What’s a Vegan? CLICK HERE
The Back-story
My best friend is an aerobics instructor and has been vegan for many years. He never talked much about his diet or what he ate. All I knew was that he enjoyed it and lived a healthy lifestyle. I used to tease him whenever Thanksgiving rolled around and say, “What are you going to eat? Tofurky with some imagination sauce on the side?” He would laugh along with me. Though I teased him, I never intentionally attacked him or asked him stupid questions about his choice.
My family has roots in Jamaica and Bermuda so needless to say; all animals stood a chance of ending up on my mother’s stove. I grew up eating oxtails, curry goat, deer, chicken, beef, frogs, fish, duck, rabbit and much more. That was just what you did in our family. Perhaps your family was the same.
Becoming Vegetarian
After graduating high school I moved to Gainesville, GA to go to school. Unbeknownst to me, there was a chicken factory in town. Every morning on my way to class I’d see a truck full of chickens that were jam packed and alive making a ton of noise. After school I’d see another truck leave the chicken factory that always had blood, guts and who knows what else dripping from the truck. It was disgusting. Then to top it all off, the entire town smelled like boiled chicken. Do you know how horrible that is?! Not fried or baked chicken—but BOILED—as in feathers and skin. Ugh! I became vegetarian about 2 weeks later.
I ended up leaving that little town and moved back to New York where I was born and raised. Since I was in college full time, working and going to church I had no time to cook. Not to mention my college dorm had no cooking facilities. I must say that I was THE WORST VEGETARIAN ever!!! I would eat french fries 3 times a day. If it wasn’t french fries, it was corn or fried rice from my favorite Chinese restaurant. My diet sucked. I was essentially doing my own “Super Size Me” experiment and didn’t know it. I gained about 15-20 pounds. I moved back to Georgia where my mother lived and started eating meat again. I loved every bite!
The Meat Of The Story: Becoming VEGAN
Fast forward to 2010. I am and will always be a foodie. I love cooking meals and love taking pictures of food whether I cooked it or ordered it at a restaurant.
I can’t explain why or how things started to change in me…but sometime in 2010 I would be eating my favorite food at time: Chicken Wings. I have always loved them but one day I started really looking at the bones I was sucking on and I would feel “weird.” I didn’t understand the feeling but this kept happening. I started eating more fish and started staring at the flakes. I would eat steak and stare at the blood. I would chew it and suddenly it dawned on me: I’M EATING FLESH!!!
The ultimate turning point came toward the end of 2010 when I had just gotten over a cold that lasted about 2 weeks. When it was over I knew for sure I should not get sick again until next winter. I mean surely 2 weeks was enough right? WRONG. I got sick about 1 month later. I called my best friend who I mentioned earlier immediately after my first sneeze attack. “These animals are killing me!” I cried. “I’m done with meat. All these hormones and bad energy from their deaths are killing me and making me sick!” He laughed so hard at me because he knew it was true (which is why he went vegan) and because he knew once I set my mind on something, I would follow it all the way.
THE PROOF
Now I knew in my heart I was feeling “weird” about eating meat. However, I wanted to seal the deal and see some proof on how meat is processed and handled. What was kosher, what was free range? How are chickens and cows handled on a daily basis? My best friend suggested I watch the film, “FOOD, INC.” I enjoyed it and learned some things but I felt that movie was only scratching at the surface. I then contacted another friend of mine and she suggested I watch “EARTHLINGS.” She warned me not to watch it alone. Did I listen? NO. I curled up in my bed that night and watched it on YOUTUBE. I cried and cried and learned so much. If you have never seen this movie and you are thinking of becoming vegan, please watch it. It is super heavy but so informative. I never really cared for dogs and cats as pets, but after seeing this movie, I realized that I had developed empathy for LIVING CREATURES. These animals have heartbeats and feelings. It broke my heart to watch…but it sealed the deal.
THE JOURNEY
Now I am totally vegan and am constantly learning about creative ways to cook and eat. I’m a great cook, but sometimes I get bored with my choices. I went vegan cold turkey so there is still a ton of research that I do on a daily basis about proteins, meat substitutes, vegetable preparation etc. Like I said earlier…I’m a “FOODIE” so this is one journey I’m excited to be on. And I don’t have to kill one of GOD’s creatures to do it.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy my blog!
Peace & Blessings to You…
-Christine Horn
