So basically, I went vegan in August of 2016. I was 15, and after being vegetarian for years I finally decided to give veganism a try. I stuck with it constantly for a few months before I started to fall off the wagon.

It started out small. A piece of cheese here, a milkshake there. And then this past April I became more independent (I got a car), and it got really bad. I started eating meat again. Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Subway, etc. almost every day. Basically eating like shit and lying to everyone about it.

I was ashamed. My mental health issues definitely played a factor in why I was doing this, but it probably also had something to do with the fact that my family is not vegan so I have to buy my own food. They don’t eat a lot of fruits and vegetables so if I wanted some I would have to buy them myself. On top of having to pay for it, I would have to cook it (or eat it raw) myself, and going back to my mental health, motivation was something that I was severely lacking.

Today I rewatched Cowspiracy. And I am determined to do better. I cooked dinner for myself tonight. It wasn’t necessarily healthy (baked tofu, sautéed mushrooms and onions, white rice and loooots of soy sauce) but it was vegan. 100% plant based.

I didn’t go vegan in the first place for my health. I went vegan for the animals and because our planet is dying. So today I ate vegan. Tomorrow I will eat vegan, and every day that follows, I will eat vegan.

I will do better. It’s a new beginning, and I say no more.

I don’t care if I live off of Oreos and French fries for the rest of my life, i will do this.