Why I am a Vegan

[Plenum]

In my case, for decades I actually avoided avocados and guacamole because I thought I "didn't like the taste"!  As a vegan, though, I've learned to change my attitudes towards food and see it more holistically.  A given food isn't just about flavor, and I found that I had many biases about what food I "liked" that were based on nothing other than childhood whims, hazy memories, and foolish, irrational opinions about "textures" or "colors" or some other random distortion.  I've learned to expand my food horizons and really take time to appreciate subtle flavors and all manner of vegan foods.  I now consider the practicality, sustainability, ethics, and the nutrient profile in addition to flavor.  Most importantly, I've learned to appreciate how these foods give me LIFE.  Certain foods, such as the avocado or the coconut, feel almost sacred to me.  As I eat the avocado each morning, I reflect on it and always feel a deep sense of connectedness and, frankly, *gratitude* for this daily life-sustaining fruit.  I can't help it -- some days I just want to shout "THANK YOU" for this wondrous food.  It's truly a marvel how something so nutritious, so filling and sustaining, grows from a such a humble tree.  Sometimes, I am awestruck with wonder at the beauty and bounty of this little bit of the Creation we call Earth!

Hi Pab,

I just want to thank you for this full reply that you made (I only quoted a portion).  It answered all my questions, and I ended up trying avocadoes!

I found a really nice dish that I've made twice in the last two days.  It's the elegance of simple.

1) fried avocado pieces in olive oil.  With salt.
2) some pasta (linguine) over the top of it.

Voila!  It's a magic dish.  So yummy.

And also thanks for mentioning B12.  That was one thing I had neglected, and I've been using the sublingual (under the tongue) lozenges, and they are working out well I think.  I think it may have been one thing limiting my previous experiences with vegetarianism/veganism.  

all the best,

Plenum