To be completely honest, being a vegetarian in a Latin American country is not ideal. While in North America we have a huge vegan and vegetarian movement, the movement has not quite picked up the same momentum in South America. While it is a struggle, it is definitely not impossible. Continue reading
I’m here to take you on my diet journey. So technically, I wouldn’t say I’m a vegan, but for about five years I’ve cut out red meat and prefer to choose dishes without animal products. This decision was made to improve my overall health, specifically my heart. I began making my own meals and developed a preference for the different replacements. It goes back to one Lenten season, a Christian tradition, taking place six weeks before Easter. My sister and I went vegan. After Lent was over, I didn’t realize I had developed a preference for vegan replacements and meat wasn’t as delicious as it was before. Until I came to Korea, I hadn’t realized how easy it was to be vegan in America; and even easier in my hometown in Southern California. Spending summer in California didn’t necessarily prepare me for the diet change I would have to make in Korea. Continue reading
Why would you do that? Isn’t it so hard? Do you hate yourself? Where do you get your protein?
Those are the questions I get when someone finds out I am a vegan. Its usually followed with statements about how God put animals on the earth for us to eat, or that I am going to get sick and die if I don’t eat meat. The conversations then end with jokes being pushed back and forth and then a few eye rolls. But this was before I moved to Rome. Now, being in Rome, people are absolutely outraged by my choice to not eat any dairy, eggs, fish or meat. Continue reading