"But bacon..."

We get it. Bacon's good, but there's so many benefits of going vegan, I think it outweighs the bacon!

1. It tastes amazing.

When you first think of vegan food, you probably don't think of delicious, gourmet food. But maybe you should! There's so many vegan and vegetarian restaurants now, as well as pre-made vegan meals, etc to help you out, but most importantly, the foundation of your diet is now fruit and vegetables, which is easily accessible almost anywhere!

2. No calorie counting.

Committing to a high-carb low-fat vegan lifestyle means no more counting calories! Because your body naturally runs on glucose from complex carbs, like the ones found in fruits (not processed food!), these calories are burned as energy instead of stored as fat. And no, white bread does not count as a complex carbohydrate. Don't even go there.

3. Your body will be healthier.

Because you get so many vitamins and minerals from a healthy vegan diet (just because it's vegan doesn't mean it's healthy! Oreos are vegan.) you will probably start to notice an increase in energy, and you will have a stronger immune system than on the SAD (Standard American Diet).

4. Animals are friends.

By choosing a vegan lifestyle, you are no longer contributing to the torture and enslavement of animals like pigs, cows, chickens, etc. All you have to do is type "Animal Abuse in Factory Farms" into Google, and thousands and thousands of videos will show up, there to inform you about just how mistreated these animals really are. While some farms are better than others, is it ever morally right to kill or enslave other living beings for our benefit?

5. You're preserving the planet.

Animal farming is completely responsible for the release of the gas Carbon Dioxide, which is one of the leading causes of global warming today. It also takes much less water, land, and feed to grow plants than to keep animals alive.

6. Athletes will get better proteins.

One of the most common questions about veganism is, "Where do you get your protein?" Vegans can get their protein from many many sources, such as beans, legumes, dark leafy greens, and other elements of their diet. These complex forms of plant proteins are actually healthier for the body than animal proteins, especially when eaten by athletes in large quantities.

7. You may lose some weight.

Veganism is a lifestyle, not a quick fix or a diet, so seeing drastic results could take some time, but most vegans I know have all lost a significant amount of weight with the vegan lifestyle. This is probably because most plant based foods are much less calorically dense than animal and dairy products.

8. You'll reduce your risk.

The vegan lifestyle has been scientifically proven to lower risk of both cancer and heart disease.

What can you eat as a vegan?

1. Avocados (that means guacamole!)

2. Fruit Smoothies

3. Salads

4. Cheesecakes (without dairy!)

5. Veggie Burritos

6. Acai Bowls

7. Veggie Enchiladas

8. Avocado-Chocolate Pudding

9. Nice-Cream (made with 100% fruit)

10. Almond Milk

11. Juices

12. Soy Burgers (but keep this low, it's processed!)

13. Waffles

14. Pancakes

15. And so much more!

Best of all, you'll discover an amazing community of supportive people ready to help you along your journey!

So why not commit to trying veganism for a week, a month, a year? Or try vegetarian! You won't regret it!