Why vegan?

Since changing my eating habits I've been asked countless times "but why?". Sometimes it's hard to eloquently express my many reasons without sounding too preachy or, on the other end, too apathetic about the subject. So, for those of you who are asking the same thing, I recently came across a few resources that succinctly explains it all quite well.

Below Chef Tal Ronnen, author of The Conscious Cook, provides a good starting point. I've provided a few extra links for each subject if you'd like to read more.

WHY VEGAN? Source

Without being preachy, here's a quick look at what veganism means to those who choose it. Even a step toward it -- say, going meatless three days a week -- lets you in on a lot of the benefits.

Health
Because cutting out animal products means virtually eliminating the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and several types of cancer. Your energy shoots up and your weight is likely to drop.
Read more here

Ethics
Because most of us question the morality of eating animals, and many people who feel it's absolutely wrong do it anyway out of habit. Eating with a clear conscience -- feeling good about everything you put in your mouth -- lightens up your life.
Read more here

Planet
Because factory farming of animals consumes and pollutes insane quantities of water and demands so much feed that it threatens forests. And because greenhouse gases from animal emissions are destroying the atmosphere.
Read more here and here

Helping Others
Because the grain fed to livestock could feed at least twice as many hungry people in third-world countries. Weakening the livestock industry by buying less or no meat is a step toward rejiggering resources to save lives.
Read more here

Because Albert Einstein Said So
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

Because Paul McCartney Said So
"If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. That's the single most important thing you can do."

Here are a few others you might recognize...

Actors, Actresses, Comedians, and Producers
Alec Baldwin
Alicia Silverstone
Alyssa Milano
Carrie Anne Moss
Casey Affleck
Casey Kasem
Daryl Hannah
Demi Moore
Elijah Wood
Ellen DeGeneres
Emily Deschanel
Gillian Anderson
Ginnifer Goodwin
Heather Mills
James Cromwell
Jason Schwartzman
Jennifer Connelly
Joaquin Phoenix
Keenan Ivory Wayens
Kevin Nealon
Mayim Bialik (Blossom)
Natalie Portman
Pamela Anderson
Portia de Rossi
Sandra Oh
Tea Leoni
Toby Maguire
Vanessa A. Williams
Weird Al Yankovic
Woody Harrelson
Zooey Deschanel

Musicians
Alanis Morissette
Anthony Kiedis
Barry White
Brandy
Bryan Adams
Jason Mraz
Joan Jett
K.D. Lang
Michael Franti
Phil Collins
Shania Twain
Sinead O'Connor

Athletes
Brendan Brazier (ironman triathlete)
Carl Lewis (Olympic Track Star)
Ed Templeton (pro skateboarder)
George Laraque (NHL)
Jack LaLaine (fitness guru)
John Salley (former NBA player)
Lucy Stephens (triathlete)
Martina Navratilova (tennis)
Pat Neshek (Minnesota Twins pitcher)

Other
Albert Schweitzer, theologian, philosopher, and physician
Benjamin Spock, M.D.
Henry David Thoreau
Leonardo Da Vinci
Mohandas Ghandi

Hope that sheds some light on some of the reasons I've chosen to focus on eating a plant-based diet. If you'd like to know more or want to ask any specific questions feel free to email me - I'd love to chat!

Now...back to cooking... :D