The Vegan Diaries: Half Way There…..Livin’ On A Prayer (& Peanut Butter Ice Cream)!

 

 

Netflix's 'You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment' is really making waves – and changing minds.  It's a global game-changer.

 

 

 

 

Going vegan has been an eye-opening experience for me - a 52 year old life-long carnivore and hopelessly devoted cheese and Curly Wurly addict.   However, once you see the animal cruelty on your plate you simply cannot un-see it. 

 

 

 

 

Even if some vegan advertising is way too close to the bone for comfort and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth (I guess that's the whole point).  

 

Adverts #3

 

 

As a bullish Taurean (born in Mercury retrograde under an Aquarius blue moon rising in Uranus), I don't naturally like being told what to do.  Those Veganti-christs who preach the gospel of veganism like a rabid Billy Graham frothing lentils out of his mouth really fish me off.   That said, I really must thank the Lebanese Vegans for their stomach-churning imagery and finger-licking falafel, baba ghanouj and hummus recipes.   In the war on terror, veganism is fighting back and I want to be on the right side of history. 

 

Blindnowsee

 

 

 

 

 

I remember watching 'The Meatrix' when it came out 20 years ago but I must have blindly taken the blue pill not the red pill (I blame too many Red Bulls & Moscow mule vodkas). 

 

 

 

 

It's a bitter pill to swallow for many carnists but the bloody good advertising from the Veganarchists has the power to change hearts and minds.  Seeing is believing.

 

 

 

 

There is nobody better than PETA when it comes to ramming the message down your throat – and making you sea things in a different light. 

 

Peta #2

 

 

Eating meat takes on a different perspective.  It's certainly not subtle but it's powerful and persuasive. 

 

Adverts #2

 

 

 

 

 

Vegans know how to throw one hell of a dinner party – even if I'm also repulsed by the fake meat products on display in supermarkets.

 

Dinner

 

 

 

The TV screens and 'Cube of Truth' techniques used by Anonymous for the Voiceless are sheer class.

 

Cube of truth

 

 

Nobody rocks a protest more than 'extremist' vegans.

 

 

 

 

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

 

 

 

After signing up to Veganuary it was great to see the 'The Big Fish-Ssue' pop up in my in-box on Day 17. 

 

Veganuary fish

 

 

 

 

 

The support from the vegan community – who have shared recipes and their own experiences – has been life-affirming too.  

 

 

 

 

I've only ever gone to Burger King when blind drunk but the truth about how food reaches our plates is enough to sober anyone up. 

 

Peta

 

 

I feel as if 'Veganuary' has rebooted the hard drive in my brain.  Change can be for the better but learning new things can also be scary, especially for old dogs like me.  My new routine is like something out of 'Ready Steady Cook' as I trawl through the veggie box deciding how the fuck I am going to cook yet another celeriac.  On the positive side, if my son loses yet another football over the neighbour's fence we have ready made replacements on the subs bench. 

 

Celeriac football

 

 

On Monday, I was like a little kid smiling when I saw next week's Riverford delivery does not include the ugly beast. 

 

Celeriac

 

 

That evening I celebrated by eating a whole tub of Ben & Jerry's vegan ice cream.

 

Peanut Butter #1

 

 

And tonight I will be watching Netflix whilst trying out a new vegan flavour – Veganuary is best served chilled.

 

Peanut Butter #2

 

 

Celeriac and ice-cream aside, there are some hugely positive feedback loops.  I'm spending more time cooking and more time thinking about what I'm eating.   Food wastage is going down and healthy food consumption is going up.   I'm now drinking less tea and coffee and slupring down more green smoothies.   Whilst the celeriac monstrosities gather dust in the veggie box, the soup-maker is working overtime even if my electricity is strictly not vegan.  

 

View this photo

 

 

 

I've still not cracked the Curly Wurly connundrum and there are still unanswered questions.

 

 

 

 

Some feedback loops may not be that positive but it's nice to know the Spaghetti Hoops come in a vegan version – even if drowning them in Cheddar cheese (as my mum used to do growing up) is not a vegan option. 

 

Hoops

 

 

I'm still sceptical about claims that going vegan can stop the destruction of the Brazilian rainforest. 

 

Adverts #1

 

 

Doesn't soy production promote not prevent deforestation?

 

Loophole

 

 

And the use of palm oil in vegan products is the orangutan in the room.   "Palm oil is technically suitable for a vegan diet as it is derived from plants and is free from animal products," explains Lex Rigby of Viva.  "However, due to the devastating impact palm oil production has on the environment and animals, it’s up to the individual whether or not they choose to avoid it."

 

Palm oil

 

 

Thankfully, high profile vegans like Lex Rigby, Chris Packham and Dale Vince are making waves against the devastating welfare and environmental impacts of salmon farming.

 

Lex rigby

 

 

 

Dale Vince comment Daily Express 15 Dec 2022

 

 

 

Sunday Mail Packham 15 October 2023 Newspaper via PressReader

 

 

 

 

The tide really is turning against salmon farming – thanks to vegan activists working in concert with environmental and welfare activists.   And we're making one hell of a noise.  As I've successfully navigated the first half of Veganuary, the soundtrack of my life has turned from the Ice T’s ‘Original Gangster’ to Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’.  Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear.   Whoa oh, livin' on a prayer. 

 

 

 

 

Next week is one week closer to the end of Veganuary and the start of the rest of my vegan life.    I've already planned our Burn's Night celebration meal!

 

Haggis

 

 

But I may give the celeriac and haggis-flavoured ice-cream a miss. 

 

Haggis icecream

Read more via:

The Vegan Diaries: Week 1 – You Are What You Eat

E24 in Norway: "Farmed salmon gets tough hit in new Netflix documentary"

Herald: "Scottish salmon farms in Netflix and Paramount firing line – is it the end for farmed fish?"

2023 – The Year 'Zombie' Salmon Died (& Chris Packham Cried "Stop Greenwashing")!

 

 

 

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