Warning - This got long!
Don't worry, I didn't take this as a criticism at all. I'm super thankful for this thread because not only do I not know anyone in real life who is a vegan, let alone a vegetarian. Having a place like this to talk about issues, ideas (especially when they concern Disney and Orlando-obviously a love for all of us), is a godsend to me.
Here is my take on it. I'm a new vegan (baby vegan, lol) as well as I wasn't a vegetarian for that long. I made the switch to vegetarianism on November 10, 2009. I did it right before Thanksgiving, and once I made up my mind there was no saying I'll wait till after Thankgiving or wait till the new year. Nope, I just made the decision and did it cold turkey and never looked back. I guess I was a vegetarian in training for a long time, but I still ate meat and the times I thought about going vegetarian I would feel like I couldn't do it. In my heart I wanted to do it, and I knew someday I was.......but I wasn't in a place yet to feel comfortable to just do it. On November 9th I went to lunch with DH and we stopped at the bookstore. I had been wanting to buy The Kind Diet, and I bought it that day. I said to DH, I bet you think I woudln't become a vegetarian. He said.......No, I think you would. That night he made Chicken tortilla soup and when I ate it......it was just super disgusting (the chicken). From that meal on I haven't eaten meat.
The summer prior to this, I had done a lot of research on vegan and raw diets. I don't believe in eating a totally raw diet or even a mostly raw, but I love incorporating lots of fresh foods and raw recipes are really intriguing to me. At that time, I struggled with not eating meat.......I really didn't think I could become a vegan, but it intrigued me. Once I became a vegetarian and I also read The Kind Diet. I loved how she introduced the idea to the mainstream of "flirting" as a vegan. So flirting is what I did. I began to experiment with things like earth balance, almond milk, hemp and other milks, dairy free ice creams, etc. Cheese seemed like I could NEVER EVER give it up, but I learned to use hummus in quasadillas and find other alternatives like that. I didn't put any pressure on myself, I was just "flirting". Around the end of April, I started seeing how many days I could go eating vegan. Each day got easier. Then on May 2nd, my family went to Panera. I wanted to try the vegan options.........but my internal voice won and I had dairy. Afterwards I thought.......WHY????? It wasn't even that good. So the next day, I picked back up and went to see how many days I could not eat vegan. That was the last day I ate something that wasn't vegan.
For me, this journey hasn't been easy. It's been a self discovery and I'm always happy when I think about what I'm doing. I mean......how can you not be happy when your saving the lives of innocent animals. But.....I haven't been this way long. For the most part, the things I gave up disgust me and I'm really particular about making sure someone doesn't cross contaminate when they are making my food (because that really disgusts me). But........meat being grilled still smells good (because I've been around it all my life), and for instance when we were camping I did miss it because of the smells. Not that I would have given in, even for a second.......because I wouldn't have - but it still smelt good. For me, this has been a period of learning to love new foods and finding out how animal products are so not necessary to enjoy foods or life. It's been easy, but then again it's been hard. For instance.......going to a Christening on July 4th, we had been camping all weekend so I couldn't bring anything. We were in an area without good choices of places to eat and the only thing at the catered event I could eat was lettuce. The potatoes, carrots and bread all had butter on them. Every dish had meat and/or dairy except the lettuce. So I sat there and ate my big plate of lettuce. I did feel anxiety that DH's family would judge me and make fun of me. Overall it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I did have a veggie sandwich from Sub-way on the drive from the campsite. Everyone went back to one of the brother's house and they cooked hamburgers and hot dogs. Luckily I did bring some hummus, crackers and peanut butter. That was enough to satisfy me until DH stopped and got me a pinto bean taco from taco bell on the way home.
Sorry - I'm not even sure where I'm going with this anymore but to say.......the words butter and beer don't repulse me right now. I struggle with the wanting to experience what everyone else is experiencing and work hard to find things I can have ahead of time so I'm not standing there feeling deprived. Part of this journey is learning that as a vegan you don't have to be deprived of foods. Just because I can't have this when I'm out doesn't mean I can never have it. I can make it, or there are lots of goodies that are vegan out there. I had the best coconut bar (sort of like a magic cookie bar) when we went on my daughter's college orientation. This vegetarian/vegan restaurant was the bomb!! Am I little sad that I don't get to enjoy all the gooey ooey sweets in WDW while we are there, especially since I will have to watch my family eat desserts since we have the QSDP and we will have 18 snack credits - of course. Will I mourn all the desserts at Boma, especially Zebra Domes which were my all time favorite - yep! But - I bet I gain less weight on vacation (it adds up eating junk like that for 2 weeks straight), and I'll probably try some amazing things I would have never eaten had I not become a vegan. Will I smile with each bite knowing I'm making a difference on an animals life - You bet
As for the butter beer. The jury is still out if I'll have a sip. The name doesn't disgust me...........but the foam on top sounds artificial and disgusting. You should see the way I am at home. I don't buy something unless the ingredient list is small and I know what's in it (and it's natural and most likely organic). I'm actually looking foward to the pumpkin juice though.
AND - OMG egg Soda and Meat Juice. That's enough to conjur up some seriously awful thoughts. I guess and hope eventually that the word butter will do that to me. I would imagine since I eat earth balance and still think of it as putting butter on my toast (heck after 41 years that's hard to change that thinking). I guess since I don't eat meat or eggs and there are no substitutes that is why the words sounds grosser. Ice Cream doesn't bother me and I now eat non dairy versions - but I still call it Ice Cream.
Ok.......whew! Sorry that got so long. I didn't mean to write a novel!
2 more sleeps!!! I'm so excited!!