If you’ve been reading my blog [and if you haven't, why haven't you?* 
] you know I spent the month of October as a vegan, participating in the Vegan Month of Food.
*Probably because there are a thousand blogs in the world and it’s hard to find time to write your own blog, much less read everyone else’s every day!
What started as a culinary [slash] dietary challenge to check off of my Culinary Bucket List took on a life of its own. And you might have wanted to ask me yesterday, at the start of a new month, the question I received most often last week:
…or NOT to be (vegan)?
And, OK, the questions were more along the lines of “Are you going to stay vegan?”–because who actually talks like Hamlet?–but Shakespeare had the right idea.* So, I decided to just see what happened on November 1st. Eat what felt right and go from there. For those of you regular attendees of Jenn‘s What I Ate Wednesday party…I thought “What I Ate Tuesday” might give me some insight.
*I was an English major. Let me be extravagant in my verbiage.
Tuesday started early, when I awoke at 1:00AM with a growling stomach, but no inclination as to what I wanted to eat. [I hate that, don't you?] After thinking about it for way to long, I settled on some apples and carrots covered in apple pie spice.*
*I told you I put it on EVERYTHING.
By the time breakfast rolled around, I went with my now standard mix of oats, oat bran, flax seed, wheat germ, almond milk, water, and apple pie spice.*
I wanted to stir in some applesauce, but for some reason I couldn’t find it in the fridge after 10 minutes of searching,* so I settled on half of a frozen banana, then topped everything with leftover Vegan Pumpkin Mousse, almond butter, and cold baked apples.*Although we thought, later, that I might have put it away in the pantry by accident–I totally would have–it was discovered right in front of my face in the fridge.
Although I discovered that Vegan Pumpkin Mousse is truly best served cold…the whole thing was incredibly tasty and filling. So much so that I was hardly ready for lunch when it happened.
But lunch came, and I ate. I ate some leftover Baked Bean Chili and polenta [slash] grits (depending on if you’re feeling more Italian or more Southern at the moment).
Of course, it actually looked like this:*
The surprising discovery that I had left some of the Vegan Pumpkin Mousse and Roasted Grapes I’d made for a cooking demo at work on Halloween and NOT taken it all home made for an easy dessert and afternoon snack choice.
The grapes were not long for the world…the mousse, however, (mostly) made it home.
Towards the end of the day, I was in the right place at the right time and was able to eat the leftover Honeybliss Melon they had cut up in the produce department for sampling. 
I swear, I was so full all day, I think I only ate the grapes and the melon because I wanted the juiciness of them. I probably should have just had water. However what I’m definitely glad I did NOT skip was dinner. Oh, my little chickadees, this was good!
Zucchini and mushrooms sauteed in Bragg’s Liquid Aminos with a dash of Chinese Five Spice, some previously roasted eggplant (also covered in Bragg’s)…
…and the leftover roasted butternut squash and some black beans and forbidden rice from my Halloween meal of Chipotle Butternut Squash and Black Bean “Bisque.”
Especially my bedtime snack of grapes followed by more Vegan Pumpkin Mousse, topped with Clifford Crunch, Barbara’s Shredded Vanilla Almond Oats, crumbled Maple Pecan Granola Flats, and PB & Co. Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter…
But the question remains:
[Source for Original Image]
I have waffled back and forth on the answer. I can’t commit. An assortment of thoughts have continuously been running through my head:
- I have felt SO good this month. I’ve had so much fun, felt so creative, and been so conscious about my cooking and eating habits.
- But I don’t have any moral reason to be vegan. I just prefer the food and I like feeling healthy.
- I have a sneaking suspicion that maybe I’m lactose intolerant. Perhaps I should just cut out dairy?
- I have so much cereal stockpiled that probably has honey sweetening it (as well as a bunch of non-vegan wine I bought at a wine sale)…and I’m WAY to frugal just to throw the food I’ve already bought away.
- What if I go over to someone’s house and can’t cook for me because ‘vegan’ scares them or I eat something I don’t know has butter or milk or eggs in it?
- And what if one day I just want to eat some chicken?*
*Hey, that IS what happened when I tried to be vegetarian…
I thought about what I could call myself: “vegan when I can be,” “dairy-free vegetarian,” “vegan at home,” “vegetable eater and meat taster“…
Who the heck cares?
I’ll eat what feels right and I won’t call myself anything but Sarah.
Does it really need a label?
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I want some pumpkin mousse so bad right now…
I hear you on the vegan dilemma. My problem is that I just LOVE food and trying new things. My conclusion is similar to yours – I'm just going to say I have a plant-based diet. If I want eggs for breakfast or a special wine or to taste some pork belly deliciousness, I'm going to do it. BUT the basis of my diet and my daily eats will be animal-free… because I'm a big believer that if it feels good, you should do it.
atta girl.
I never label unless it's a recipe. you know how you feel, you know what is best for you, and that's all that SHOULD matter!
love your conclusion. who cares what we eat? i don't know why ppl are so obsessed with labeling everything.
No, you definitely do NOT need a label. I've been vegetarian for roughly 22 years. Can't remember exactly when it happened. I do eat eggs,cottage cheese and regular cheese. I don't drink milk but don't look to exclude something if it may have milk. You'd be surprised when I say I'm vegetarian say "oh, but you still eat fish and chicken,right?" It's kind of crazy. If you're feeling good and the food makes you happy…that's all that matters. Call yourself Leroy if you like!
I'm in the same boat, so I completely understand your dilemma! I think flexibility is key – if you eat largely a vegan diet but occasionally have some chicken because you're craving it, I say go for it.
I've also struggled with the labeling issue – so I've started saying I eat a plant-based diet and using 'vegan' to describe recipes that fit the bill. Good luck with the dilemma, and call yourself whatever suits you best!
(And, BTW, I love the extravagant verbiage. It's awesome, and I'm pretty sure Shakespeare would've rolled the same way if he was debating his food choices.
)
I completely understand how you feel. I was vegetarian for a while and after 3 years decided to eat meat again. I still love to eat vegetarian and vegan too (I think I may be a little lactose intolerant) so I just eat what I want and maybe cut down on the dairy more than usual. I think I'd just rather not put a label on it and that way I don't have to worry about eating out, at other peoples houses, or having what I want!
Happy WIAW!
Love your philosophy. It is balanced, healthy and so honest! My only "rule" is that I would rather be a good friend/guest at someone's house than a good vegetarian, so if they don't know about my preferences and make a special meal for me then I won't refuse it. Its good to have flexibility
You little trend setter
Way to go girl! I am not at all surprised by your decision not to decide! I have been so inspired and believe I can do this too – for at least a month. I am thinking about starting a month long vegan experience in January. Mostly to try and lose some of this weight I gained by making a pie every week this year. I'm glad you listed some things for me and I will be going back and documenting your various food choices to help me get started. I have moved away from meet so much I hardly ever feel I need it. The plain Greek yogurt will be hard to give up – at first. I hardly ever eat dairy anyway other than Almond milk in smoothies 
Thanks so much for sharing this journey and for the inspiration!
WootWoot! Girly I loved this post! Who does really care?! Hahah just be you
Ah, the pressure of a name? (Catch the Pretty Woman quote?).
I say eat the way you feel best and that may very well change by the day. I eat a lot of vegan fare, but would never commit to it 100%. The vegans are a passionate group and take their title very seriously. I wouldn't take on the label unless I was ready for a lot of scrutiny. And I never will be.
ps – you can roast grapes?
Ha, you sound like me. Why throw a label on it? Labels complicate things. I can't believe your vegan month is already over! That seemed to fly by, but perhaps that's because I'm over here eating milk chocolate and cooking up pumpkin chicken.
Great eats! Just found your blog and the same caught my eye, I'm on the same page! to be or not to be…some days yes and then I get a cheese craving!
Just eat what feels right. If you feel like dairy-free helps you, then go for it. If you feel like eating chicken, eat it. Just do what your body wants you to do.
Don't worry about the labels just eat what feels good to you. By the looks of the pumpkin mousse will be a fixture
I loved reading this! High-five to my fellow English major. I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian although I rarely eat meat and some days all my meals do end up being vegan, but who needs labels. Eat what you want, when you want and I'm sure you'll be happy
I like your take on the issue! Eat vegan when it feels good, don't when it just doesn't seem an option. And you + pp spice is me + cinnamon. It goes on EVERYTHING and I panic when my roommates (…or I) misplace my shaker.
I am SO glad you came to this conclusion! I hate labels! It makes things so much harder! Just eat good, healhty food as often as possible. That's it.
I love this post! Thanks Sarah!
I'm in the same boat as you. I don't want an effing label dammit! I eat almost 90% vegetarian, but there are sometimes I want to eat meat and that's ok
Jen@FoodFamilyFitness
Are those mini butternut squashies you're holding in the first picture? Please tell me they are. I hate waking up in the middle of the night with my stomach eating me from the inside out. I usually grab trail mix in the dark and settle back down after a swig of water. haha we all know food isn't ever as beautiful as the pictures we take. Somehow though, it manages to taste just as good!
You're making me crave american cereals. I love clifford crunch (am I the only one who eats them one shape at a time?) and the shredded oats are awesome to fill with nut butter.
And in the end, you're right. You don't need a label. Just be who you are and if you end up eating vegan one day, great, if you have a huge chicken sandwich, great. Love what you eat and it will love you.
Good decision girlie
I think it's cool you stayed (mostly) committed to the month of vegan. It definitely did not sound easy.
&& I'm pretty sure everyone has a lactose intolerance. We should just phase out milk and make almond milk the mainstream drink instead
I went back and forth for a LONG time, after my 6 month vegan experiment. (Goal was to lower my cholesterol, but it's genetic, so the diet didn't work, at least not for what I intended.) I noticed my skin was clearer, and I Felt a little less bloated, but other than that, I felt basically the same. I mean, I don't eat meat, and I don't eat much dairy either. I'd say the only major change is that I eat yogurt, haha. That's the only thing that I really missed. You just can't find a good vegan substitute for greek yogurt!
Anyways, I say, whatever works best for you! I'm "mostly" vegan, but it's nice to have the flexibility when I need it!
I love your attitude here. The idea of balance and flexibility is my favorite approach to food. PS: Pumpkin mousse?! Yum!
OMG, the proper use of the word verbiage! I know you have no way of knowing this, but people using "verbage" as an improper use of the word verbiage is one of my biggest pet peeves. Like nails on a chalk board. So thank you, thank you, for using the word correctly. Angels are rejoicing.
Anyway, I had no idea there was non-vegan wine. What is in regular wine to make it not vegan?
Also, please invest in lactaid if you think you're lactose intolerant. A life without cheese is just too sad.
i totally agree – the only label i need is "good" or "bad" and sometimes, quite frankly, my meals even blur the lines between those!
I've had those days where I get up at 1am and cannot get back to sleep. I give you major kudos to eating pretty normally. Usually insomnia jacks my appetite up!
I don't have a label for my diet because there are a ton of things I eat and a number of things I don't. I'm pretty sure my dos and don't are unique to ME and don't have a sweet, conventional name like "vegan" or "pescetarian" or "chocovore". Okay, I made that last one up.
What I'm trying to say is that I empathize with your desire to be label-free. It's too constricting and not sustainable!
Also, this may just be my opinion, but I associate the word vegan with a lifestyle rather than a diet. A person who says they eat vegan but wears leather boots and drinks from plastic bottles doesn't make sense to me. I'm not saying this applies to you because I know you don't consider yourself vegan; I was just sharing some food for thought!
Bravo for not needing a label! I go between a vegetarian diet with random days of meat every now and then (which are few a far btween) but I don't consider myself anything. As much as society may want to label every single freaking thing, I think it's best to be our individual self do what's best for us, ourselves and what we believe in.
Cheers to you!
No one needs labels!
Yummy eats..as always!
I agree, do what you want and you dont need a lable!
I'm sort of the same way. I've been vegetarian for over 10 years, but used to eat tons of eggs and dairy. Over the last 6 months I've been vegan for 3/4 of my meals & snacks, but I can't quite get over the hump to 100%. I just remind myself that I am still doing way better than I used to do, and am doing what works best for me.