Do You Really Want That Piece of Cake?

Recently I attended a church dinner with my husband.  Church dinners are not typically vegan-friendly affairs so I ate dinner before I went.  Passing up a plate of pork loin and mashed potatoes was not a big deal for me. I had only to consider the faces of some animal friends to be okay with my choice to abstain from the main course.  However, the homemade rolls and apple cake were very tempting, as was the desire to break bread with friends. The rolls were certainly meatless and possibly even made without eggs or milk, as bread often is, though I couldn't know for sure. But I knew the cake was a big no-no because it was surely made with milk, eggs, and butter.  I must confess, in a moment of weakness I caved -- to the curious glances and questions of my fellow dinner partners, and the justification to myself that as a former vegetarian I wouldn't hesitate to turn down that piece of cake. 

Don't judge me.  I've already judged myself.  And my body certainly didn't let me off easy! After nearly 22 months of abstaining from all animal products -- including dairy and eggs -- the cake, as delicious as it was and as badly as I thought I wanted it, nearly made me sick to my stomach.  Live and learn -- or better said, learn and live.

Last night as I sat down to a completely vegan, cruelty-free meal, I once more savored not only the taste of something really delicious and nourishing but also the feeling of complete satisfaction -- not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.

Temptation comes in many forms, but from now on my choice will be the apple rather than the apple cake!




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

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Joy and I just took our first vegan vacation. Thought I'd reflect on a few of the differences between this year's vacation and our similar vacation last year.

In 2016 Joy and I traveled to the Memphis area and then to Arkansas to visit family and friends and eat our fill of all our favorite foods from back home -- Corky's barbecue, southern-fried catfish, and our favorite Chinese and Mexican cuisine.  At the time we traveled we were omnivores and I was twenty pounds heavier than I am today.  During that vacation we discussed coming home and making every effort to "eat clean" by eliminating processed foods and meat from our diet -- AFTER we ate all our favorite foods!  During the ten days we traveled I gained four pounds.  On April 6, the day after we returned, we became vegetarians and six weeks later adopted a fully vegan lifestyle.

Fast forward to our vacation to the same destinations this year, from which we have just returned. Slimmer and determined to stay true to our convictions, we packed our own breakfast knowing that the hotels in which we stayed would have little to offer us from their complimentary breakfast menus. We still ate in restaurants and grabbed fast food along the way -- mostly vegan Subway and Taco Bell options -- but we grocery shopped upon our arrival in Arkansas and cooked three easy vegan dinner meals for my sister and mother, neither of whom are vegan.  Despite ten days of having little or no exercise, I managed to come back weighing the same as the day we left, simply because we ate whole and minimally processed plant-based foods.  Instead of dining in the same restaurants we did last year, we sought out restaurants that catered to vegetarian and vegan diners and were delightfully surprised by the quality and variety of food available to us.  Who knew that a portabello mushroom burger could be so satisfying, or that the vegan-friendly options at Olive Garden include their famously delicious breadsticks?

As plant-eaters we found that the long days of travel, though tiring, were not nearly as taxing because we ate light and had more energy.  We consumed less caffeine and rested better at night -- except for the one night we were booked into a hotel with a bunch of noisy rodeo participants -- and we drank lots of water along the way.  Did we feel deprived?  Not really.  Did we miss our traditional barbecue meal?  Nope.  We enjoyed a vegan version of a barbecue sandwich that more than adequately satisfied or craving for Memphis barbecue!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate our first year of healthy living than by road testing our lifestyle and showing others that being vegan is not as difficult as they might think. While my family may never fully adopt a plant-based lifestyle, at least they were able to sample some of what we eat routinely and see for themselves that as vegans Joy and I really haven't changed  We still enjoy delicious food.  We're still the same kooky, fun-loving gals we've always been.  We're just a little thinner and a whole lot healthier and happier!

For better health,

Dee Dee




Copyright 2016-2017 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

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.

Why I Became a Vegetarian

Like many people I grew up eating meat. Chicken, catfish, barbecue, hotdogs, and the occasional burger. Being from Memphis, I especially loved catfish and barbecue, but I never gave a second thought about what I was truly eating. A couple of months ago I began watching "what I eat in a day" videos on YouTube. I stumbled across some vegan ones and became interested. All the food was obviously healthy and looked really good. I figured I could lose some weight and get healthier, but I didn't know the environmental and animal benefits that would come from this diet/lifestyle change. Before leaving for a spring-break trip, my mom and I watched Food Inc., which was good but didn't show a whole lot about the meat and dairy industry and its impact on the environment and animals. I ate my fair share of meat and dairy while on this trip, but I planned to go vegan when I got back.

Upon returning from my trip, my mom and I sat down to watch Vegucated which was definitely an eye-opening film for me and my mom. Before having watched this particular documentary I was mostly looking at going vegan because I figured I could lose a lot of weight, and get healthier. However, after watching this film my mindset began to change. I started to feel compassion, sadness, and anger. After watching only that one vegan centered film I felt so much more knowledgeable, and I wanted to watch more films like it! My mindset changed from being focused on just losing weight to wanting to help these animals, and the earth.

Since then I have watched Cowspiracy and Forks Over Knives  , both extremely good documentaries showing the health benefits of a plant-based diet and the environmental impacts the meat and dairy industries have on the world. I have been meat-free and vegetarian since April 4th and I have no desire or intentions on going back to being a meat eater. I have been consuming some dairy and egg products, but after watching Cowspiracy I would really like to try to eliminate those from my diet. One thing that I have experienced since going vegetarian is happiness. That's really the best way to describe it. I feel so happy knowing that I'm doing better for the earth and especially the animals. I have also become more aware of animal testing and I plan from now on to only buy cruelty-free and "no animal testing" products.

I hope that people see this blog and watch some of these documentaries in an effort to become healthier, happier, and live a better life. So many people are vegetarians and vegans now and there are so many different resources out there. Today, in fact, I purchased my first plant-based book! I would also like to add I am no expert in nutrition or really anything else. I'm learning just like everyone else reading this! But now that I know some things I intend to change my actions and put in effort to learn more and help spread the word about a more plant-based diet and its impact on animals and the world. Hope y'all enjoy!

Our "Vegucated" Life

For weeks my daughter has been toying with the idea of adopting a vegan lifestyle, consuming only plant-based and whole foods and NO animal products.  I am not entirely sure what prompted her to consider doing something so radical, especially knowing how much our entire family loves good food. However, her interest in good health and wise dietary choices were not something I could ignore and with the increased choices of organic and vegan foods it is certainly feasible.

Before going on our recent vacation I sat down with her to watch a documentary, Food, Inc., an eye-opening film which "examines the costs of putting value and convenience over nutrition and environmental impact."[i]  After watching the film I made the decision to eat more whole and organic foods, and fewer processed ones, particularly since I have always struggled with being overweight and have experienced a recent rise in my bad cholesterol. Simple enough, right?

Shortly after watching Food, Inc., we took a family vacation and traveled back home to Tennessee to visit family and friends.  One of our goals was to eat some of our favorite foods which we have not been able to find since our move to another part of the country. We relished every bite of Memphis barbecue, southern-fried cornmeal-breaded catfish, and Chinese food we consumed.  That I only gained five pounds in that week of indulgences was nothing short of a miracle!

Upon our return home, Joy resumed the task of educating herself, asking me to sit down with her to watch another documentary, Vegucated, the story of “three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Lured by tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover the hidden sides of animal agriculture that make them wonder whether solutions offered in films like Food, Inc. go far enough.”[ii]  Joy and I were moved to tears and so disturbed by what we saw that we both decided to immediately eliminate meat from our diets, not only because of our health but perhaps even more importantly because of animal cruelty and the negative impact of animal agriculture on our environment.

Joy and I have decided that for now we will be lacto-ovo vegetarians (consuming no meat but allowing ourselves eggs and dairy products in small amounts).  We may eventually go vegan all the way.  After a week of consuming no meat and trying diligently to eat whole, unprocessed foods, I feel more energetic and healthy. I have lost 4 of the 5 pounds I gained during our vacation, despite eating my fill.  Because there are more good choices out there than ever before, I have not once felt deprived.  I still get to enjoy my husband’s delicious homemade veggie pizza, and what’s not to love about that?

Why am I telling you all this? It’s certainly not to condemn your choice to eat meat or, on the other hand, to persuade you to adopt a strictly vegan lifestyle.  But as an animal lover who has become more aware of the environment since moving to the beautiful state of Virginia, I feel compelled to do my small part to prevent animal cruelty and to help effect positive change in our environment. 

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[i] http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/food-inc/

[ii] http://www.getvegucated.com/

Copyright © 2016 by Dee Dee Wike. All rights reserved. www.deedeewike.com