Pledge

A non makeup post to change things up hehe. As some of you know, ive been a Pescetarian for over a year. I first started out as a vegan but found it difficult to find other things to eat. I am a bit monotonous with food, but you can imagine how hard it was for someone who loves food to just give up all kinds of meat. I had planned to become a Vegan for months and set a date. But saw some PETA videos that made me realize that I didnt have to wait, I should just do it now! haha that wasnt very hard after watching the videos.

I dont remember how long I went without meat, but after a while I switched to a diet with fish - Pescetarianism (though some Vegans dont agree or wish not to be associated with Pescetarians) There are tons of reasons to go veg. You might want to shed a few pounds, be healthier or want to be more compassionate. I personally decided to stop eating poultry because I feel bad about the way these animals are treated and I dont want to be a part of that cruelty.

This is not a blog post meant to make meat lovers feel guilty. I indulge myself with some meat on very special occassions :)

I got an email from PETA about the 10 best Vegan Restaurants in the Philippines ( i'll continue about that in a bit) and stumbled upon their Pledge to be Veg page. Ive decided to go straight vegan again for at least a month. And encouraging everyone or anyone else whos interested to do it with me! :) You may take the pledge HERE. It doesnt have to be now, but consider it. A month is just a month. Im sure it'll make you feel better and it'll be a way to bust that myth that going without meat makes you weak!

By pledging to go Vegan on the website, you'll receive tips and recipes to make things easier. You may also read my post on what it was like for me when I first transitioned into this lifestyle over HERE. Ive posted some helpful links on that post including the link to the Free Vegetarian Starter Kit (contains information, recipes, a magazine featuring artists and celebrities who are Vegans and why they decided to go veg and cute little stickers too!)

Think about it, pledge and i'd love to hear how the experience was for you! BTW, are there any vegans residing in the Philippines out there? hello? yoohoo? hehe Please do send me a message or an email about your experience and what youve been eating? haha :D

Top 10 Vegan Restaurants in the Philippines
(listed by PETA Asia Pacific)

You may view the complete article over here: PETA

1. Azotea Greens - Baguio City
2. Bliss Cafe - Baguio City
3. Bodhi/Evergreen - Most SM Malls
4.Corner Tree Cafe - Jupiter, Makati
5. Daily Veggie N' Cafe - Quezon City
6. Greens Cafe and Restaurant - Scout Castor Quezon City
7. Hapilife Healthy Food Corner - West Tapinac, Olongapo City
8. Ima's Gulay Bar - Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
9.Mandala Spa - Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan
10. The Farm - San Benito, Batangas

Dining out when youre a vegan in the Philippines can be quite difficult. Too bad most of the Restos listed are too far from where I live. But will definately try to go to some of them.

You only eat what??!

Pescetarianism is the practice of a diet that includes seafood and excludes mammals and birds. In addition to fish and/or shellfish, a pescetarian diet typically includes some or all of vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, beans, eggs, and dairy. (wikipedia)

Pescetarianism"Pesco/pollo vegetarianism", "pescetarianism" or "semi-vegetarianism" Or in other words a vegetarian who is a dumbass and thinks Fish are plants. (Urban Dictionary)

That second definition made me laugh.


Many people (vegans) do not consider pescetarians as vegetarians and refuse to be associated with people who are. But well, I really dont care haha. I did not choose to be a pescetarian so I can parade around and be called a vegetarian, a vegan or pescetarian. labels, labels, labels ahhh.


Anyway, I missed it. I said I would post something on my "anniversary". I thought I stopped eating poultry April of 2008. Turns out it was March haha. Soo, ive been at it for a year, 2 months and 8 days. Im not going to lie and say I havent cheated. I started this diet telling myself that I will eat meat on very special occassions (that doesnt include birthdays except my own haha) I can feel all the vegans raising their eyebrows about 2 inches more.

I orignally planed on going straight --vegan 2009 haha yes I was planning on it a year earlier. So I was researching; you cant just stop eating meat without knowing how youre going to replace all the nutrients you need. So I was researching on the internet when I came across the PETA videos on youtube (Meet your meet, etc.) So I watched all of it. Hmm it was horrible. I felt so bad I couldnt eat anything for a day :/ I felt so sorry for the animals that I decided "why wait a year? i'll do it now" Well mostly because I just really couldnt bring myself to eat meat after watching the videos.

Like I said, you cant just decide to be a vegetarian without knowing what to eat. So I lived mostly on wheat bread, tomatoes, oatmeal, okra, fruits, tofu and lettuce for a few days. Niice huh? haha. That explains some pictures that I have where I look malnourished LOL it was mostly because I wasnt eating the right stuff. being a vegetarian in the Philippines is a struggle. There really arent enough places that are vegan friendly. I didnt know anyone who was a vegan soo it was tough.

Eventually I decided to eat fish and seafood (sorry fishies) due to the lack of nutrients I was getting. And then followed cheese and dairy because I just couldnt live without cheese. I wasnt even aware of the term Pescetarian. I just thought I was on a modified less cruel diet.

VIRTUAL TOMATOES BEING THROWN AT ME BY VEGANS WHO ARE READING THIS.

I think this is what some people choose to do before they become Vegans. I dont know if im ready but I definately will, one day stop eating meat completely. I have friends who laugh at me and think im silly. Other people say im being pretentious and force me to eat meat. The biggest surprise was the support my Dad gave me. One of my biggest concern was how my Dad would react to it. he often tells me that I need to gain weight or im just doing things to lose weight (eg. exercise) 0.0 I didnt know wanting to be healthy was being anorexic. Anyway, after a days/weeks/months of going without meat, my dad eventually adapted my diet and did his own modified less cruel diet. He ate less meat and even encouraged Ate Ning to cook less meat. Aww :)

I will post a link to a comprehensive text on going Vegan. It discusses the struggles you deal with like people thinking how silly you are and forcing you to eat meat. I mean really, why? What I hate most is sharing it to people and they react by saying "Cut that PETA crap" and then proceed to talk about chicken and beef terriyaki. :/ how sensitive. You could at least say good for you but im not interested. That was probably one of the most annoying response i've ever gotten.

But anyway, my diet now has become more lenient. I eat meals cooked with meat but I dont eat the meat. I think its convenoient but im planning to change that up pretty soon. Its really difficult if other people, most especially the people you live with dont support your choice. Youre left to eat crappy foods at home because theres nothing else to eat.

There is such a thing as fat vegans btw, those are the people who dont eat the right stuff. Yes, they dont eat meat but they probabl eat a lot of bad carbs because they dont know what else to eat. I am slowly becoming that haha.

Anyway, I am happy with my choice. I know you might think, "well yeah youre not eating meat, how is that going to help?" Little things make a difference. Not everyone will understand or will think the same way as I do, but im happy that in my own little way im making a difference. Te lack of food sources and not knowing what and where to get food is the only thing stopping me from completely saying byebye to meat.


Some helpful tips:

"While a teenager's first instinct may be to dive directly into a strict vegan lifestyle, it's more likely that they'll have an easier time is they ease into their new way of eating slowly.
Phase out the animal products over a several weeks, eating meat just two or three times per week, then once per week, then not at all. Or perhaps starting as an ovo-lacto vegetarian, and then phasing out eggs and dairy."


"It's important that new vegetarians take care to make sure that all of their nutritional needs are being met. Most vitamin needs are more than adequately met by eating plant foods, and
the bonus of cutting out meat will be seen in the lower intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. But some nutrients will be inshorter supply, particularly calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin B-12
-- Calcium is important for healthy bones, and can be found in fortified soy milk, tofu and green leafy vegetables."





If youre interested, links that may help:

How to Successfully Become a Vegetarian

Even if You Think You Can’t Do It

Even If You Think It’s Way Too Hard

Even If You Have Tried & Failed Before

Dedicated To : You – A compassionate person who tries to make

a better World.

I read that free ebook and got it from: http://www.veggie123.com/
You may download it and subscribe via email even if you havent decided or dont think its for you :)

FREE PETA Vegetarian Starter Kit: http://www.goveg.com/order.asp
Vegetarian 101 from goveg.com