When people learn that I am a loose vegan, many assumptions are assumed:
1) I must not really have the discipline to quit eating animal and animal products
2) Going vegan is too hard
3) I am crazy for trying in the first place

Going loose vegan is a huge privilege. Veganism, initially by force because of nursing issues, wasn’t exactly the ideal life. It’s HARD. It’s not easy to find egg free, dairy free, casein free anything. And Whole Foods is not exactly wallet-friendly, to put it lightly.

But, I sit here -after having made a deliciously vegan spinach and artichoke dip that Nick is sneaking his paws into right now – wondering how to explain to folks that going vegan is actually quite simple and pleasurable once you get the hang of it.

Now, I’m not a hypocrite by saying I’m a loose vegan. Just last night I shameless grubbed on a huge ass burger (hold the cheese for Isaiah). Loose vegan means that in my house, when I cook, roughly 90% of what I make is vegan. The last 10% is usually when I have not time manged myself well enough for the day and find myself in a crunch and need to eat something before I pass out. Or, I have not yet found a way to cook a yummy recipe without animal or animal products.

The 90% of vegan living is awesome. I feel fantastic and feel no deprivation whatsoever. Two nights ago, Nick gobbled down my vegan chocolate chip cookies and even Carmen, my cookie obsessed sister, proclaimed them heavenly. Just remember, I told Nick, just because it’s vegan and animal-free, doesn’t mean it’s completely healthy. Nick replied, “Yeah, it’s hard to remember that. Every time you say something is vegan, I equate it to eating a carrot.”

Mhm, no.

Supplementing animal stuff for non-animal stuff is sometimes loaded with soy, beans, oils, and different kinds of fat. Granted, they are better for you, but that doesn’t mean they’re equivalent to a bunny food.

So, as I sit in my vegan kitchen, I have to say that I think this is going to be my way of life for the long haul. I am officially on board. I love being a loose vegan and I never in a million years thought that would EVER be me. Filipino cuisine is not exactly friendly to the livestock. But, there’s room in my life for flexibility.

Open up your minds to straddling the black and white lines and learn that not everything needs to be exact and fit perfectly in a box. I have surprised myself over and over again in learning how peaceful and fun it can be to eat whole foods whole. To feel full with vegetables, beans, sugar cane, blue agave, quinoa, seasonal fruits, toasted almonds, and coconut milk feels much more life-filled than being stuffed with animal fat, particles, processed flour, stripped-of-their-nutrients canned soups, dairy, and dead carcass. The exchange sounds formidable, but, trust me, in terms of taste you hardly notice it. In terms of health, you’ll feel more alive than you can imagine.

Now excuse me while I go feast on pretzel bread and my spinach, artichoke, arugala, italian parsley dip.