The skinny on turning vegan

Five years ago, at the age of 38, Alice stopped eating red meat. It led to a complete turn around with her eating habits; she is now a healthy, happy vegan

"Within a week of not eating red meat, I knew I didn't want to eat chicken or fish, either, so I became a vegetarian.A few weeks later I also stopped eating all animal products, including dairy and eggs, so I was officially a vegan.

My health has always been pretty good, but I’m definitely healthier on a vegan diet. No surprises there: by cutting out animal products you automatically eat more plant foods, and boost your intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. Plant-based diets also tend be lower in fat, and no plant food contains cholesterol. 

I lost 10kg within my first 3 months, without even trying. I still get the occasional cold but they’re milder and less mucousy, and I recover more quickly than I used to.

There are plenty of vegan treats available, so eating vegan doesn’t mean no fun!Ienjoy vegan cakes, cookies, chocolate and ice cream but most of my diet is wholefoods – whole grains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Getting all the nutrients she needs

The only supplement I take regularly is one B12 drop each morning. Everything else I get from food! For example, I get calcium from leafy greens, cashews, tofu, soya milk and tahini. I get iron from beans (which don’t make you fart if you cook them properly!), dried fruit like apricots and dates, leafy greens and wholegrains, and from cooking in a cast iron pan.

Getting enough protein is not a problem. Virtually every plant food contains some protein, and if you eat a variety in the course of the day, your body gets all the amino acids to make complete protein. Most people eating a standard Western diet consume far too much protein, which is very hard on your kidneys and other organs.

Vegan for more than her health

Although I do believe this is a healthier way to eat, I’d be vegan even if that weren’t the case. Driving past stock trucks, I still feel terrible for the animals being transported to slaughter, but I don’t feel guilty.

Most 'normal' people can understand why others might not want to eat dead animals, even if they don't want to go vegetarian themselves. But giving up dairy products and eggs… isn’t that taking it a bit too far?!

A female cow, like a female human, only produces milk when she has given birth; the milk is vital food for her baby. Dairy cows’ babies are taken away within days or even hours of their birth so that all the milk can be collected for human use. Her female babies may become milk-producing machines, too; her male babies will become meat. When her milk production is past its peak, she too becomes meat.

Commercial egg production is similar. About half of the chicks are male and are killed within hours of hatching. The layer hen, whether she's in a battery or freerange system, will be despatched as soon as she's past her peak productivity.

I’m also happy to be eating further down the food chain because it reduces my carbon footprint. I haven’t missed any non-vegan foods, right from when I changed my diet. I don’t even miss cheese, which I used to eat twice a day most days!"