I’ve been a vegetarian most of my life, but the only dairy I consume has been organic cheese, non-vegan dessert and the occasional half-and-half. I could easily give dairy up completely if it weren’t for the cheese. After reading Skinny Bitch, by Rory Freedman and Kim Bornouin, I finally got the inspiration I need to try to go vegan.
The book says that dairy is actually and truly addictive. What a simple way to make me realize that I don’t just love cheese, I am an addict! As they say, admitting the problem is the first step in the road to recovery.
Every time I return from New York, having eaten at any of the city’s hundreds of 100% vegan restaurants, I think I could go vegan. We eat these incredibly delicious meals, I am fully satisfied and cheese doesn’t even enter my mind. But then at home, with no vegan chef to entice me with wonderful culinary creations I fall back on cheese because it’s tasty, comforting and easy.
What a weight off my shoulders to know that it isn’t my poor convictions or lack of willpower that keep bringing me back to cheese. It is just that dairy contains naturally occuring addictive chemicals. It makes so much sense to me now.
It helps too that the book talks about how the whole purpose of cow’s milk is to help baby cows gain weight and get big. Baby cows are 90 lbs, and in two years they grow to 2,000 lbs. As someone who needs to shed some pounds I do not need to be eating food that calorie-dense!
I feel so fortunate that these days vegetarians and vegans have SO many choices and resources compared to just a decade ago! It has been a good five years since I tried a vegan cheese, but I will try again! Stay tuned to see what I find out!
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