June 21, 2014 at 10:11 pm , by Nick Shell

3 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack,

Over three years ago when I started The Dadabase, we were a kosher family; meaning that we observed “the Jewish food laws of the Old Testament” (the Mosaic Law) regarding not eating pork or shellfish.

I had recognized that nixing the foods that the Bible had deemed as “unclean” helped my eczema (dyshidrosis) from getting worse. I began understanding why pork and shellfish were considered unclean; because like vultures and possums, they are at the bottom of the food chain.

So to consume the dirtiest animals for food, it was only feeding my disease.

One thing led to another, and by December 2011, we became vegetarians. You were so young that you never really ate meat to begin with.

Then by March 2013, I officially became a vegan; after discovering that my 22 years of constant sinus pressure, sinus infections, and allergies to animals were based on my consumption of the least amount of dairy and eggs. (I even had to get a much weaker prescription for my glasses after becoming a vegan!)

So for the record, since becoming a vegan, I no longer have eczema, sinus infections or allergy issues.

In the process of Mommy basically being forced to become a vegan chef for our household, you and she are almost vegans as well now; by default.

Meanwhile, it has been interesting to observe the gradual social acceptance level of our family’s plant-based lifestyle.

I have been told that I was single-handedly depriving my family of the protein and nutrients we need. I should point out that none of us have had to go to the doctor since we adopted the plant-based lifestyle.

So it seems that is a good indication we are actually healthier since the change; considering we used to get sick and now we don’t.

But that was a year ago. The more people have heard my testimonials, the more it makes sense.

My friend Ben Wilder, who was taking a Zyrtec a day, became a vegan after hearing about our family’s switch to plant-based living, and he is no longer on his medication… because he no longer needs it.

It was my goal to make it common knowledge that there is an obvious connection between allergies (as well as my eczema) and going plant-based.

I feel I have reached my goal. I was never trying to convert anyone; just help people understand why we are this way and provide a way for them to join us if they wish, which is why I started my “Ask A Vegan Anything” series.

To my surprise, the questions I have been getting have not so much been from confused or accusatory people, but instead, from people who are sincere in their curiosity; who are willing to consider going plant-based at the chance of reaching similar results.

So in the same way I feel I’ve reached my goal of helping to “rebrand fatherhood” as a daddy blogger, I also feel my mission is accomplished in helping others understand that the plant-based life is not so crazy after all.

That’s why in my writings to come, the focus will be more on reviewing vegan recipes and food products that our family enjoys…

Love,

Daddy

May 28, 2014 at 8:51 pm , by Nick Shell

3 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack,

Today, as part of my “Ask A Vegan Anything” series, I want to address the topic of Vitamin B12.

After I became a vegan, I was warned that I would not be getting any of my Vitamin B12, which I was told exclusively comes from consuming animal products.

I was told I could suffer permanent nerve damage if I was Vitamin B12 deficient.

Honestly, I’m not fully convinced this will happen to me, based on a lack of proof that other vegans across the world are actually suffering from a Vitamin B12 deficiency.

For me, I need to see the “missing link” to fully believe that vegans (who eat plenty of  fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds, not vegan junk food like Oreos, Ramen noodles, and soda) are actually unhealthy because of a lack of Vitamin 12.

However, I still consume at least 500% of my Vitamin B12 on most days. Yes, that’s right: 500%.

We keep something in our pantry called “nutritional yeast.” (At Whole Foods, it sells in bulk for $6.99 per pound.)

It’s pretty cheap and doesn’t really have flavor, so it’s very practical to just sprinkle it into our food; it’s really no big deal.

That’s it. That’s how we can ensure we get our Vitamin B12.

But other than that, our almond milk also contains B12 as well; 50% of the suggested daily amount, to be exact. It’s added into a lot of foods, actually.

Right now, you and Mommy are mostly vegan, but you both do consume a small amount of dairy; though nowhere near as much as compared to a year ago before I nixed the stuff altogether.

Perhaps the day may come when either or both you decide to join me in my 100% plant-based life, as opposed to 96%.

If that day comes, we’ll simply buy more nutritional yeast if we have to.

(Mommy has already switched from using dairy milk in your mac-and-cheese to almond milk, as she has done for the milk in the coffee she makes for herself in morning.)

Throwing in some nutritional yeast flakes is really is no hassle. With just a few spoonsful in a meal, it provides 5 times the amount of Vitamin B12 that we supposedly need.

So that’s why as a vegan, I’m not worried about becoming deficient of Vitamin B12. That is, if vegans actually do suffer from that to begin with…

Either way, I’m covered.

Love,

Daddy