Jackie Day - The Vegan Way: 21 Days to a Happier, Healthier Plant-Based Lifestyle That Will Transform Your Home, Your Diet, and You

You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice.

UNIVERSAL PARADOX

If you were stranded alone on a deserted island with nothing to eat but animals, would you eat them? Dont answer that. I bet you wont be stranded on a deserted island any time soon. Heres a better question. If you were given the power to singlehandedly make the world a much better place, for yourself and those around you, simply by eating delicious foods, wearing cool clothes, using fantastic products, and exercising thoughtfulness, would you? Theres no catch. Its truly that wonderful, and that simple. You hold the poweron your fork with every bite you eat, and in your pocketbook with every dollar you spend. And with The Vegan Way in hand, in 21 days youll have all the tips and inspiration you need to embrace that untapped power and change the world.

There are so many uncertainties in our universe but this I know to be true: were all here, right nowliving, breathing, thinking, and interacting with the world around us. Were like water drops splashing on the ocean, creating endless ripples, far beyond our sight. This we can all agree on. And I, for one, want to make sure that during this brief, wondrous period of certainty, when I am fully aware of my actions and can make my own decisions, that I live my life compassionately. Therein lies the foundation of being vegan: we strive to cause as little harm as possible. We continually expand our circle of compassion, empathy, and wellness as wide as we possibly can. Heres why:

Lets face it; weve only got one, so we better treat it well. Our bodies are ground zero for all that we do, whether were helping others or helping ourselves. Degrees, family, wealth, fame, career: all are 100 percent meaningless to us if were dead. But sadly, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and cancer, most of which are caused by poor lifestyle choices, are killing over 50 million people every year. Why? Often because saturated fatfilled, cholesterol-laden, hormone- and antibiotic-infested animal products are so darn cheap and accessible. Thanks to junk, mistakenly called food, weve created the first generation of adults who wont live as long as their parents. Well talk more about the dark side of the food industry as we progress.

So, does a vegan diet ensure good health? No. And Id be wary of anyone who tells you otherwise. Some vegans gorge on Cookie Dough Oreos, Unglazed Pop Tarts, and Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos and wash it all down with a high-fructose, phosphoric acidpacked Coke. Vegan? Shockingly, yes; all of it. However, unhealthy vegans are the exception. In fact, for many folks, the desire to go vegan begins with a stern warning from their doctor: switch to a healthy, whole food, plant-based diet, or have a heart attack. The incentive is the gift of good health, and it makes good sense! So stay tuned, because in Days 1 through 10, Ill walk you through the wonderful world of healthy vegan food, step by step, and show you how to make the switch from eating meat, eggs, and dairy to enjoying affordable, delicious, healthy, easy-to-make vegan cuisine.

Some folks initially explore becoming vegan for health reasons, but at age twenty-three, and fresh out of college, good health was the last thing on my mind. For me, it was all about the animals. As youll read in just a bit, my road to vegan was spurred by a fortuitous encounter that led me to learn how animals are used and abused on factory farms.

Although I was already a vegetarian, I was unknowingly hurting so many animals simply by eating their by-products. I hadnt thought about what happens to the chickens after they can no longer lay eggs. Nor the dairy cow mothers once they can no longer give milk. Or to the newborn male calves who cant give any milk at all. Most people believe that as long as the animal doesnt die to produce the product then all must be wellafter all youre just having an egg, a glass of milk, or a slice of cheese, not a hamburger.

You wont find any graphic images in this bookwell keep the journey as positive as possiblebut I wont skirt the truth. Ill present the hard facts and set the record straight. The treatment of animals for our food, clothing, household products, cosmetics, and entertainment is nothing short of a horror story, and one that must be told. And it provides more than enough fodder for many to go vegan. In fact, most who go vegan and stay vegan do so for the animals. After all, if we can live a happy, healthy life without hurting them, why wouldnt we?

When I was twelve I tagged along with my girlfriend on a youth group camping trip. I wasnt religious, but any excuse to go to explore the woods worked for me. We went for a hike and as we were trotting down the trail, the minister asked us to stop and gather around to behold the beauty of an enormous mushroom. We had never seen anything like it before. It looked so sturdy and soft as velvet; the type youd see in a childrens fairy tale, one nice enough to be a home to a band of little elves. After admiring it for a few minutes, he said, Thats really something, isnt it? and then gave it a big kick with his boot as he walked away.

The image of that perfect mushroom breaking into pieces as it was thrust into the air broke a little part of me as well. I know it was just a mushroom, but for me it was the first time I had ever witnessed, and internalized, the senseless and unnecessary destruction of our environment.

If you need resources from nature in order to have shelter, clothing, transportation, food, or any absolute necessities, thats understandable. After all, we need certain basics from our environment in order to survive. But to ruin the environment for no reason other than greed, selfishness, or apathy makes no sense at all. Its this same awareness of the senseless destruction of our environment caused by factory farming that inspires so many to go vegan. As we progress, well learn how eating animal products impacts our water, soil, air, oceans, rain forests, climate, and biodiversity. If you care about our environment, youll really love how being vegan helps protect it, far more than driving an electric car or taking shorter showers.

Theres a lot to think about here, but dont worry, this isnt a sprint; its a marathon, with comfy shoes, yummy food, and plenty of time to rest and reflect. Over the next 21 days, youll be getting new tips, tricks, and ideas to enable you to make super-easy daily changes that will blossom into wonderful lifelong habits. And you wont be alone. Ill be your mentor and your cheerleader every step of the way! No guilt, no shame, just positive advice and healthy energy to guide you through. And you couldnt have picked a better time to start.