This week our family was chosen to be featured as family #204 for The 1,000 Families Project; which is a celebration of the cultural diversity of literally one thousand different families.
Without surprise, we, the Shell family serve to represent the 2.5% of the American population who live the plant-based lifestyle: I am a vegan, and my wife, son, and daughter (who is due to be born next week) are vegetarians.
This is clearly not a phase in our lives; we have been this way for several years now. This peculiar yet unpopular lifestyle is undeniably a major part of our identity as a family.
I am very pleased with how the feature on The 1,000 Families Project turned out. One of my main objectives was making it clear that we live this way for health reasons; relating it back to how my health issues (eczema, dsyhidrosis, acne, pet allergies, sinus pressure and infections) all disappeared once I converted.
Looking back, I can remember how I had misguided, preconceived ideas about people who didn’t eat meat (and/or eggs or dairy). I remember assuming vegans and vegetarians must not be getting enough protein or that they must feel weak and low on energy all the time or that they are secretly hungry. For me, it was always a given that vegans and vegetarians must be underweight; being malnourished.
In reality, since becoming a vegan, it’s true I lost a couple dozen pounds, but I have also remained in the perfect weight range for my age and height. To actually live this way has shown me the truth about how this actually works.
It’s important to me that I serve as a rational spokesman for the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. At the same time, I keep a Libertarian approach. Like I mentioned in my recent video, one of the rules of being a cool vegan is to not talk about being a vegan, unless someone asks first.
One shared stereotype between atheists and vegans is that they bring up the topic within 5 minutes of meeting people. In theory, they both have extreme beliefs and lifestyles that many other Americans don’t feel comfortable with accepting.
Atheists deny the existence of God or any kind of higher spiritual power. Meanwhile, vegans deny the need to consume any animal products (meat, dairy, eggs) in order to be healthy.
Both extremes deny things that most people can’t live without: God or edible animal products.
It’s almost an impossible question; to ask, “Which is more difficult, to become an atheist or a vegan?”
(That’s of course assuming you’re not already an atheist or agnostic; or vegetarian or vegan.)
I think much of the difficulty in legitimately asking and answering this question in a public online forum is that it might be easier for the participants to become more focused on bashing each other’s beliefs than it is to actually simply answer the question I am proposing. Hopefully, that’s not the case…
If you live your entire life believing in God (or at least some kind of spiritual higher power), it seems it would be nearly impossible to just switch off that fundamental belief; especially knowing that to believe in God is to accept accountability for your life, once it ends; assuming there are eternal rewards and consequences, accordingly.
It seems that if you truly believe in God, even if you’re a “lapsed Catholic” or a “backslidden Baptist,” you still wouldn’t be able to declare there is no God; because in your heart, you still would believe there is.
In my mind, to choose becoming an atheist over a vegan means you are already heading down that path of non-belief; that you’re already quite skeptical of God, or at least of the general public’s view of what God is supposed to be like.
But my perception is, that is not how most people (at least here in America) are.
On the other hand, if you are used to eating meat, dairy, and eggs, you could switch to just eating veggies, fruit, grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. However, it would take much education to realize it could be done.
Most people still believe the myth that vegans don’t get enough protein. But I feel I’ve done a good job of busting that myth.
Look at me. I’ve been a vegan nearly 4 years now, and a vegetarian more than a year before that, and kosher (no pork/shellfish) for several years before that.
At 5’9”, 155 pounds, and age 34, I have remained in the perfect weight range. Notably, I am clearly not underweight.
If I wasn’t getting enough protein, it would be pretty obvious.
Of course, my doctor confirms I am getting enough protein, as well as all other nutrients I need; and that I am “healthier than most 34 year-olds” he’s seen.
He even commented that he “wasn’t surprised” to learn in hindsight that I am a vegan; since I waited for him to assess my health before I broke the news about my plant-based lifestyle.
I say that not to brag, but to provide evidence that when you actually replace animal products with the proper plant sources of fat, protein, and iron, becoming a vegan is actually an intelligent and efficient option.
Plus, by being a vegan, by default, you consume less than 1% (basically 0%) of your daily allowance of cholesterol. You still consume a lot of fat, but virtually no cholesterol.
But in my experience, most people either A) don’t know this, B) don’t believe this, or C) don’t care.
Therefore, there are many people who believe in God but who are unable to bring themselves to believe that becoming a vegan is a sustainable lifestyle. They would have great difficulty in denying their belief that consuming animal products is necessary for proper nutrition.
That’s why I think it’s such a great, and difficult, question to answer.
Assuming you’re not already an atheist or agnostic, or vegetarian or vegan, which is more difficult, to become an atheist or a vegan?
I think I am the perfect person to propose this question.
That’s because I am not the stereotypical vegan. Most vegans, as this infographic below demonstrates, are liberal, non-religious females.
Meanwhile, I am a Libertarian (socially liberal, fiscally conservative), religious male.
For me personally, the answer is obviously simple: It’s easier to become a vegan, but impossible to become an atheist.
My faith is God is non-negotiable. Sure, I will go to my grave with questions I don’t understand about God, but to me, that’s what real faith is anyway.
And I’ve already been living the vegan lifestyle for nearly 4 years.
I’ve “been there, done that” when it comes to answer the vegan question.
But what do you think? What’s your answer?
Assuming you’re not already an atheist or agnostic, or vegetarian or vegan…
Which would be more difficult: To become an atheist or a vegan?
As a guest blogger today, she tells about her conversion to veganism:
“After ten years of being vegetarian, I decided to go vegan with my boyfriend… two years ago!
At the beginning, most of the recipes I tried were dupes for our favorite dishes: I bought already made sauces, seasoned tofu burgers, hummus and a ton of other already made vegan products. Because I tried to keep gluten out of the kitchen, choosing products to buy was a little bit complicated and we soon fell in a loop of the same recipes over and over again.
However, we were happy! We felt great in our bodies, and more comfortable with our conscience. We had a ton of energy, my skin cleared up, and we were not hungry all the time.
During these first few months, we tested a lot of vegan products, but quickly realized that we were better off with cooking from scratch. First because the already-made products were often filled with a lot of additives, fat and salt. Second, well, their prices started to add up, and, well, I’m just a high-school teacher.
So I started to buy some vegan cookbooks, explored the internet for some recipes and tips, but most of all, I started to experiment more. I started making my own hummus, buying in bulk, and invented some fun recipes that I share on my blog. I also learned a lot more on nutrition, what vegetables to always have on hand, how to eat a ton of greens without feeling like a rabbit and how to use avocado in a 100 ways (okay, almost a 100 ways…).
When I read stories of people going vegan, they always say that they have lost a ton of weight. Did this happen for my boyfriend and me? Yes. We started to eat vegan and turned into supermodels and made the cover of Vogue magazine.
Not really. Not really at all. Not at all.
I’m guessing that we had too much fun cooking and tasting yummy recipes of cakes, cupcakes, chocolates, nice cream, cookies, noodles, pies, soups,… what were we talking about? Ah, yes, the most important thing that we realized through being vegan is that vegan food tastes amazing and is so satisfying. I did note an amazing skin improvement however… which is pretty amazing!
Really, I don’t see myself going back to eat meat or dairy any time soon, if ever.
Not only is vegan food incredible, the ethics that pushed us to be vegan in the first place is just too present for us to be tempted to go back.
So what’s the next step for me and my boyfriend? Well, we have recently started to grow our own food, and have found new ways to do it too.
This whole process as been such an incredible learning process filled with delicious discoveries. Well, I’m going to stop here because I’m starting to get cheesy, and well… that’s not vegan.”
Word is getting out about our new web series, Jack-Man. So we filmed the 2nd episode, “Shaving Bath-Man.” I released it on YouTube yesterday morning. Here it is:
In this webisode, a new villain is introduced: Bath-Man. He shows up to revenge the humiliation of Green Meanie, who Jack-Man defeated in Webisode 1.
Bath-Man is a very strong man, but has an unfortunate weakness. It just so happens that Jack-Man’s new weapon, the Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, is the perfect counter to Bath-Man’s strength.
“Shaving Bath-Man” also introduces a new jingle I wrote specifically for the Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, which is featured throughout the shaving scenes.
Unlike the 1st webisode which is mostly scripted, this new 2nd webisode was completely thrown together. You asked me last Sunday if we could do another Jack-Man video, so we did; pretty much right then.
I didn’t want to feature Green Meanie again in the following episode; in an effort to keep the story fresh. However, I didn’t have a good costume idea ready for a different villain.
So I thought, “What do I have in my closest that is the slightest bit unusual?” I remembered my gray bath robe.
From there, Bath-Man was created and I quickly whipped up a plot line, accordingly.
The overall storyline of Jack-Man will involve Green Meanie attempting to quench Jack-Man’s strength with sugary drinks and snacks, since Jack-Man serves as a threat to Green Meanie being as profitable if everyone knew how unhealthy sugary (and diet drinks) really are.
That of course leads to Green Meanie sending his henchmen to help defeat Jack-Man, as we see with Bath-Man, who is not necessarily emotionally involved with Green Meanie’s personal agenda of profitable off of people buying his drinks.
We make Jack-Man videos because you love doing them. You continualy ask me when we can do our next one.
Well, if all goes as planned, we will film Webisode 3 this weekend. You have made a special request to “do one where we just fight a lot.”
I can make that wish come true…
Also, your teacher sent me some pictures of you from school this week:
Hi Nick!
Jack was very busy in our writing center last week!
He’s been very aware of letter sounds and sounding out words!
He’s spelled everything from; cat, dog, mark, and more.
The one that made me laugh the hardest, was this funny conversation we had.
“Ms. Aimee, how do you spell booze?”
“…….bruise?”
“No, booze!”
“…….what’s booze?”
“I just want to spell it.”
“Ok, well, let’s sound it out….”
“B?”
“Yep.”
“Ok thanks, two o’s make the oo sound right?”
“that’s right”
“Z?”
“Yep….”
“B…. oo….z…. ok thanks!”
Oh I about died laughing.
He is also fascinated with the light bright! It’s such a fun way to increase fine motor skills. He kept making the cutest crabs.
Oh, this just in… looks like we might be filming a new Jack-Man episode sooner than we thought. Our neighbors saw our first 2 Jack-Man episodes and want to join in on the fun!
When I travel, I like to feature the “vegan friendliness” of the city I am spending time in. I like being able to share with other like-minded people where they can go to eat, showing them they do indeed have healthy options. Here’s my video I made for this occasion…
I can assure you that if you are wondering whether you can make a plant-based diet work in Pensacola, you’ve got nothing to worry about… whatsoever.
If you’re going to be there for a few days like we were, I definitely recommend stopping first at Everman Cooperative Grocery and Café. It’s a lot like Whole Foods, just a little smaller.
You can stock up on all your essentials there. For us, that was things like Larabars, coconut water, and Kombucha.
But while you’re there, you’ll realize what a great place it is to actually eat a meal at. Their café provided so many options for our family’s diverse tastes. We ended up having at least 3 or 4 meals there. My wife particularly loved their smoothie bar.
So whereas Everman Cooperative Grocery and Café makes for the perfect base if you’re unable to cook your own meals, there are 3 other obvious options in Pensacola…
The first is Mellow Mushroom. Obviously, this pizza joint is known for catering to the plants-based crowd. My wife and I never have to worry; we can easily order a vegan cheese pizza with veggies. (We actually dined at the one in Destin, but there is one in Pensacola as well.)
As far as the other two options, they are both artsy. At Sluggo’s, we enjoyed meatless, dairy free, “meaty” sandwiches.
And at End of the Line Café, we enjoyed some meatless, dairy free, “meaty” burritos.
There’s no question that all of these places served delicious and fun food. After all, they are very focused on healthy eating, therefore the quality is there by default.
Actually, there was one more that I almost forgot about. Jaco’s, in downtown Pensacola, right there on the pier. They are absolutely not a vegan or vegetarian restaurant by any stretch; however, they were very accommodating to our dietary restrictions; my son is a vegetarian, not a vegan. My wife said it was her favorite and that we definitely have to go back there next time we’re in the area.
So there you have it: Yes, you can totally enjoy a vegan and/or vegetarian experience in Pensacola, Florida. Thanks for reading!
Family Friendly Daddy Blog 