This summer I made the decision to do something that many Latins often hesitate to attempt: become a vegan.<\/p>\n
Being Latina and a vegan is difficult since most of our traditional meals consist of meat: arroz con pollo, tripletas, mofongo, alcapurria, pinchos, <\/em>the list goes on. I think it\u2019s especially difficult for students to make this change when they\u2019re living away from home the first time.<\/p>\n But my goal to try this new lifestyle was simply to try to be healthier, both through my diet and exercise. And from this journey I must say I have felt more energetic, especially in my morning classes, satisfied and not too full after eating. I also have become more enlightened by thoroughly searching labels.<\/p>\n I remember back home during family dinners there would be separate dishes for my vegan brother and sister-in-law, and questions posed to them about why they didn\u2019t eat anything that came from animals. But still I thought, \u201cWhy not give this vegan lifestyle a shot?\u201d<\/p>\n The only way I was going to \u201cveganize\u201d my life was to immerse myself so there wouldn\u2019t be any temptations. My brother and sister-in-law live with my family, so I was able to thoroughly observe what their clean, plant-based diet was all about. They briefed me on their ways.<\/p>\n Weeks before my transition, I slowly gave up eating meat as recommended by my brother and sister-in-law so the shock on my body wouldn\u2019t be so intense. I was ready for the challenge\u2026<\/p>\n Since I started my plant-based diet Aug. 1, the change has been a wake-up call and an ordeal on my taste buds and wallet.<\/p>\n Other observations about my new direction:<\/p>\n