My First Week As A Vegan!

It's finally feeling like Summer here. Summer is my favorite season; the smells, the feeling, all the fun, and the gorgeous food! I am so happy I decided to become a vegan during the summer, because the supermarket literally feels like a farmer's market around this time of year. Plus, it's absolutely gorgeous out. Heat, humidity, stagnant air, and wood scented dew totally lights my fire; I am completely aware how alone I am in that sentiment, but I literally adore it.
So now, not only am I eating all the freshest, most amazing food from the earth, but I've been eating outside in nature and it's such a great feeling. Becoming a vegan has been a great decision, and I really want to update you guys on how week one went!

So, why? Why did I become a vegan? Basically, my number one reason was health. As an actor, I am constantly using my body vigorously. It goes through a lot. I want it to be in peak condition and I want to nourish it with natural foods. Meat makes me feel pretty heavy and weighted when I eat it. I certainly enjoy it, but personally, I always feel pretty sluggish afterwards. Dairy products always seem to agitate my allergies, so I try to avoid it anyway.
After I started to watch FullyRawKristina on YouTube, I was incorporating 8-10 fully raw meals into my week and enjoying the way I felt. Then, I just put it all together. Meat and dairy clearly don't agree with my body at 100%. I enjoy the way I feel when I eat vegan. Let's try it out! And I am so glad I did. I am definitely not a fully raw vegan, nor do I really attach myself to any sort of specific vegan lifestyle (i.e. Raw Till 4, HCLF, 80/10/10....). I just do what feels good for my body.
I also don't stay as rigid with cheese products as most other vegans. Because I live in New York and have plenty of access to farmer's markets and natural markets like Whole Foods, I can easily find cruelty free, no hormone, small batch, locally produced cheese that I don't feel guilty eating. I'm actually pretty proud that I can support those local business owners. That, and I really like cheese.
Cheese isn't that big a deal to me because, like I said, I trust where I'm getting it from. My reasons for being vegan are mostly health, like I said, but they're also environmental. Also, I'm really sort of hippy-dippy, tutti-fruity when it comes to spirituality. Indulge me here, but becoming a vegan, for me, was also a lot about feeling closer to my spirit and to the earth. Maybe one day we can talk about it more. But, honestly, as much as I love animals and care about their rights and their well-being, animal welfare wasn't a major factor in my decision to become vegan.
So far, I am loving the way I feel! It's much easier than I expected. Also, I'm spending about the same at the supermarket as a vegan as I was as an omnivore. Which is nice. Also, as an incoming college student at NYU, I know I'll be able to continue this into the school year. I know a ton of great spots for vegan eats in my soon-to-be neighborhood, since I hung out and worked there so long. Plus, there are tons of options at the dining halls for vegans/vegetarians. Not to mention that if I have my way and get an apartment, I can buy my own foods and cook dinner/breakfast most nights. I am happier, more energetic, and so ready to update you next Monday!