The Power of Influence

Influence.  It is a daunting task and a heavy responsibility that we each need to embrace.  Whether that means being a person of integrity in a world that disregards everything honorable, or choosing to live according to our convictions despite ridicule and discouragement from others, our lives can positively influence those around us if we are courageous enough to embrace the challenge.

It has been two short years since we made the decision to embrace a vegan lifestyle.  The initial zeal and passion which prompted us to launch our blog and actively participate in vigils with a local Save Movement organization has given way to other pursuits, yet we remain committed to living a lifestyle of peace and compassion with every bite we take, every product we purchase, and every garment we put on our bodies.  We have become more aware of environmental issues and the impact of our choices on the planet we call home.  We have successfully raised awareness of the abuse and cruelty suffered by animals through factory farming  and experienced for ourselves greatly improved health and vigor as a result of a dietary shift to plant-based foods.  Family and friends have shown increased interest in plant-based eating and made efforts to accommodate our lifestyle choice by making vegan food available at gatherings.

To be on the leading edge of a movement that is taking hold and producing positive change worldwide is a thrill!  To sit down and eat a meal without fear of food-borne illnesses, and with the joy of knowing that no animal suffered so that we could eat, gives us great joy! We are ecstatic every time we discover new vegan products on store shelves or vegan menu options in restaurants!

Want to get in on this exciting adventure and make a BIG difference that will have a significant influence on the world and those around you?  Try a whole-food plant-based diet, buy cruelty-free products, and shop with reusable bags.  Collectively our small efforts will accomplish GREAT things and make our world a healthier and happier place to live!

Cheers!

Dee Dee and Joy



Copyright 2018 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

The Joy of Doing What We Can

It has been nearly nine months since Joy and I stopped consuming meat and animal products, began promoting a plant-based diet, and started advocating for animal rights. I can honestly say that I have never felt better physically or emotionally, even though my heart has at times been broken by the plight of animals slaughtered to satisfy the appetites of humankind.

Painfully aware of animal suffering and the harm to our environment and health as a result of factory farming, we are more committed than ever to eat vegan, consume products not made of or tested on animals, and to educate and encourage others to do the same.

More and more people are turning to a plant-based, whole food diet and we are excited to be part of a
movement that can change our world and foster peace and compassion toward all living beings.

In 2017, Joy and I plan to:

• Meet in early January with Gloucester County, VA school officials to discuss the need for better nutrition and more vegetarian/vegan-friendly options in our school lunch and breakfast menus. We know that this is a first step, that we will likely encounter opposition, and that we will have to work hard in order to effect change, but we are determined. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated as we advocate for healthier nutrition in our schools.
• Continue our work with Smithfield Pig Save, attending their monthly vigils to raise awareness and bear witness to the animals headed for slaughter at the meat packing plant at Smithfield Foods.
• Support the work of Ziggy's Refuge, both financially and by volunteering as we are able.
  We had the privilege of volunteering there in early December, meeting Ziggy and his family, and founders Kristin Hartness and Jay Yontz, who have committed themselves to providing a loving, nurturing environment where rescued farm animals can happily live out their lives without fear of being abused or slaughtered.
• Attend more vegan festivals and Save Movement events, both locally and regionally. We hope to make a trip to Toronto sometime in 2017 to participate in a Toronto Pig Save vigil.
• Publish new blogs and information on our website, as well as on our Facebook page and Instagram account. 

Doing what we can to ease the suffering of animals and to promote a whole food, plant-based diet has been  one of the greatest joys we have ever known. Joy and I are thankful for the opportunity to raise awareness and fight for the well-being of all God's creatures -- human and non-human alike.  

May God grant you purpose, peace, and good health in 2017!

For the animals, the planet, and you -- 

Dee Dee

Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

Veganism and Christianity

As a Christian and a vegan I am often asked about the compatibility of veganism (or vegetarianism) with Christianity. Am I less a Christian because I am vegan, or are you less a Christian because you eat meat? These are tough questions that require a great deal of time to fully explore, but the answer to both is pretty simple:  No.

In the first chapter of Genesis, when man lived freely in the light of his Creator's love, God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food" (Genesis 1:29-30, ESV). Could a plant-based diet have been God's original plan for man? Maybe.

The Bible teaches that it was only after the fall of man (Genesis 3) that the killing of animals entered the picture. After  Adam and Eve sinned by eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,God killed animals in order to provide clothing to cover their nakedness (Genesis 3:21). Their sin and shame resulted in death -- the death of the very animals Adam himself had named (Genesis 2:19). Can you imagine the close relationship Adam must have had with the animals that had been provided to him as companions in the garden? How heartbreaking for Adam this must have been!

Scripture is full of references to animals as the sacrifice for sin, food for mankind, and of man's God-given dominion over them. But consider this:

When God gave humanity dominion over the animals, it was in order to care for, tend to, and use those animals to their fullest potential in a just manner. At the time that God gave mankind dominion over the animals, humans did not eat meat. Eating meat did not begin until after the Flood (Genesis 9:1–3), and it was at that time that animals started to fear humans. However, although God changed the way we interact with animals, in that they are now “meat,” we still bear a responsibility to treat animals humanely. Human rule over animals does not mean we have the right to mistreat or misuse those animals. (Source:  http://www.gotquestions.org/dominion-over-animals.html.)

Someone recently pointed out to me Peter's vision in Acts 10:9-16 and the Lord's command, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat" (verse 13). But, the story doesn't end there. In verses 17-29, we are told that Peter was perplexed about what the vision might mean (verse 17) and that God showed him that he should not call any person common or unclean (verse 28). The issue was not the cleanness or uncleanness of any animal for human consumption, but rather the tendency of our hearts to judge our fellow man as clean or unclean.

If someone wants to justify veganism or carnism on the basis of scripture, it wouldn't be difficult to support either position. As believers, we need to seek God's heart on the matter and live according to the call He places on our hearts.

The more I learn about the animal abuse and environmental destruction caused by factory farming, and the animal cruelty involved in product testing, the more heartbroken I become. I can't help but feel that God is too.

The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel (Proverbs 12:10, NIV).

For me, veganism is a spiritual journey -- a quest to honor God by being a better steward of my body (His temple, according to 1 Corinthians 3:16-17), our planet, and an advocate and defender of the animals who have no voice -- a lifestyle I gladly embrace and a purpose I am compelled to fulfill.

To God be the glory,

Dee Dee




Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

One of the Lucky Ones

"I can't go vegan because I could ever give up cheese." You can't imagine how many times Joy and I have heard someone say those very words after learning that we have adopted a vegan lifestyle. Their reaction to photos of abused animals on their way to slaughter or to documentaries touting the benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet has been much like ours, yet they remain unswayed. Even my own weight loss, added energy, and improved cholesterol levels have not convinced them.

Some of these people are friends and family I know well and love deeply. Others are strangers to me or friends I have met since starting this journey. So why was deciding to go vegan such an easy decision for me but remains so difficult a choice for them? I wish I had an answer.

All I can say is that when I watched that first life-changing documentary, something was awakened in me.  I saw the suffering of animals and environmental damage caused by factory farming to produce the food on my plate.  I knew that I needed to do something to contribute to the solution rather than perpetuate the problem.  I decided to re-think a lifetime of choices by embracing a vegan lifestyle and choosing cruelty-free products over products tested on animals.

My decision doesn't make me better than anyone else, but it definitely has made me happier and healthier than I have been in a very long time.

I saw. I knew. I decided. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Don't take my word for it. Try it yourself by taking the 30-Day Vegan Challenge. There are so many good foods out there that you need never feel deprived. I certainly don't. The benefits of minimizing my waistline, cholesterol levels, carbon footprint, and the suffering of the animals make it all worth it!

Feeling Veggie Good,
Dee Dee


Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

The Life You Save May Be Your Own

We all, at one time or another, have probably considered whether we eat to live or live to eat. Judging from the post views we have received on our Facebook page and blog the answer is clear:  we live to eat.  We love our food.  For many of us, our god is our appetite (Philippians 3:19) and we eat to satisfy our cravings. We eat what we want, when we want, without considering the far-reaching impact of our choices.

A few months ago Joy and I watched an eye-opening documentary that forever changed the way we view food, our health, and our world. As we continued researching animal rights, climate change, and the health benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet we were faced with a choice:  we could continue to stick our heads in the sand and ignore what we had seen or we could adopt a more compassionate lifestyle, giving up meat, dairy, and eggs and finding cruelty-free alternatives for cleaning products, cosmetics, and clothing. Why would we, or anyone, want to consider so drastic a change?  Because we realized that the dietary and lifestyle choices we had made all our lives resulted in destructive consequences for our health, our planet, and the animals who share it with us. We resolved not only to change the way we eat and live but also to share information with others in an effort to effect positive change in our world and in the health of those we love.

Sadly we are faced with the reality that people really don't care about the suffering and death of the animals they eat. Neither did we, until we began to open our minds to the effects of our choices, not just on our own health but on the lives of the farm animals slaughtered to clothe and feed us.

Maybe you don't care about saving the lives of animals. Maybe you don't consider a cow, pig, or chicken to be in the same class as your dog, cat, or guinea pig. But did you ever think that by embracing a plant-based diet, the life you save could be your own?




Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

Dare to Be Different -- You Won't Regret It!

Recently Joy and I have had a couple of opportunities to share our vegan journey with curious friends.  Having experienced a lackluster response to our blogs and Facebook posts, these conversations were a great encouragement to us.

Being a vegan is not a whole lot different than being a Christ-follower. As much as we want others to believe as we do, some people just aren't open to the good news we have to share about something that could be of great benefit in their lives. Aren't we all that way at times? Intellectually, we read or hear compelling information and see evidence of positive change in the lives of others, but we aren't willing to step out of our comfort zones and be "different" enough to give it a real try.

In this new season of life -- this vegan adventure on which Joy and I have embarked-- a new passion has been ignited to share with others the truth about the many benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet -- not just for better health but for a better world. Having learned about the abuse being perpetrated upon God's creatures because of our human appetites for food, products, and clothing that come from animals, we have joyfully made the choice to live without "good" things in favor of things that are better -- for the animals (life without suffering), the environment (a cleaner world in which to live and raise a family), and our own health and well being.

The thing that puzzles and saddens us is that even those who see and acknowledge the benefits of choosing a meatless existence, refuse the better choice for themselves because they don't see how they could ever possibly make the change. Before ever giving veganism a try they decide that it's just too difficult. We are living proof that it doesn't have to be!

God calls us to be good stewards of all He has created and provided for us -- our money, health, and the world in which we live. Veganism is giving us the opportunity to live with new purpose and passion.  As this journey unfolds we eagerly anticipate seeing what He has next for us -- perhaps an opportunity to volunteer or work for an animal advocacy group or even the chance to go to Washington as a voice for change.

Joy and I invite you to join us on this journey! We will continue providing and sharing helpful information and tips to help and motivate you, and we encourage your questions. Please visit our Facebook page or email us at feelingveggiegood@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

We're not experts, but we are hungry for change and committed to finding ways that will help us all live healthier and more compassionate lives!


Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

The Numbers Are In -- Change Is Good

After Joy and I finished up the 30-Day Vegan Challenge I decided to have my cholesterol re-checked to determine how much improvement there has been since adopting a whole food, plant-based diet. In many of the documentaries we have watched to-date, including Vegucated and PlantPure Nation, people switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet reported amazing improvements in their weight, cholesterol, and overall health.  Since my total cholesterol and LDL levels had moved into the elevated range at my last physical in December 2015, I was eager to see how things have changed in the past six months and, in particular, since making the switch to a plant-based diet in April of this year.  Drumroll, please....

Overall, I am pleased with my results.  The weight and triglycerides still need a bit of tweaking, but I am thrilled that I am within normal ranges and finally losing weight!

Bottom line:  I have finally found what works for me and am enjoying the benefits of better health, greater compassion, and a heightened awareness of world around me.  I am living proof that positive changes can have positive results.  The best is yet to come!!





Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

Somehow I've Always Known

My entire life I have struggled with obesity.  Despite growing up in a large family where love was plentiful and acceptance was unconditional, I was burdened with an unhealthy self-image because I tended to be big-boned and plump. I still am. So what happened to change me from the self-loathing overweight teenager I was, to the happy plus-size woman I am today?

My mom and dad worked hard to make sure we ate well. Dad's long hours on the road and Mom's skills in the kitchen ensured we (a small army) had delicious food on the table.  Dad's biscuits and gravy became a Sunday tradition we looked forward to, on the weekends he was home to prepare them for us. One of my mom's signature meals was skillet-fried hamburger steaks and home fries -- I can still hear the sizzle and smell the aroma of the best meat and potatoes on the planet! We were blessed to grow up well-fed and well-loved.

Like so many American families, our holiday celebrations centered around food. At Thanksgiving and Christmas you would find three or four generations of our family seated around a large picnic table feasting Waltons-style on generous portions of traditional favorites served with a heaping side of love. To this day those gatherings are among my fondest memories.

Somehow, though, I've always known that as delicious as my diet was, it wasn't always a balanced diet. Long before the Food Pyramid existed I learned about the four food groups. Even though I realized that cookies, cakes, and ice cream were literally "off the chart" I consumed more than my fair share.  I learned that there was a correlation between how much I ate and my size, and that the choice to overeat was mine, and mine alone, yet that knowledge had little effect on my dietary choices for the first eighteen years of my life.

What I didn't know, however, is the animal cruelty that occurs and the devastating environmental impact of animal agriculture, just to put food on our tables.  What I didn't know was the direct correlation between a whole food, plant-based diet and better health.  Who knew, for instance, that all a person's protein needs can be met by eating whole grains, vegetables, nuts and seeds?   What I didn't know is that there are so many options available to us, not only for food but also for cruelty-free household and laundry products, personal care, and cosmetic items -- better options for our planet and for the animals that occupy it with us.

Now that I know these things I can't imagine going back to the status quo -- a meat-based diet heavy on calories but lacking in the nutrients I most need and reliance on other products at the sacrifice of creatures unable to defend themselves.  My choice to go vegan is about so much more than my physical well-being.

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said to me, "I could never give up meat." Recently I attended two Memorial Day weekend gatherings, both which featured traditional cookout fare, and managed to find enough menu options (some provided by myself) to leave me satisfied without consuming any meat products. Much to my delight my hosts and the other guests didn't treat me like some two-headed alien from another planet. In fact, my choice to adopt a vegan lifestyle generated some lively conversation. And did I mention they loved the vegan brownies we took for dessert?

Somehow I've always known that I could do better for myself. For the first time, perhaps, I am hopeful that I'll also be able to some good for some of God's other creatures in the process.







Copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Wike and Joy Wike. All rights reserved. www.feelingveggiegood.com

It's Not a Diet -- It's a Lifestyle

Since making the decision to become a vegetarian I have made every effort not to refer to a meatless existence as a vegetarian "diet," but rather a lifestyle.  Trust me, I have been on enough diets in my fifty-five years to know the difference -- and this is different, and better, than anything I have tried thus far. With this lifestyle there are no gimmicks, no quick tricks, no starving myself to accomplish the goal of better health and weight loss. On the contrary, I am eating sufficient quantities of delicious, nourishing food to keep me satisfied and boost my energy. For the first time in my life I have hope that I will finally lose my excess weight and keep it off because this isn't a diet, but a lifestyle choice I have made.

The decision to modify my intake of foods (still avoiding the "d---" word here) to whole food, plant-based nutrition, with no meat and very little dairy protein, has had a surprising impact on me, far beyond the weight loss that I have experienced thus far. It has heightened my awareness of environmental issues that warrant our attention and made me more conscious of those who could benefit from making similar changes to their diet. Most of all it has made me realize how thankful I am for the body God has given me and how important it is to be a good steward of my health, the environment, and the resources and family with which I have been blessed.

Every day is an adventure, filled with opportunities to learn more about this new lifestyle and to share that knowledge with others in hopes that they too will consider "living green and eating clean." Who doesn't desire or deserve better health and a sense of well-being?  Certainly, you do!  What are you waiting for?

Where's the Beef?

"Why on earth would you want to give up meat?"  That's a question that every new vegetarian will be asked. After all, you can't have a balanced diet without meat, right? Don't we need meat in order to get the right amount of protein? Well, the answer to that question is no. There are plenty of sources of protein in plant-based foods.

On April 6, 2016, I decided to drop all meat from my diet and become a vegetarian. Not once have I wistfully looked at my plate and cried, "Where's the beef?"  On the contrary, one night I dreamt that a friend invited me over for dinner and the only thing on my plate was the beef, and it wasn't even cooked!  Talk about a nightmare.

Four weeks into this adventure...

• I feel great! -- with more energy, a greater sense of well-being, and excitement about trying new foods and discovering new information. I am convinced that part of my increased energy is a result of not having to digest foods I probably shouldn't be eating anyway, including meat, refined foods, and sugar.
• I feel empowered to finally be able to take control of my weight and my health. My whole life I have struggled with being overweight. As a middle age menopausal female, this has been especially bothersome. To add insult to injury, a recent physical revealed that my cholesterol is elevated and I am considered obese. Now that I have cut meat (and most dairy) out of my diet, the needle on the bathroom scale is moving in the right direction! I have hope that by the time I have my next physical I will have lost the 20 pounds the doctor told me to lose and my cholesterol reading will have improved significantly.
• I have discovered there are things I can do to help the environment and show compassion to our animal friends. Did you know that animal agriculture generates a lot of methane (a greenhouse gas) and results in the destruction of the planet's rain forests? Those poor cows have to graze somewhere! Have you seen the inhumane methods used to produce the meat we eat? If not, watch Vegucated, the film which was the catalyst for my decision. It might just make you think twice about picking up that package of steaks in the meat section of your grocery store.
• I enjoy grocery shopping now! Each trip is an adventure and an education experience as I read labels, try new foods, and check out with a cart full of healthy fare.
• I am genuinely happy!  Happy to be on my way to better health. Happy to be doing something positive with my life, in partnership with my daughter, for the benefit of mankind, our animal friends, and our planet.

Maybe you don't think the vegetarian lifestyle is for you. After all, it's kind of hard to imagine giving up that favorite cut of steak or chicken. Or, maybe you aren't aware of the health benefits of a plant-based diet or the environmental impact of animal agriculture. If that's you, I pray you will take a look at the information linked on our Links &  Resources page and begin doing some research of your own.

We aren't here to sell you a product or make you any promises regarding your health, but rather our desire is to educate you so that you can decide in your heart what action you need to take. It's up to you to make the choice.

The Gauntlet

On April 6, 2016, I made the decision to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle, following in the footsteps of my daughter Joy, who had made a similar decision two days prior. Soon afterwards, Joy threw down a gauntlet -- a challenge, if you will -- to join her in a 12-week program to commit to eating a plant-based diet with little or no dairy and eggs, in order to maximize our health, minimize our carbon footprint, and show compassion to animals.

Pictured here is the gauntlet, the chart Joy created and gave me, which is now posted on the back of my bathroom door, where I see it often.  Not only is it a visual reminder of my weight and exercise goals, it is my reminder that we are on an adventure, doing something truly worthwhile, and that whatever sacrifices we will make along the way will be worth it in the end.

The chart also serves to motivate me and to keep me accountable to her, as she is to me. I couldn't be more proud of Joy for sharing her compassion, her vision, and her desire to make a positive difference in her world and in the lives of those she cares about. We are now in our fourth week of healthier living and two weeks into the 12-week program. Collectively we have lost 7 pounds since cutting animal products out of our diet.

Maybe you are like me -- middle-aged, menopausal, or just struggling to get the number on your bathroom scale moving in the right direction. Or maybe, like us, you are an animal lover or want to effective positive environmental change. If that's you, we invite you along for the journey! Even if you don't take up the gauntlet and try a plant-food based diet, we encourage you to follow our journey on our blog, read or view some of the books and videos we have posted on our Links & Resources  page, and educate yourself about the benefits of whole foods, plant-based diets, and environmental effects of food production, particulary in the way meat products are produced.