Could you go without a sausage sandwich on a hot summer day? Hot dogs? Yummy steaks and chicken burgers? Chloe Jackson does. She's 14 and a vegan. DOLLY grilled her (pun intended) to find out why people choose to be vegan, and what it's really like.
What is veganism?
Veganism is a lifestyle choice, and it means that a person excludes meat (red meat, poultry and fish), animal products (dairy, eggs, gelatin, honey), anything that is made from an animal (such as fur or leather) or anything that is tested on animals (like many cosmetics) from their life.
Why do people do this?
Everyone has their own reasons for choosing to be vegan. Some to protest against animal cruelty, some believe they will be healthier (it's very important to do veganism properly to ensure you stay healthy, more on this later) and some believe they will reduce their impact on the environment (lowering poisonous gases coming from factories and slaughter houses).
I decided to become vegan after visiting the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) website and learning about animal cruelty. I was also inspired by Matthew Lush. Matthew helped out with the PETA's Fur is Dead Campaign, and has also helped me understand what to do to become vegan through his YouTube videos and live chats.
So someone decides they want to try veganism. What should their first step be? (Apart from stepping away from the cheeseburger).
I did not simply decide one night I would become vegan. I was a vegetarian for over a year beforehand. And even when I became vegetarian I didn't give up all meat at once, but throughout the months I slowly cut it out and replaced it with other foods that gave me the nutrients I needed.
Warning: you can get sick if you don't do it properly!
When I first started I wasn't eating the right foods so my body didn't have the nutrients it needed to keep itself going. I began to experience frequent headaches, dizziness whenever I stood up and was tired all the time causing me to have to miss many school days and outings with friends. When things started to become out of hand I went to the doctors. I told him I was vegan, and when I had blood tests we found out that my iron levels were getting low but they weren't too bad at the time so I was given advice to get iron supplements.
But things only got worse! I started to black out at random times and was still experiencing everything I thought the supplements would fix. When I went back for a second time, the doctor sent me to get another blood test which showed that my iron levels were through the floor. It turned out that I had been taking a supplement with 13mg of iron when I needed 300mg! After taking the correct iron supplements my iron levels returned to normal and I felt healthier. I will continue to need blood tests to test other problems that may occur such as my B12 levels and to see if my iron levels stay up.
Where can you get the right info from so this doesn't happen?
All different sources: doctors who know your dietary requirements, any family or friends who are vegetarian or vegan, vegan recipe books and the Internet. PETA's vegetarian starter kit told me what I needed to know and how to get the nutrients and vitamins I need to be healthy.
Any advice for DOLLY readers thinking of trying out veganism?
Go to your doctor and have a blood test before even thinking about starting veganism. You could already have an iron deficiency such as anaemia which means that you will probably not be able to carry out the vegan diet (but there are many other ways to support veganism if you want to so don't worry!) and so that you also are able to be prescribed an iron supplement."
You also need to do your research on different meals and natural supplements to replace what you used to eat such as tofu, soy milk and a lot more vegetables. Look up vegan recipes on the Internet and decide if you really could go without meat and animal products. Don't make it boring, you'll get tired of having the same old things over and over so mix it up a bit!
Get in touch with Chloe on MySpace: www.myspace.com/141418305
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