Why I'm Going Vegan

 A unique and exciting way of living has become my passion, yes I still run but now I am more about healthy living rather than just healthy activity.  Now you may all be wondering where I have been and what I have possibly been up to.  Well sit back, relax and have a cup of coffee or tea and let me tell you all about my exciting life.

Cancer.  Surgery.  Recovery.  Radiation.  Recovery. The list goes on and it's really not all that exciting truth be told.  My surgeon told me yesterday that I am healing quite triumphantly and will not need to see her again. Ever.  Ever. She did add unless (God forbid) it comes calling again. We smiled at each other and I said, yes God forbid.  I have now moved on to medication that, I'm told, will prevent (but who really knows) the cancer from germinating and possibly ever rearing it's ugly head again.  Time will tell the whole story or at least the next chapter.  We shall see.  Now on to better more mind blowing topics.

WTF is a whole foods plant based diet anyway?  Let me tell you all about it.  I eat fruits, vegetables, very low oil (if any at all) low salt whole foods. A whole food is "food that has been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances." According to Merriam Webster Dictionary a whole food is "a natural food and especially an unprocessed one (as a vegetable or fruit)."  As stated by Forks over Knives "A whole-food, plant-based diet is centered on whole, unrefined, or minimally refined plants. It’s a diet based on fruits, vegetables, tubers, whole grains, and legumes; and it excludes or minimizes meat (including chicken and fish), dairy products, and eggs, as well as highly refined foods like bleached flour, refined sugar, and oil." I personally omit all animal products from my diet due to the effect they have on my heart, health and mental processes.  

Yes, that means I'm VEGAN! Yikes, that word can really pack a punch. People hear that word and automatically think, oh my goodness here comes the hippy freak, animal activist, insert your own word here, kind of response. Firstly I am not a hippy freak but I do like tie dye and those billowy skirts.  Secondly I am by no means an animal activist, although I do not believe we as humans were meant to eat animals.  I also believe it is not my job to push my beliefs on anyone else.  This way of living is how I choose to live.  You do you. I am never gonna judge or tell you how you should live your life. SERIOUSLY to each their own. This way of eating makes me feel extremely healthy and alive. I no longer deal with PVC's which if you remember are pre-ventricular contractions of the heart. Also, I no longer need to use laxatives (I know, TMI) just to go to the bathroom.  Let's not even mention the fact that I have cancer and what could possibly be a better way to combat kick the ever loving crap out of it than a healthy whole foods plant based way of eating? 

So in an attempt to share my experiences with a whole food plant based way of eating I am going to do my darnedest to blog at least once a week.  We all know life gets busy and I am completely okay with not blogging at all (for months on end) if need be, but I will do my best. I will even be sharing recipes of amazing vegan food from other vegan bloggers and Facebook friends. So stay tuned and see what awaits you.  

Here is a recipe that I absolutely love for a non-dairy cheesy sauce that is also completely grain and nut free. I found this recipe from a beautiful girl named High Carb Hannah over @ Raw Till Whenever  she is an amazing girl with an even more amazing story of overcoming a damaging food past with years and years of yo yo dieting and an unhealthy lifestyle. You can also find her on Facebook here.  

RIDICULOUSLY GOOD POTATO NACHO CHEESE / RECIPE

2 red potatoes
1/4 onion
Boil together in water for about 10 minutes til potatoes are tender (don't throw out the water you'll see why soon)

1/2 red or yellow bell pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp salsa (this is also optional in my opinion)
1/2 cup nutritional yeast (not bread yeast) 
1 tbsp hot sauce *optional

Add all this along with the boiled onion and potato to a blender or food processor and about 1/4 to 1/2 of the water from the pot (the water you didn't throw out) and blend well.  Enjoy! I add this sauce to my food a lot and it is seriously addicting, so watch out.

As always enjoy your day or night and if you feel compelled shoot me a little hello as you pass by.  Hopefully some of you are still around.

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2017 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.