So this being my first official post I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Sara Till and I'm a vegan stay at home mom of 2 kids. My son Evan is 9 and my daughter Marley is 2. Our family (which includes my fiance Robert) has only been vegan for almost 3 months, but so many great things have happened in that short time that it feels like this is the way it's always been for us.
I have always been interested in food and would call myself an on again/off again vegetarian. I was very well aware of where meat came from but chose to be blind to how meat was produced and the actual effect that the whole process has on us, animals, the environment and our economy. After reading countless posts from my many vegan friends about different things, I decided in my mind that it was time. I went to my local library and checked out Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Eat to live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I came home and talked to my fiance about it and he was totally on board! That night we watched vegucated and I guess you can say the rest is history!! We were both hooked on learning everything vegan, I couldn't get enough information. I was reading everything I could find on the internet, asking my vegan friends a TON of questions and watching every movie I could to better learn the truth about our food.
Then I got overwhelmed! There is so much information out there, and when you start to not only see with your own eyes what is happening to all those animals but start really reading the labels of the food in your cupboard, it starts to get disheartening. Plus it was not just myself that I needed to change it was my fiance and my 2 kids. However in this whole process, each day gets so much easier. I am now eating fruits and vegetables that I had only previously eaten very occasionally. I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes more then I ever did before because with vegan cooking even the simplest dish has many different ways it can be prepared. I am also very fortunate in the fact that my fiance LOVES to cook and we have spent many hours in the kitchen together, cooking, laughing and talking. He is even great about trying new things out. He was a good sport when he had to try my first failed attempt at making seitan wings. The only thing since we've gone vegan that he couldn't stand to eat. I don't blame him, it was very rubbery and gross! But we have since figured out a better way to make it! More on that later! My son is doing well with the transition and even talks about a opening 100% vegan restaurant, and wants to know how we can make the food that we used to eat but vegan! My daughter loves pretty much everything that we've given her to try. The advantage is that she's so young, being vegan will just be natural for her as she gets older.
Since being a vegan it didn't take long for me to want to start making some changes in the world! I didn't think that I would find something so quickly but I did by way of the NY State WIC program. My daughter is currently enrolled and I went to my local WIC office to get her new checks, armed with a note from her pediatrician stating that my daughter was now on a vegan diet and that we would like dairy alternatives in her WIC package instead of the usual milk, eggs and cheese. Little did I know that NY State does not allow vegan children this option, the only way is if the child has a milk protein allergy. My daughter's case worker was very helpful in the best way that she could be and advised me to make a formal complaint. When I returned home that afternoon, that is exactly what I did and the ball started rolling. In this whole process I have met, talked to and have established a relationship with many wonderful vegans in different fields that have been helpful in pointing me in the right direction to the next step in getting this policy changed. I have sent several letters to elected officials and have started to hear back from them. The most common complaint during this whole thing (besides the price) is that there is not enough demand for soy alternatives to vegan children so I have constructed an online petition for people to sign so that I can show that there in fact is. As a result of me rallying to see some change in the NY State WIC program I have been fortunate enough to become the volunteer events coordinator for ASHA a local farm sanctuary that is opening this summer in Newfane NY. As well as becoming a contributing writer for thisdishisveg.com
Becoming a vegan has been the best choice for myself and the people in my family, my mom has even gone veg since finding out about our change! Everyday is a new adventure in making new foods, trying new things and reading new material. This family will be celebrating it's first vegan Easter this Sunday, and I couldn't be more excited!
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