Breaking my connection with processed vegan junk food

by Jeanne Frost; Featured Contributor

Natural is always best!

Oh my gosh, you guys. Some vegan junk food is absolutely delicious. For instance, vegan ice cream is so much tastier than dairy ice cream. Vegan hot dogs are so scrumptiously guilt free. Plus, I get to slather them in relish, mustard or whatever. The list goes on. However, if I'm honest, vegan junk is still junk in most cases. I have to disconnect with the bad stuff.

Hey, I gave up cheese, you guys. If I can do that, as integrated as it was in my life, I got this.

Wait! If vegan junk food is so delicious and it doesn't harm animals, why give it up? Argh, because I know the truth, of course. Darn truth, always tripping me up. Why must I be so conscientious? It's a curse, I tell you.

I'm vegan for the other animals, the planet and my own health. Processed vegan junk food signifies lost connections, no matter which of those I focus on. It isn't good for me, other animals or the planet. It's slightly better than “regular” junk food, in that it was never a living being. Otherwise, it's not much different. Processed vegan junk food is just another disconnect in my opinion.

Eating whole, unaltered foods in their natural state will always be healthier than any diet. Nature knows best.

Processed food is processed food. Vegan or otherwise, it's not good for my health or anyone else's. Even when all the ingredients are natural, the process of combining them creates waste and uses more natural resources than simply eating the ingredients themselves.

Some processed vegan food contains added ingredients to make it sweeter, saltier, more flavorful, creamier or a certain texture. Sometimes those ingredients are just as healthy as the main ingredients. Still, most of the time, these fillers are decidedly unhealthy.

Plus, processing food takes longer, uses more resources and increases pollution. Eating local, whole foods is so much less wasteful. A healthier environment means healthier animals, human or otherwise.

I'm not a perfect vegan you guys. It took me a long time just to get this far. I'll likely indulge in vegan ice cream from time to time. I might even have a smothered vegan hot dog on the 4th of July. Maybe I'll make a vegan birthday cake once a year.

Still, I'm giving up eating vegan junk food on the daily. It's a step above “normal” junk food. However, it's not entirely good for my health, the planet and consequently, other beings I share it with.

Wish me luck on this next step up the sustainable life mountain!