Kind lifer Sayward Rebhel has a great blog called Bonzai Aphrodite, all about living green, eating vegan, and raising a kind baby (you may remember her adorable son Waits from my ‘kind cuties’ post).

Here’s one of Sayward’s posts addressing the idea that vegans are “giving up” food that tastes good:

All I am Saying, Is Give Peas A Chance
By Sayward Rebhel

Last week I got into a bit of an . . . erm . . . discussion . . . with an acquaintance on Facebook. Usually I’m good about avoiding Internet drama (practicing positivity!), but then every so often . . . I’m not. Sometimes it’s just so hard to stay silent. Especially when it comes to misrepresentations of veganism.

In this case, someone had posted a status update snarking vegans. She proclaimed them to be self-important and preachy (I know, creative right? Such a tired old cliché, but I digress.) and added a sarcastic “sure, I’ll give up everything that tastes good, yeah right!” (paraphrased). The first part has been discussed to death, but this second sentiment got me thinking. And that’s what I want to talk about today.

Eating is such an emotional act, whether we realize it or not. And preference is a funny thing, where the flavors we favor are formed by a lifetime of positive and negative reinforcements. If you grow up eating curries, you’ll have a taste for spice. If you eat a lot of collards, you won’t mind bitter greens. And if all you ingest is fast food, you’ll have a penchant for grease and salt. This is pure training – tongue training – plain and simple.

Even if you understand this, you might not think to apply it. After all, *patience* is not often brought to the table when one is changing their diet. But patience is the most important ingredient!

In this modern world we want a quick fix and instant results. The decision to go veg is often epiphanal – a shocking connection is made (be it health, animals, or environment), and we’re inspired to act fast. We decide to go veg*n all at once, rejecting in an instant our whole history of habits. And when the cravings hit – and of course they do – then we cave, and give up, and tell ourselves “It’s just not worth depriving myself of such pleasure!”

But it doesn’t have to be like that! Take the story of Damian and the Tofu, a parable that perfectly illustrates what I’m getting at:

A long long time ago, Damian had a girlfriend. She was a vegetarian, he was a meat-eater, and they were together for two years. Once a week or so they’d go out for Thai. He always got the same thing – pad thai chicken, and she always got the same thing – tofu yellow curry. And can you guess how many times Damian tasted her dish? None. Never. Not *once*. Each week, every week, for two years, he turned up his nose because he “didn’t like tofu”.

Flash forward through the years, and one day poor Damian’s wife (that’s me!) declares that their home is now vegan. Damian is skeptical but supportive. The wife works hard to create the most tastiest meals. Damian genuinely gives them a chance. He slowly drops meat, and then removes all animal products.

And now, a few years later (Thanksgiving will be 2 years vegetarian!), Damian is practically begging for tofu with every meal (and that wicked wife just won’t make that much soy, haha). Tofu has become his absolute favorite, full of happy memories and delicious flavor associations and a whole new nostalgia. And it’s been that way for almost two years – it didn’t take long for him to come around at all.

The moral of the story is that you can change your tastes! You’ll never have to “give up everything you love”, because if you keep a truly open mind and allow yourself some time, then “everything you love” will become vegan!

***

Thank you Sayward! How do all you kind lifers share your diet with others in your life? And how do you deal with antagonism from non-veg friends?

This month, I want to highlight Kind Blogger Hally and her new blog The Odd Couple Eats. Hally is a vegan, and her husband is a reluctant flirt. Since so many of you have told me that you live with non-veg hubbies or family members, I thought you’d love to hear Hally’s take on the topic! Here is a quote from her blog:
 
“I am a Tucson native who recently relocated to New York City with my husband, Johnny. I have been vegetarian on and off since high school, but made the change to veganism a few months ago. Johnny has some diet restrictions due to his health, but he is an omnivore to be certain. I only cook vegan meals at home, and on this blog I share reviews on the food I prepare from my vegan perspective, and his skeptical omnivore perspective. I hope to inspire others to incorporate vegan cooking into their lives as much as possible!”
 
How brilliant is Hally? I love her for this! It's so perfect to cook yum food for her hubby and let his body, taste buds, and good health come around. Bravo!

Do any of you cook for omnivores regularly? What are their favorite veg dishes? What do they tend to order when you take them to vegan restaurants?

Recently, I asked all you Kind Lifers to share links to your blogs, and boy did I get an amazing response! This month, I want to highlight Kind Lifer Becca and her sweet
B Positive. B Free blog. On her blog, Becca shares quirky insights, photos of her travels, and recipes.

Here is an excerpt from one of her recent posts:

 “As a seasoned veteran of the open road I have more extreme restlessness than most, but I think we can all relate. Once you take a real road trip you get that energy running through your veins. If you sit long enough it charges and suddenly you just have to get out there and see something, do something, or just drive for hours at a time! There's nothing more exciting to me than looking at a map and seeing all the places that I have not yet explored. And this country is so accessible that if you do it right you can get anywhere in just a day or two! But that's just me. I am a bit extreme with my road tripping. And I have it down to perfection. We've learned how to comfortably sleep in the car, eat cheap, and pack for any amount of time away from home. We've made it from Eastern Colorado to Eastern Kentucky in just 24 hours. But a true road trip has no time limits. Your senses are awake and you're ready for anything!!”
 
I want to go on a roadtrip! I completely relate to what Becca wrote - I love that feeling too. Where have you Kind Lifers traveled recently, and what’s the best roadside veg food you’ve found in your travels?