Vegan pets...or not

A few months after adopting a vegan diet, I felt so good that I wanted to share the wealth.  With anyone who would listen.  And in my household, that included the pets.


Our household is overrun by an ecclectic collection of rescued four-legged beasts - 2 dogs and 3 cats.  My husband likes to say this is how hoarding starts.  So no additional pets in the near future.  


The dogs and cats are all healthy and have enjoyed the benefits of high-end dog and cat food.  The dogs inhaled their Blue Buffalo and the cats enjoyed Royal Canin.  I didn't want to mess with success, but I wanted to at least pursue the idea of a vegan diet for the pets.  So I did my research.  Turns out dogs don't need animal products in their diets but cats do.  An amino acid called taurine is essential for cats and they can only get it from seafood and meat.  So I decided to leave our cats on their current diet.


I turned my attention to the dogs.  I purchase everything for the pets at PetSmart, so I visited my local store and talked to the store manager.  He suggested Nature's Recipe vegetarian.  Though it contains a D3 supplement (of animal origin), all other ingredients looked vegan, so I tried it.  Over the period of a week, I mixed it with their Blue Buffalo until they were eating Nature's Recipe exclusively.


They've now been eating Nature's Recipe for almost 3 months and are just as healthy and active as ever.  They don't inhale the food anymore, they tend to graze during the day, which seems to balance their energy too.  So far, I'm very happy with the transition and even if the food isn't as tempting to them, they still get toys and treats so their lives are good.  And we're making a difference to the environment.  

The top 5 stereotypes about vegans: Are they true?

I wrote the below article this week for my examiner.com column, but wanted to post it here too since I thought it was important.  Enjoy!

When you hear the word “vegan”, what do you think?  Do you automatically think you know something about that person?  Do you categorize that person in your mind?  Are your associations positive or negative?  There are many stereotypes out there about vegans, but, as with most groups of people, it’s very difficult to categorize and often your assumptions are far from the truth.  Here are the top five stereotypes and the truth about each.

1. Vegans are all skinny.  I, for one, fervently wish this were true, but unfortunately taking animal products out of your diet doesn’t automatically make you drop weight.  There are many “junk food vegans” out there who love their processed foods and sweet treats.  Oreos and potato chips are vegan.  And while I certainly wouldn’t recommend eating these items exclusively, it can be difficult to turn down all the yummy vegan goodies like cupcake recipes all over the web.  Whole Foods in north Scottsdale carries Fabe’s Bakery mini double chocolate chip cookies that are vegan and don’t even contain sugar.  Need I say more?
2. Vegan diets are based on deprivation.  Vegans don’t eat animal products, but that doesn’t mean that a plant-based diet is about exclusion.  New vegans often discover foods that they had never tried or maybe never even heard about in the past, and these foods become new favorites.  American diets are very much focused around meat and dairy, with plant-based foods considered secondary or “sides”.  When these foods become the centerpiece, however, there’s a lot more energy put into making them unique and delicious.  My vegan mac and cheese (based on the VegNews recipe) has become a favorite among vegans and omnivores alike.
3. Vegans are difficult to please and demanding.  It’s true that vegans often need to ask for slight dietary changes at most restaurants, but savvy vegans know that friendliness and appreciation go a long way toward changing this stereotype.  In fact, many vegans offer to bring homemade dishes to dinner parties so that the host doesn’t need to do anything.  Restaurants increasingly have plant-based options which makes it even easier for vegans to dine out.  If you’re still not convinced, attend one of the next VEG Phoenix meet-up events and judge for yourself.  Omnivores are always welcome.
4. All vegans are animal activists.  This is a controversial topic among vegans.  While some believe that you can’t be a “true” vegan unless you are motivated by the welfare of agricultural animals, an increasing number of vegans have adopted a plant-based diet for dietary benefits or environmental reasons.  In fact, a large number of vegans don’t like the word “vegan” and don’t refer to themselves this way at all.  It’s true, however, that a great many vegans are committed to animal welfare issues and seek to end cruel factory farming practices. 
5. Vegans don’t get enough energy and can’t be hard-core athletes.  Tell this to Carl Lewis, the Olympic sprinter and long-jumper.  Or Ruth Heidrich, a 6-time Ironman Triathlon finisher who has won more than 900 medals and is now in her 70s.  And there are countless athletes from various sports around the world who achieve greatness on a vegan diet.  The fact is that a plant-based diet provides all nutrients needed to succeed at any level of fitness.

Vegans are as diverse as the plant-based ingredients they consume every day.  Ask vegan friends and family about their experiences.  You may be surprised by their answers.

Operation Buff Bonnie

Since I've gone vegan, I've actually GAINED weight.  This is an experience that seems to be unusual among new vegans who usually lose weight, so I've been asking myself how this could be.  And I have an answer.  There are so many new, processed foods at places like Whole Foods that label themselves "vegan" and I have to try them.  Vegan cookies.  Vegan chips.  Even some of my own recipes that I've fallen in love with contain lots of fats.  I tell myself they're good fats - I pile on the avocado and nuts.  With everything I've read, I know how healthy they are for me.  For the first time in my life, I can eat as much as I want of everything as long as it's vegan, right?


Um, apparently that's wrong.  I know I'm in an evolution.  I went vegan, I generally know which foods contain animal products and which don't.  I know what ingredients are good for my body and which aren't.  But I haven't gotten portioning down at all.  So that's my next project.  If I want to be the picture of health and an inspiration to those who might want to consider dipping a toe into veganism, than I need to make my outside match what I feel on the inside.


So today starts Operation Buff Bonnie.  Lots of exercise and calorie counting.  I know it's not fun or sexy, but I will be, once I feel good in a bikini.  Wish me luck.