Roughly two years ago I made the choice that I was going to become a vegan. Because I was previously a vegetarian for seven years, the initial transition wasn't too difficult, but finding the information to make sure I was a healthy vegan was truly an adventure in itself. I quickly realized that no matter how much I knew about vegetarianism, veganism was like entering a whole new world.
My first steps included seeking information online. The vegan community has really made a place for itself in the digital world, and it really helped a new vegan learn about the process. Books and cookbooks were my next stop and they taught me the basics of veganism. They became huge sources of information for me, and great sources of inspiration. They also fueled my love of cooking, which really blossomed when I became vegan.
In addition to books and the internet, I sought out people who had already been vegan for a good amount of time so I could soak in some of their expertise and knowledge. Along those same lines, I also found that blogs and vegan-centric podcasts were great for keeping my beliefs strong and not feeling alone in a world full of omnivores.
-Some of the questions I asked when deciding to move forward with this life choice were:
- What is and isn't vegan?
- What do I need to change in my life?
- What products are vegan?
- What foods are the most nutritionally sound?
- What does it mean to be vegan?
- What do I eat as a vegan?
- What vitamins do I need to make sure that I am getting on a daily basis?
-I asked these of myself and kept them in mind while I researched and looked for information. I also asked them of my human sources and talked to them about some of my concerns.
-On the web, I searched the following terms:
vegan, vegan eating , healthy vegan, vegan recipes, how to be a vegan
Web sources of information:
www.veganhomemade.wordpress.com
Podcasts
"Vegetarian Food For Thought" Podcast
"Vegan Freak" Podcast
"Vegan Radio" Podcast
Books
Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis, Vesanto Melina
Veganomicon by Isa Chandra-Moskowitz
The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
The Garden of Vegan by Tanya Barnard, Sarah Kramer
The Vegan Planet By Robin Robertson
The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone
Magazines
People
Adrienne Raimo, R.D. and holistic nutrionist
Emily Hudson, cousin and vegan of 9 years
I think that most of the information sources I sought out really served their purpose in teaching me what I wanted to know. I was able to sort out what I thought was most important and what would work best for my life and my choices. All of the sources that I chose were valid, and if I found something I wasn't quite sure was accurate, I wouldn't continue to read or explore it. I purposefully chose to educate myself with sources that I knew were extremely knowledgeable and accurate. There is so much information out there on this subject, that I really had to do my research on what to listen to and what to ignore. This is also an ongoing process. In the two years that I have been vegan, I have viewed news, reports, accounts, recipes, and stories almost daily about my life choice. I always look for more information, because there is always more information to find.
It is also extremely important for me to share this information. This subject is so important to me, and if I am able to cause discussion and even maybe change one person's mind, than it is totally worth it. This fuels my desire for knowledge on veganism, so I can answer any questions assuredly and accurately.
I think that this information report may be different from others only because their really is no definitive answer. This goes along with our transition into the Age of Abundance and that there always seems to be more information than what we initially see or could ever even learn. There could always be more information I could take in about this subject, however, I feel as though I am fully knowledgeable about the important health aspects of veganism and that the knowledge that I sought had been completely filled. In fact, I would feel confident in being a source of information for
someone who was looking to become a vegan.
However, I do think this comfort level of knowledge could change in future choices. For example, when I decide to have children, that would create a whole new information search. I would want to learn what special dietary needs a pregnant vegan needs, as opposed to just what I need in my life. In addition to this, there seems to be a huge uprising right now in our society about the care we take towards the animals we eat. This creates whole new sources of information for me to take in about this subject I care so strongly about. This is what keeps this subject such an in depth and interesting topic in my life, especially in an age where new information is in a constant flux.
During the process I learned a lot about myself, how I understand, and my level of information literacy. I realized that I prefer faceted classification when it comes to knowledge and discovery. I would much rather plug in two or three keywords and quickly find what I am really look ing for. I also learned more about my reasoning for wanting to be vegan in the first place. I think one of the strongest methods of learning for me is to read, understand, and share. When I spoke to other people about my reasons for being vegan and what it meant to me, it only strengthened my understanding.
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