Tag: allerigies

Why I’m Not Currently Vegan

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Why I'm Not Currently Vegan

Like many, over the years I have made the attempt to go fully vegan for the sake of the planet and the animals.  Many of my vegan readers have asked me why I personally did not stick with it.  There are two major reasons why a vegan diet has never been sustainable for me:

Food Allergies

I’ve had food allergies for all of my life. Many of these foods are unfortunately big vegan staples. A couple of main examples:
-Soy
-Tree Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Pecans, Walnuts, Pine Nuts, Etc.)

In real world scenarios, 9 times out of 10 vegan food includes one of those ingredients.  Even when cooking at home, the diet is quite limiting without these foods.

Supplement Intolerances

When you go vegan, there are supplements that are recommended, such as B12, that can only be found in animal foods.  I’m very sensitive when it comes to supplements. 99% of the time they give me nausea, stomach cramps, or headaches. I’ve also experienced side effects such as loss of appetite, rashes, and insomnia. Therefore, I personally try to get my vitamins from food sources alone.  For me, this means a variety that includes animal products.

I often feel guilty that I am not a vegan. With the environment in need of our assistance and the inhumane ways that so many animals are treated, I have tried to do my part in this way. I still try my best to purchase more humane animal products, such as eggs from the pasture, when possible.

I think it’s wonderful that veganism works for so many, because it can have great impacts on this planet and for certain people’s health. I know that there are many vegans who follow me, and to all of you I say: amazing. I hope you can understand the other side of the coin.

Soy Story

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Soy Story_2

You may or may not have noticed that none of my recipes include soy.  I am actually allergic to soy!  Food allergies have been a big part of my life ever since I was a kid.  The weekly allergy shots at the doctor’s office, emergency trips to the hospital, rashes, hives, you name it.  I have a wide variety of reactions depending on the allergen, but with soy it’s nausea and vomiting. 

While very small amounts are unlikely to bother me too badly (compared to, say, a big block of tofu), it’s safest just to avoid it completely.  Some of my childhood allergies have actually lessened in severity over time, and I do always hope that one day that will happen with soy too.  There’s still so much we don’t understand about allergies!

If you also have a soy allergy and are sad to have to skip the soy sauce in cooking, I highly recommend trying out Coconut Aminos.  It’s a fantastic substitute in recipes that call for soy sauce.  When I’ve personally made the substitution nobody is ever able to tell the difference!

Soy is found in so many foods, from chocolate bars to sandwich breads to baked goods.  My number one tip is simply to be in the practice of checking labels.  Luckily, when it comes to creations in the kitchen, there’re always great alternatives out there!