[Old blog] Why I eat what I eat

I have been getting quite an impressive amount of questions and comments about if and why I am mostly vegan (some of them slightly offensive if I daresay!). In all honesty, I cannot remember mentioning it at all lately, infact, I hardly ever do in general because not only ain't I a fan of the discussions that usually then follow - it is also something that I don't like with my usual content.
For some strange reason, people tend to be more understanding when they find out that I don't have dairy because I am allergic (not lactose intolerant, I wish it was that!)

I love to start off my day with a fruit and vegetable juice - they are beyond energizing!

I have been confronted with the general dismissive reactions towards veganism and vegetarian a lot and I am wondering why that is. Does it offend people? Does it guilt-trip them? It is definitely not honest concern, because usually comments against this diet have a very unpleasant undertone to them with a hint of "well, you will see yourself how unhealthy it is."
Technically I do not have to avoid meat. I have started to be a vegetarian at the age of 15 when I saw a documentary about how meat is produced and after that I literally didn't want to eat it anymore. And although the only thing I still eat with a passion are eggs because they are just too yummy! I am advised to keep my animal-based-proteine-level as low as possible since that too may trigger my allergies but one egg every now and then will do not harm ^~^
Veganism is now getting more and more popular which leads to people being more understanding about it in general although there are still some, that cannot hold their comments back or try to persuade. I know that there are some vegans too try to make others stop eating animal products, which can be just as frustrating as constantly being told that you are crazy for not eating them (and let's face, it it happens a lot more often that way).
I don't even mind that veganism is boosting now, because it is assumed trendy - that only means lots and lots of milk-replacements for me which makes me incredibly excited and cheerful. I can now eat cheese and yoghurt again - something that I couldn't when I was a child and all you got was the back then...not so tasty soymilk.

Have you tried almond-milk before? It is so yummy!

The only thing you can really trust in is yourself - the food-insudtry (and I am also including the vegan food-industry too) is telling people what will make them buy more of ther products and that is not really a secret anymore.
I have always found that I feel a lot more active and get sick more rarely when I cut animal products out of my diet - not to mention the benefits for my skin! I once did go back to for two months regularily eating high-quality meat because a doctor kept telling me that my muslce-growth would happen faster then - and because I had just had a severe injury and was trying to recover from it (being a competitive athlete it was very important to me to get back on track as soon as possible and I am always willing to give a possibility at least a try), but honestly it didn't work for me. It almost seemed that my progress came even slower which was hard for me to believe because I have always thought meat was good for your muscles. Well, it definitely is, but for me other things worked a lot better - things like lots of vegetables, nuts and fruits for instance.
That really crashed my old beliefs in what one should eat and I started to research a little more to find my own diet, fit for my daily needs.
I would not necessarily call it veganism because about once a year I sometimes get in the mood for a tiny bite of meat of some sort and I give in to that - it is not about making myself not eat something, it is a choice not to do it and if I feel like it, of course I will do it. But in general, I don't even really like meat that much anymore. Strangely though, the same people that always try to make me eat animal products then rant about the fact that I am not a real vegan or vegetarian if I do that. Not that I minded but looks at it this way: if somebody eats healthy all the way but every now and then enjoys a slice of cake, you would still consider them a healthy eater, right? For me veganism and vegetarism doesn't have to be the strict I will never ever eat that even if I would starve to death sort of decision - there is nothing disgusting about animal products to me - I don't mind touching it, I just don't want to eat it.

Having my first spoonful of vegan icecream wasabsolutely indiscribeably!

But as said it is not about me identifying as a part of a certain group of people, it is about me and my choice to eat, what I feel is good for my body and health. Eating to animal products doesn't mean to just leave them out - which is another widely believed myth - it is a change of lifestyle and diet (well not that much for me, I have learnt to avoid dairy from a very young age). If you go vegan or vegetarian and just put the meat from your plate aside or buy soymeat as a replacer, that is not going to do the trick. You have to get informed and make sure you get your daily nutrients by eating as diverse as possible.
It does sound like lots of effort but once you get used to it, it is nothing but a lot of fun (and my soymilk cakes taste just the same as your milk-made baked goods!)
I would really wish people would stop criticising and start thinking. It is ok to be vegan, just as it is ok to eat meat. But once you haven't tried both for at least a few months, you are not really in the place to leave judgement, are you?