In conclusion I have decided several things:
1) Veganism excludes a lot of foods I normally use in my daily diet (and I don't think I'd like to continue eating like this, though I will continue to eliminate 90% of dairy and meat from my diet, I just feel better that way), but is one of the healthiest lifestyles one can live, IF DONE PROPERLY.
2) Living a local vegan lifestyle is impossible. You'll never get the proper amount of protein and nutrients to stay healthy. The U.S., particularly the Shreveport /Bossier City area, just doesn't produce the neccessary dietary supplements that other countries use almost daily. Tofu and soy products are the main ones though, please, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Yes, I did break the local foods rule of this project a couple times. Hunger is a very strong incentive. I think that there could be a very strong local foods market in this area, we just decided to do this project at the wrong time of the year. With fresh vegetables and soy and tofu additions to one's diet, I beleive that one can live a relatively local diet. And that's a belief I plan to try out this spring.
3) The general public view of veganism is negative. I even had one person ask me: "Are you trying to kill yourself?" (and no, it wasn't Monique). I had the most trouble finding vegan options in restaurants, at school, in prepared food stores; basically anywhere that I didn't cook for myself. People just don't understand--nor do they try to--veganism. The idea has so many negative connotations that attach veganism to "liberal, elitist, animal saving, crazy people" (one of my personal friends-who is a kind and understanding person, once he realised that I wasn't going to die from starvation. No, the quote from my earlier post wasn't from him).
So, I think that education is the key for vegans everywhere. If people understood the ideas and practicalities behind veganism, I think that there would be a lot more options in town. The same goes for local foods. This is difficult for a nation ruled by fast food though.
It's so much easier, faster and cheaper (in the short run) to go to the nearest fast food joint than to cook one's own meal, but I beleive that we are slowly changing our view on food based on the health issues that have cropped up all over the nation, and beyond. Fast food is not the answer, otherwise why would they be introducing lo-cal optiond to their menus?
Information is key. Options are really great too!
*Until this spring,
Jen, the-not-so-exerimental-vegan-anymore-but-still-continuing-some-of-the-ideas.
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Dr H. Here.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading about your experiment. While you didn't seem to succeed in practice, you seemed to gain many (rather shocking) insights into our food sources. In fact, even the "local" foods you list among groceries were, I'd wager, not local in the end. And most of them were still heavily processed (what is Rice-a-Roni, anyway?). You may be interested in knowing that there is a new CSA called First Fruits Farms starting up in Greenwood. You can do a quick search on localharvest.com
What was your experience at other stores like Sunshine or Marvins?