Happy World VEGAN day!

I don't usually preach to others. This is one of two days that I will gingerly step onto my soapbox (the other one is annual MEAT out day).

Most of the time I live and let live. After all, if you don't care what you put in your body, why should I? I've even had people tell me, "Gosh, you don't seem vegan, you almost seem, like, normal!"

Then again, think of how many of us triathletes send non-triathletes screaming with our preaching of how much better we feel since you started swimming/biking/running. Well, I have the same types of feelings about my diet. If I influence one person to adopt a planet friendly diet...maybe it's worth the time it took.

Yes, I know meat is yummy. I grew up in a chicken-fried south. I've had the Outback Special. I've had stuff smothered in cheese; I've had crab cakes, veal, frogs legs, escargot...

and yet...

...yet I reached the point where I believe I have no right to cause the death or confinement of a living thing because I like the way it tastes, or because provides some nutrients that can be had by other means. We have evolved, and so should our diet, to one that doesn't cause suffering, pollution, and wasted resources.

Clearly I get the nutrients I need. During my first season as an athlete, I have completed 20 sprint triathlons, 2 Olympic Distance triathlons, 2 half marathons, and 2 half-iron triathlons.

A weak, pasty-faced Vegan I am not.

I also love to cook, and there's plenty to eat; otherwise, I wouldn't need to run to keep from having the largest butt on earth.

Here are some links for you. As well, any of these website will have links to other sources of information about a plant-based diet.

Recipes:
Vegan Lunch Box
Shmooed Food
Vegan Porn
Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
What Do Vegans Eat

Other Vegan athletes:
Vegan Athlete
Organic Athlete
Veg*Triathlete
Speed Vegan
Scott Jurek
Brenden Brazier

The book that started it all, and why I became a vegan
VEGAN: The new ethics of eating (free download, in pdf)

Environmentalism and Veganism: Eating the Earth (free download, in pdf)

Physician's Committe for Responsible Medicine

(Misty, gently stepping off her soapbox, for now.)

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