In the UK alone there were over a million vegans in 2019 and that number was expected to double in 2020. It was estimated 250,000 people trialled Veganuary no doubt influenced by The Game Changers and other documentaries that advocated plant based living as well as the great Sir David Attenborough suggesting that we should eat less meat.
I’d watched these documentaries and felt inspired and encouraged to give the vegan life a try. I carried out additional research and felt strongly convinced it was the best choice for the planet but was is the best choice for me? The only way to find out was to go for it.
So I went all in. I engaged the services of a nutritionist to write bespoke vegan based meal plans for me to ensure I had enough fuel and didn’t miss out on any key nutrients. I took over the main evening cooking duties and did a lot of the food shopping so I learnt as I went along.
So as we approach the end of the year how has this worked out for me?
Well the first thing to say is I’m not eating as a vegan now. The primary reason for this is that I was unable to process the main dietary vegan staples such as lentils, pulses and tofu. My digestive system simply couldn’t handle the fibre in those foods and it made its significant distress quite clear.
Secondly I discovered that the unfortunately it was very difficult to always make planet friendly plant food choices. Quinoa and avocados being two examples of heavily water intensive crops that are often imported from huge distances. In the case of quinoa its rise in popularity has also often been detrimental to the local population who have less access to what was a staple for them as the price has risen.
Finally I found that some meals despite being really tasty seemed to leave me feeling a bit hungry and lacking in energy the next morning.
So with limited vegan options I found myself migrating to a pescatarian diet despite grave concerns that the worlds fish populations were over fished to the point of collapse. Recently I’ also introduced a small amount of beef and chicken back into my diet scheduled after my long run each week to aid recovery.
So that’s where I am. I try to make choices that are good for the planet and good for me. It’s a work in progress. I won’t always get it right but I like the journey and the education that comes with it. I prefer to eat plants if I can. If I have to eat meat or chicken I choose British and seek high quality organic produce.
So where are you with this one? Meat based, plant based or somewhere in between? Do you see yourself making changes for 2021?
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