Why I am Vegetarian/Vegan

I mentioned in a recent Twitter post that things were changing. Oooh, what could it be!? Ellie's being all mysterious and weird. It's fair to say that I haven't posted my regular amount of reviews for a while and the obvious answer is my recent engagement. Although this has taken up a lot of my time, there's been more going on in the world of TYDG than just wedding planning.

So here is goes: I am going vegan. Oh, my god, I've said it, I've written it, this is actually happening.

I've been so passionate about health and nutrition for a while, so for some lovely readers, this will not come as too much of a surprise. Alongside this I am committed and passionate about charity work, supporting those less fortunate and helping to improve life for everyone in this world. Sometimes when you're constantly bombarded by negative media you can think that the world is an awful place, and yes there are people out there who chose a path of destruction rather than a path of love and peace, but as the old proverb goes: "the line between good and evil runs through every human heart." We can all chose to be good or evil, and every decision we make is an opportunity to make changes for positive and loving reasons.

Alongside the above passions, I have also always had a love for our animal friends and a true appreciation for our environment. I am of the generation where we were told to recycle as much as possible, not waste water and even grow our own where possible. The threat of climate change and the impact this has is very real to my fiancé and I. The terrifying truth is that all the recycling in the world will not make the difference we need. We need to make a bigger change to help turn the world back onto the right path and continue to nourish our children for generations to come.

That change is not eating meat or the products of farmed animals. Yep, I found this crazy too when I first heard it. The thing that completely changed my view on this issue was a documentary called Cowspiricy. My in-laws and I watched this on Netflix a couple of weeks ago and we were all absolutely shocked. I'm sure they won't mind me saying that as a family my in-laws love meat cases dishes, BBQs and more. For them to recognise that this documentary was so shocking is a statement to the power of this documentary's message. If you haven't seen it, please go watch it (you can download Netflix free for 30 days here).

As you all know I took part in Veganuary this year and it has really changed my perspective on eating as a vegan. Since February first I have had minimal amounts of eggs or dairy (never eating them intentionally in their 'pure form') and each time I have to say I've felt, well kinda bad. I know the reality of these farm animals' lives and the sad process that they have been through to become a pizza, or a doughnut, or a chocolate bar and the guilt I feel sometimes can be overwhelming.

So I'm sorry if you will miss the meat dishes around here and the recipes with eggs and dairy. Going forward please expect very little to no meat in my restaurant reviews (depending on my guest) and 99% vegan recipes. Becoming a full-on vegan is a challenge but it is something I will continue to pursue as long as possible.

Lots of love, E x 

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