Updated note: This post has been getting SO many views…Thank you, India for checking in on what I have to say about “No holy cows” but my intent here is definitely not to tell you that cows are not holy! I think you would all be very wise and adhere to one of the wisest teachers to grace this planet, namely Mahatma Gandhi! (For more read my post “My Cow with Dairy” – Simply click on link below Gandhi!) Cows should be considered holy! I love cows…so if you call me a “cow” for saying so I will take it as a compliment! If you want a nation of fat, sick and unhealthy people like we have here in the United States of America…then by all means who is going to stop you? Your country is also seeing a rise in fast food through McDonalds and other major corporations. Personally, I wouldn’t want to wish this obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer epidemic that all of this has resulted in on anyone! I don’t think Gandhi would have approved or given his consent either! It’s a tragedy what is happening! Not only is it devastating the natural environment all over the planet – but it will slowly but surely be killing you and your loved ones if you follow this sort of diet, plus destroy your Nation’s economy even further with rising health care costs!

 

My Cow With Dairy

Here’s what I initially wrote, before ALL the views on this post:

After reading a comment from one of my readers regarding my friend who has taken on the 30-Day Vegan Challenge, I was inspired to write another post today. Here’s the comment made:

What a great decision he made!! I am sure it would also be helpful to go thru options at his favorite take out and restaurants, although i’m not sure anyone could convince me to go to a steakhouse….yikes!
And his fridge must have smelled horribly from the spoiled dairy

Yes, my friend certainly has made a great decision. With the right attitude and open mind, you’d be surprised who will take up the 30-Day Vegan challenge. Even people you’d think would be too “whatever” to go there. Initially, I came at a plant-strong vegan diet for health reasons. Most people can relate to wanting to live a healthy life style and this is the stance I continue to take when I introduce it to someone! Shortly thereafter, my blinders fully came off to the horrors of factory farming. It’s important to realize that everyone’s path is different and that it is okay…even if we’re not following exactly the same path!

My friend and I have been talking about vegan options for some of his favorite restaurants and take out places! I find it easiest to go to “International restaurants” when I’m eating out – like Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese or Italian restaurants -because I can easily pick and choose healthy vegan options from their menus!

Vegan Thai Buffet 

Personally, I’d prefer to not go to a steak house for any type of meal! However, let’s face it, that’s not always possible. I could have said no, but the place my friend invited me to has outdoor seating and no one was near us eating a steak! I can count on one hand how many steaks I’ve eaten in my life! Can you? I can even tell you where I ate my first steak ever!

No Holy Cow

Although I was a vegetarian on and off for many years before going completely plant-based vegan, I make it a point to tell people, when I’m giving a lecture, that I have had my share of pork roasts for Christmas in Denmark, plus that I used to schedule my flight into Salt Lake City, once or twice per year, to go to my favorite hamburger joint, so I’m by no means a holy cow standing before them! I know this puts some people at ease and makes them laugh! I’m not there to judge them for what they’ve just eaten for breakfast or for lunch. We all make choices at each and every meal…and in between! But once you learn the truth, then it either becomes easier or harder to make certain choices! For me, choosing a plant-based vegan diet has become a no brainer!

Cow lover!

Initially, I had the same reaction as the person who commented earlier to my friend Mark’s post, “A Vegan in a Steakhouse”. I thought, “Why would you want to go there?” and “Why didn’t you just tell your Dad that you wanted to go to a different type restaurant?” I found it curious that he’d want to keep going back, but the fact is that we live in an omnivore’s world and that we can’t shut everyone out of our lives just because we don’t agree with their choices. (Remember, many people don’t agree with our choices either, although, it is becoming much more widely accepted and even popular!) However, if my friend had invited me to the Outback Steakhouse I would have politely declined his offer. Why? Because the smell coming from this particular place, while driving to my favorite health food store, which is located right next door, has made my stomach turn more than once. My friend also knew what the vegan options were and told them to me on the phone, before we met up! My initial response was, “But that’s a steakhouse!”

Woman smelling expired milk! Yikes!

As far as the dairy products, they did not smell in his refrigerator despite all being expired. Most of them had not even been opened. It’s amazing (and scary) how long those things can actually last before they even begin to change color! Trust me, if they had started to stink up his refrigerator or kitchen, his house cleaner or myself would have noticed! My final point for this post is that those who have had the biggest influence on my path towards veganism have been those people who have been the least judgmental and open minded! For more thoughts on this particular subject, check out the interview I did a while back with another friend called, “Vegans In Stride”.

Yours truly,

A Not so Holy Cow