and continues to be a meat-eater, fine. I can't say I understand it or agree with it, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion and lifestyle.

Not only has this change made a positive impact on my health, but also on my way of life. It gives me joy to live a more balanced lifestyle in which I eat more earth-based foods and use only organic & natural beauty products. I don't think I am quite committed enough just yet to live a completely vegan lifestyle, but I wouldn't rule it out completely for the future. I definitely enjoy vegan options of my favorite foods and snacks when they are available. This is a process and it has been a slow one up until now. I am always searching for new ways to better myself as a human and right now I feel like I am on the right track. J

Acne Face Wash

I have always struggled with oily, sensitive, acne-prone skin. Throughout the years I have used any-and-everything to clean my face. In my younger years, I used Noxzema, Cetaphil, Clearasil, St. Ives (abrasive) apricot scrub, Clean & Clear—you get the picture. As I got older and became more aware of my skin and how to care for it, I tried to use products from companies like: Olay, Dove, Neutrogena, and Clinique. Nothing seemed to stop the oil or keep my face from breaking out. Over the years I have learned just how sensitive my skin is and that using harsh chemicals, like straight-up rubbing alcohol—yes, there was a time I would douse a cotton ball and but it directly on my skin—will not help the oil production. It will actually make it worse! Now that I use cruelty-free and vegan products, I have noticed a difference in my skins appearance. Most of the cruelty-free and vegan brands I purchase are made from natural ingredients and do not contain harmful fillers. However, I do still breakout occasionally. While doing some online browsing at Vegan Cuts, I saw this all-natural acne treatment system for sale by Relogy. I read some of the reviews and visited their website for additional information. I was excited to try it because I have noticed more blemishes than normal appearing on my face. I received the treatment system and began using it immediately. I used the three-step cleanser, lotion, and spot treatment as instructed for about three weeks without seeing any results. The cleanser is a foam that lathers and is meant to massage directly into skin. You also have the option of not rinsing it off and allowing it absorb completely into the skin. I have tried both methods and noticed it dries my skin out to not rinse it off. The lotion is nice and creamy. I put it on after I wash my face morning and night. The spot treatment has a roller ball for easy application. It has helped to reduce the size of a pimple, but the results were far from stellar. This system is designed to be used for two months, so I will continue to finish the product and see if there is any difference in my skin. I have used Proactive in the past and I did notice a slight difference, but it took a while for me to notice. Also, if you weren't consistent with the regimen, all of its benefits would be lost. I do not have what I would consider "bad" skin, but I do have larger pores which make me more prone to breakout. Most of my breakouts occur on my chin, which is typically hormonal, so that could be a large part of why I am not seeing results. Either way, I enjoyed the gentleness of this product. It did not make me breakout worse or give me a rash, but it also didn't do much for the few imperfections I have. This obviously isn't my favorite product, but I am glad I tried it out. 

Easy, Healthy, Vegetarian, Oregano & Tomato Eggplant Pizza

What you'll need:

2 large globe eggplants

1 large jar of garlic marinara sauce

handful of grape tomatoes

fresh oregano

dried oregano seasoning

granulated garlic seasoning

grated mozzarella cheese

crumbled Parmesan cheese

olive oil 

salt/pepper

Step 1:

Slice the eggplant into circles. Make sure they are all about the same thickness. Lay them out onto paper towels and sprinkle them with salt. Let them sit for about 30 minutes. This will help to pull any water from the eggplant. Once the eggplant slices have been sitting for about 30 minutes, wipe off the excess salt and place them on a baking sheet. Using a brush, glaze each eggplant circle with olive oil and top with pepper, dried oregano, and garlic seasoning. Put them in the oven for about 25 minutes at 375 degrees. 

Step 2: 

While the eggplant is cooking, dice your grape tomatoes into halves.

Step 3:

Prepare your oregano, grate your cheese, etc. 

Step 4:

Once the eggplant has been in the oven for about 25 minutes (before it gets mushy), pull it out and decorate your pizza. I started with a thin layer of garlic marinara sauce, topped with a generous amount of mozzarella cheese. Next, add your fresh oregano, tomatoes, and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. The eggplant pizzas will go back in the oven until the cheese looks melted and starts to slightly brown (approx. 20 minutes).

Step 5: 

When they look melted and golden brown, they are ready to eat! Take them out of the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes. 

We had some leftovers, so I stacked them—lasagna style—for Mark's lunch the next day. 

*Note: I also took a few pieces to work the next day. To heat them up I used a convection oven and I actually preferred them more the second day. The eggplant was more crisp and crunchy. 

Six Months *March 24, 2014*

It was an average Monday morning. I had been at work for about three hours when my phone started ringing. I was on my way to our warehouse (which is where the ladies room is located) and I saw it was my dad calling me. My dad isn't a huge fan of talking on the phone, plus he doesn't typically bother me at work unless it is important, so I hurried to the back of the warehouse and answered. My dads voice was quite and subdued. 

Let's backup for a second... Up until this point, I had three living grandparents. My maternal grandfather died in 2008 due to complications from a previous heart surgery. His wife, my grandmother, has always been a rather sickly woman and after the death of her husband, her health began to steadily decrease. She married my grandfather when she was just 16 years old and—although she would never admit it—the stress from my grandfathers passing slowly took over and soon her body and mind began to deteriorate. She was diagnosed with dementia and had been living in an assisted living facility in Arizona for the last year. When I would visit she would look right through me as if I were a ghost. It was difficult to engage her in a conversation or to obtain a cohesive response. We knew it was only a matter of time before her body gave out, just like her mind had. My other two grandparents were my dads mother and father. They lived one street over from me while I was growing up. They would regularly take me or pick me up from school, attend school functions, and have us over for dinner. My grandmother has always been unashamedly opinionated and verbally expressive almost to a fault. She wasn't always the easiest person to get along with. My grandfather is a military man and engineer—the quite type, an observer. He goes with the flow and doesn't rock the boat. My grandmother has always been overweight and struggled with diabetes, but other than that both of them have been seemingly healthy. Recently she had been eating better—still refusing to excersie—and her diabetes seemed to be under control. I had spoken with her about two weeks prior and she seemed to be doing fine. Mark and I were planning to head up there in the next few weekends to visit. 

With a solemn tone, my dad said, "your grandma died". Obviously I wasn't expecting him to utter those words when I picked up the phone, so my first reaction was, "wait... what? How? What happen?". My dad is the strongest person I know. He is generally composed and acts as the backbone to our family. But this time, he sounded different...broken, somber, defeated. I had never heard him sound so melancholy. I was positive he was referring to my mothers mom—afterall, she was living in a constant state of unknown and we could only imagine the abundance of anxiety she must be in. Suddenly, something clicked, "which grandma?!" I asked. It took him a few seconds to get the words out. "My mom", he replied. I immediately went into denial/shock mode. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She had been laughing and loving life at my wedding just four months earlier. We'd spoken on the phone and gone up there to see her recently and everything seemed fine—she was FINE! I had so many questions, but I couldn't even speak. I was overwhelmingly overcome with sadness and grief. I could barely move. I made my way to bathroom where I could get some privacy and compose myself. A few minutes later I resurfaced and I knew I needed to head home and be with my family. 

I didn't actually consider myself close with my paternal grandparents until about 8 years ago. I think when they moved away to Hemet, CA and weren't centrally located to their entire family, they (my grandmother, in particular) realized the importance of family and how much they missed seeing us as frequently as they used to. Mark and I started making recurrent trips to Hemet on the weekends to visit with them. My grandma and I started calling each other fairly often to catch up on life. Her and I became very close and in the years leading up to her death she would cry every time we hung up the phone. On several occasions I would ask her why she was upset and she would reply, "because I love you so much". I think it was a combination of happiness that she was able to witness my life come together—I had graduated college, got engaged, got a new job, and got married. But I also think she recognized that she was getting older and that her time to share with the ones she loved was limited.

It has been six months since she left us and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her. Sometimes I do get angry that she couldn't still be here to witness me have children and continue living my life with Mark. She wanted to be a great-grandmother in the worst way. I feel guilty that I couldn't give her that. I have to constantly remind myself that I am lucky to have had the close relationship with her that I did. She loved me so much and was excessively proud of me and the woman I have become. I am fortunate that she was able to attend my wedding, my bridal shower, my graduation from high school and college, etc. Grandparents aren't supposed to be in your life forever. They are there to show you a different kind of love—a love you learn from and are forever grateful for. I still cry when I sit on my bed at night and stare at her luminous face in a picture of my wedding that hangs by my nightstand. I don't even enjoy meat, but I still get hungry for her infamous fried chicken when I drive by a KFC because I know I will never have it again. I still eat egg-on-toast for breakfast sometimes, in honor of my favorite meal she would make me before taking me to school as a child. 

It hasn't been easy on anyone—especially this guy...

BUT, we have managed to pull through as a family and retain some sort of normalcy. My grandfather has moved back to Orange, CA and my mom and I bring him dinner 2-3 times a week. He also comes over every Sunday morning for a "he-man" breakfast. Moving local has helped my grandpa cope with the loss of his wife. He spends a lot of time with friends and family. As my last surviving grandparent, I have never been so grateful to have him in my life as I have for the past six months. 

*Two months (almost to the day) after my paternal grandmother passed away, my maternal grandmother also passed away. Can 2015 be a better year, please?

Delicious, Healthy, Baked, Vegetarian, Tacos de Papa (Potato Tacos)

This is one of my favorite meals!

What you'll need:

8-12 tortillas (I use fancy ones with a blend of corn and whole wheat)

6 large russet potatoes

3 large jalapenos

1/2 spicy taco seasoning packet

chopped spinach 

Pico de Gallo or salsa

sour cream (to taste)

Monterrey Jack cheese (to taste)

olive oil (to taste)

Step 1: 

Wash and chop potatoes into bite-size chunks.

Slice jalapenos into small pieces and mix-in with potatoes.

Drizzle olive oil over the mixtures and top it with your spicy taco seasoning.

Toss the mixture by hand until everything is coated.

Cover with foil and put in the oven for about 30 minutes at 450 degrees.

Step 2:

After 30 minutes have passed, pull your potatoes out of the oven and toss them around.

Then put them back in the oven, uncovered, for about 15 minutes. 

Step 3: 

While the potatoes are finished browning, I grated a block of Monterrey Jack cheese.

Step 4:

Place your tortillas on a rack in the oven to get them crispy and "taco-shaped". I usually leave them in the oven for about 8-12 minutes or until the ends begin to brown. 

*Note: It helps to spray them with Pam or apply a thin layer of butter so the tortillas don't stick to the metal oven rack.  

Step 5: 

I chopped up about 2 handfuls of fresh spinach and I also used Pico de Gallo that I picked up at the grocery store.

Step 6: 

Start filling up your tortillas!

First, let your shells cool and when they have hardened, put a large scoop of the potato mixture in the tortilla. Second, load up the steamy potato mix with cheese. Top it off with spinach, Pico de Gallo, and a dollop of sour cream. Then finish your taco with your favorite hot sauce—mine is Cholula!

Step 7:

Enjoy! 

Animal-Free Fashion

Being conscious about the products I buy is a choice I make, mostly because I am curious what will be clothing my body throughout the day, absorbing through my skin when I apply my makeup, and/or feeding my stomach when I eat.

The other day I was online shopping at Nordstrom and I noticed Toms had a line of vegan shoes. My first thought was, "aren't all of their shoes vegan?" I have been wearing Toms for years! I love the comfort they provide once they have molded to my feet. I can stand in them all day long without achy feet at the end of the night. They also have a large selection of styles and patterns to choose from. I own over 10 pair of Toms shoes. I Googled around a bit to see what I could find, but it all seemed like hearsay, so I though I would go straight to the source and find out.

I went to Toms website and clicked on the "Contact Us" section. I sent a message that asked, "I noticed you have a large selection of vegan shoes. What makes the traditional Toms shoes non-vegan?" A few hours later I received a message from Toms in my inbox. I was so excited to see what they had to say. I opened the email and read their response, "The non-vegan shoes have animal products in them." This response not only disappointed me, but frustrated me too. Obviously, I understand the meaning of vegan because I asked why a majority of them weren't. Wouldn't it be common knowledge that I am seeking a more detailed response instead of a reiteration of the word vegan? I wrote back and said, "I assumed this simply because they are "not vegan". Can you be a little more specific? What is used in the shoes to make them not vegan?" Needless to say the customer service representative didn't get back to me. 

About 2 days later I went back to Toms website and began the process all over again. I asked the same question, but a bit more specific. "I noticed Toms has a large selection of vegan shoes. Can you tell me what materials are used to classify the traditional Toms shoe as non-vegan?" When i received a response I was, once again, utterly disappointed to receive almost the exact same answer from another Toms employee. 

Immediately after receiving the second answer I went back on the website—with a little more attitude—and asked my question slightly more aggressively. "I have been emailing for the past few days and it is a bit disappointing that I cannot get a straight answer... I noticed Toms sells a selection of vegan shoes. What animal byproducts are used in the average Toms shoes which classifies them as non-vegan? I keep receiving answers like this, "All styles marked as "vegan" are made without any animal byproducts". I understand what vegan means. I am looking for specific materials that are used in the shoe, which makes it non-vegan. Please help me to understand what else is in my shoes, besides canvas and rubber." This time it only took about 30 minutes for my to receive a reply. I was more satisfied (well, not with the answer itself, but with the detailed explanation I was provided), "We use pig suede for all leather insole styles of TOMS. It is tanned (cured) like any garment leather. We back it with woven gauze to limit its stretch so the shoe keeps its fit over time."

I had no idea... This whole time I was under the impression my shoes were made out of canvas and rubber. I didn't realize that suede was even an animal product (but this is all part of the learning process). I have always been a curious person. My curiosity has definitely been enhanced since my new-found enlightenment about the world of cruelty-free and vegan products has begun earlier this year. I have recently begun purchasing faux-leather handbags, and to be honest, they are just a great as the leather ones I have. I clearly can't get rid of everything I own and replace it with new, cruelty-free and vegan products, but I can become more knowledgeable about the products I am actually buying. After taking a look at the vegan Toms, I think I am sold! They are just as stylish and not too much more expensive. I feel good in knowing I can take little steps to change my lifestyle for the better. I totally get it—we all have brands and products that we LOVE and don't want to live without, but if you have the option to purchase the same products you would usually purchase or a cruelty-free/vegan version of the same products you usually purchase, why wouldn't you make the change? It seems like a no-brainer for me!

I fully believe knowledge is power, but I also believe people should be free to make their own decisions; however, I wish more people would expand their horizons and be slightly more open to change. There are so many options to replace the cosmetic, clothing, and accessory brands we use that do not use animals in any way, shape, or form. All it takes is a little extra effort and research to find which brands will work for you. 

Soap

Call me old fashion, but I prefer a bar of soap over body wash. For the past 5+ years I have used Dove Sensitive Skin Bar Soap to wash my face and body. I used it on my face because it is extremely gentile and never made me breakout. I used it on my body because I loved the way it lathered up in a washcloth and never made my skin feel "squeaky" after washing myself. However, since learning that Dove is not vegan or cruelty-free I had to change brands. Since the beginning of the year—after learning that I had to replace all of my favorite brands—I have tried so many different types of soap. I have tried soaps from Honest Amish, Sappo Hill, random samples from my Vegan Cuts box, and many more. I found this bar of soap at my local Sprouts store and said 'what the heck' and gave it a try. I purchased the scent Indonesian Patchouli and Sandalwood—mostly because they were sold out of most other flavors. It sat on my shelf for a couple of months, but when I opened the packaging I was immediately impressed by the smell. It was powerful, but not overpowering. When I began using it in the shower I was pleased with how well it lathered with a little water and a washcloth. Once I rinsed it off I didn't feel squeaky and I noticed the fragrance on my skin even the next day. The smell of this particular scent is almost nutty with a undertone of spicy black pepper. It is probably one of the more masculine scents, but I enjoy it for a change. The best part is, it is gentile on sensitive skin. I didn't breakout, become itchy, or notice any redness. I can't wait to try out different scents and see which become my favorite!