20 Reasons to be Vegan
Good evening friends,
Tonight we were going to share another favorite holiday meal of ours:Stuffing. Though that is going to have to wait till tomorrow. 
Because in honor of Vegan Week hosted by Katy and Michelle we wanted to share with you all some great reasons to consider being vegan and why we are vegans!
Why the Twins Went Vegan
This question to us now is a very easy one to answer…. Basically to us why not?
I mean there are so many great reasons to eat more of a vegan based lifestyle. Notice how I did not use the word diet- we hate that word and for us it is not a diet but a lifestyle change. And one that we are so happy to be living.
But first Lori and I did not go vegan for the protection of animals or saving the environment. We changed our eating habits due to health reasons at first although now it has turned into more of protecting the animals as well as our environment but most importantly changing who we are! It was a slow change for us… we did not become vegans overnight! We grew up with meat and seafood… but as we got older and really started caring for our bodies and wanting to be healthier … that is when everything changed. As many of you know we suffer from food allergies and that is what started it all. We tried everything to help make us feel better and nothing worked till we started eliminating certain foods.
Here is a very quick overview of how we became vegans:
First we cut out dairy, peanuts, eggs and slowly cut back on our chicken intake. Ok started feeling a little bit better but still not quite satisfied. Next we took out chicken completely and only had fish and soy based products. Body still not happy!
Umm, ok now what we thought?
What about gluten/wheat? Ok, that’s give that a try.
Now we were eating no dairy (except for the occasional goat cheese – my own downfall… luckily Lori never really like cheese), peanuts, eggs, chicken, wheat and gluten.
Fixed yet? Nope!
Ok let’s review our food choices and see if we feel better with taking more things out and eating more plant based foods!
Where are we today?
We eventually cut out all dairy including goat cheese, peanuts, all meat, eggs, gluten, wheat, soy, yeast and corn and watch our sugars !
Gosh you may be thinking what’s left???? Good question!
Answer: So many things … the choices are endless. And we are finally happy with the results we are seeing in our bodies. Yes, we not perfect yet. Though I am not sure who is exactly perfect! We just do our best and listen to our bodies.
As you can see we cut out all animal products for health issues. But now we love our planet based lifestyle. Though we still don’t like putting the label VEGAN on us because we still have bee pollen… which to some vegans is still an animal product.
Then why do we eat bee pollen if not consider vegan?
Well we notice our bodies really like bee pollen and it is a great for energy and protein source. And to us that is all that matters. As I mentioned before we area not perfect, nor do we always strive to be, we just do want feels right at the time for our bodies.
Lori and I feel if you find something that works for your body and you are ok with it… than that is fine. As many other health bloggers out there have said before and we too have said it before: EVERYONE BODIES IS DIFFERENT. DIFFERENT PEOPLE NEED DIFFERENT THINGS. The challenge is though to start listening to your bodies and find out what makes you happy from the inside out!!!
So to conclude, we are high raw vegans who are still learning what food and life are all about. We hope you find out what works for you and be happy with it… and I mean truly happy with it.
Some think vegans eat only carrots and celery, or as my dad would say seeds and twigs : )
Well here are just a few things we eat: ALL VEGAN NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS! In addition to being gluten free, peanut free, soy free, and corn free!
Doggy Cupcakes Chocolate Cupcakes
Monkey Bread Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels
Pumpkin Scones Variety of Cupcakes
Carrot Cake Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
Now for some RAW VEGAN GOODIES!!
Samoa cookies Chocolate Crepe
Granola Parfait Chocolate Layered Cake
Chocolate Truffles Cookie Dough Ice Kream
Stacked coconut rice Mango Chutney Wrap
Spaghetti and meatballs Red pepper Wrappers
Pasta Yogurt
Tostada SMORES
Living a vegan lifestyle being restrictive? I do not think so!
See we told you the choices are endless you just have to be creative and have an open mind to try something NEW!! Vegan foods can be fun and full of flavor!
What some more reasons to consider going more vegan? Here is a little list we put together!
- Live longer than non-vegans
- Less chance of getting heart disease
- Help save our environment
- Less energy is being used to grow your food
- Eating less processed foods (more fruits and veggies)
- Create less waste (less material and ingredient waste) aka. Packaged goods
- Smile more
- Laugh more
- Feel great
- Look great
- Are great
- Going against the norm (who likes being like everyone else)
- Being different is cool (standing up for what you believe is awesome)
- Celebrities do it
- Get to eat all raw cookie dough you want
- Your parents will be proud because of ALL the vegetables you are eating
- Less likely to get salmonella
- No worries about cholesterol
- No animals were killed for your food intake
- Your body will thank you
What are your reasons for trying vegan foods? What is your favorite vegan dish? How has eating more plant based foods helped your life and/or health?
Now we are not asking everyone to be 100% vegan (though that would be awesome). We just ask if you think twice about the food you eat and what it is doing to your body and environment. And maybe try to incorporate some vegan meals into your lifestyle!
Till next time,
The Twins
L&M
Posted by: Pure2 13 comments
Posted in: Hot Topics, Miscellaneous
Tags: raw desserts, raw foods, vegan, vegan cupcakes, vegan desserts, vegan foods
on Nov 19th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
[...] 20 Reasons to be Vegan – pure2raw [...]
on Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Nice post! I am not vegan or vegetarian, but I do like these foods! Hmmm, no particular favorite – I LOVE veggies, any and all, sweet potatoes, beans, wraps, and allll desserts haha!! Love yours! Must bake those soon
Great blog – check mine out and add me to your roll if you like 
. Ok if I add you?
on Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Thanks I am glad that you enjoyed the food pics and our blog! Yes you can add us… thanks!
on Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
OMG WONDERFUL POST!!!!!
Love that you detailed the reasons and that it was health reasons fist. Everything else second. And that it didnt happen overnight.
Amen. Me too. I have posted such a similar story about a week or two ago on my blog. We share the same path of figuring out what will work with our bodies, not against them, and for us it sounds like vegan was a huge piece.
Also read your comment on Gina’s about going off B.C.P. I did that about 4 yrs ago. Took about 3-6 mos but best thing I ever did, too.
xoxo
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:37 am
EXCELLENT POST!!!!
I became vegan for pretty much the same reasons. I started being a vegetarian in high school, really just for kicks, to see what would happen and to stand out. It turned out I really liked eating that way. I wasn’t vegetarian while studying abroad because i wanted to fully experience thai cuisine. when i got home, i became a lot more “health conscious” ie plain chicken breasts, lots of cottage cheese, and microwaved egg whites. and coolwhip free and slowchurned ice cream. Not ideal. I found myself gravitating towards plant based foods, and becoming vegan was sort of a natural progression for me.
like you, I did not go vegan for the protection of animals or saving the environment. but now i see and love eating in a compassionate way, that has the least impact on the lives of other creatures and the environment.
i feel so much better eating this way. my skin glows. i have much more energy and require much less sleep. i’m doing things i never thought i could have done.
thanks for all the inspiration girls!!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 10:58 am
oh look at all those yummy pics!
as for my eating habits, we all know that i’m not even close to being vegan none the less vegetarian, however i support whatever individual decisions that each person makes for themselves for their own personal reasons… as long as they don’t try to make me feel bad for the way i eat then i offer the same level of respect
you go girls, ya’ll are so knowledgable and informed to back up every choice you make and i know that so many people are learning from you, great post!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Thanks Stephanie! We agree everyone needs to be happy with their own lifestyle choices and respect others because we are all different with different needs. : ) We love you girl!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Elizabeth, we all have our slip ups… no one is perfect!
Loved to hear your journey of eating more vegan!!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Health reasons are very important to us
Thanks for your support we love knowing that we have such similar stories… can’t wait to meet you one day. Yeah, the B.C.P. is another journey of ours… we hope one day we will be balanced. 
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Ohhhh those cupcakes look scrumptious!
When Michelle and I started #VeganWeek, I said “let’s see if we can get the Pure2Raw” girls to take part, never thinking you’d give us a second look.
You humble me. All you bloggers do!
Now I’m off to make some goodies!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 11:30 am
All that vegan food looks so good. I was always a fan of monkey bread. Brings back memories.
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
What a fantastic post. Such a lovely reminder as to why we now eat the way we do and feel much better for it. I am the same. My choice was health based and the compassionate reasons (for animals and the environment soon followed).
on Nov 21st, 2009 at 9:10 am
Wow, what a great post! I just found your blog through Gina’s site. I love all of your reasons for going vegan, and many of mine are along the same lines. Being vegan encompasses so much more than just food, it is a lifestyle!
Those doggy cupcakes are too cute.