As a child, I loved liver and chicken. That is, until at the age of four when I asked my mum where meat comes from and her answer quickly put an end to my carnivorous ways. I did continue to eat fish, but my conscience eventually got the better of me and five years later, I stopped eating that, too.
So you could say that I've been well and truly 'clean' for over twenty years now - if you overlook the handful of bacon-eating incidents during my student days (which, incidentally, always went hand in hand with having drunk too much alcohol) and the fact that I still wear leather shoes. It's possibly a bit hypocritical (and something I secretly feel guilty about), but even though I've finally got over the bacon binges, I still haven't found the time to search out stylish non-leather footwear.
For such a 'committed' vegetarian though, the thought of turning vegan had never crossed my mind until recently. I certainly couldn't imagine living without dairy products. Quite fortunate, really, when you consider that I live in the cheese-loving country of Switzerland where vegetarians are automatically served a traditional cheesy dish, and veganism is practically unheard of.
I subconsciously started turning my back on vegetarianism when I developed a love-hate relationship with eggs. I stopped eating them literally overnight and actually felt sick at the mere thought of them. Yet as quickly as my aversion to eggs materialized, so it just as swiftly disappeared to be replaced by the opposite extreme; fried, scrambled, boiled, poached or omeletted - I just couldn't get enough of those eggs. This phenomenon has now been taking place for the past few years and my poor husband still can't keep up with my current fad or logic.
But my epiphany was breastfeeding. I was adamant that my daughter would be fed on breast milk, for no other reason than it felt right. And as I lovingly nursed her through the days and nights, I began to reflect on the bizarreness of feeding baby humans on the milk of another mammal species.
I did some research on the internet and was shocked to learn the facts about cow milk production: cows are kept constantly pregnant, usually through artificial insemination, to ensure a constant milk supply, and calves are often taken away from their mothers within 24 hours after birth, leaving machines to milk what by right belongs to the calves.
I was even more shocked at myself, however, for never considering what a cow had to go through just so I could have a glass of milk. Imagine all that happening to human mothers! My eyes were wrenched open and although I haven't been too successful so far, I've certainly made a conscious to turn towards veganism.
I've stopped drinking milk as a drink in itself and although I've been trying to wean myself off adding it to black tea (a typical English habit) by substituting herbal tea, my good intentions have had an adverse effect, and I now drink much more coffee than I did previously, especially cappuccinos made with a small dash of espresso and a large splash of milk.
I've tried soya milk as an alternative, but I just can't seem to get away with it. I've also experimented with almond and rice milk, but I don't like the taste of either of them. So for the moment, I'm continuing to eat my porridge with cows' milk, but I realise that something's got to give. Either I've got to get used to the taste of non-dairy milk or simply learn to live without. But I'm not that far along the path yet. For the moment, I've cut down my dairy consumption to a minimum and have faith that one day soon, I'll be ready to go cold turkey.
Cutting out cheese has been much easier although if it weren't for my husband and daughter, both of whom are cheese fanatics, I'd have completely stopped eating it long before now. Whereas before I would have chosen a cheesy-based recipe for our main meal of the day, I now actively cook up dishes incorporating protein-rich lentils and beans, much to my husband's dissatisfaction - but I've managed to convince him it's far better for his health.
At least I no longer need to worry about eggs. None of the family likes them, and I've been off them (again!) for well over a year now and can't see me ever returning to my egg-devouring ways. At least that's one small step in the right direction.
As for my daughter, she'll remain a vegetarian until she's old enough to decide for herself whether she wants to eat meat or otherwise. My husband is not in complete agreement with her vegetarian diet, so I think this is only fair, but in the meantime, at least I can serve up the occasional dairy-free meal for the whole family to enjoy.
So this is where I am on my pathway. I've still got a very long way to go - I still love cakes, biscuits, milk chocolate and quiche - but I've come to the conclusion that just as it took me many years to break the meat- and fish-eating habit, so too it will be with my conversion to veganism. I only hope that in my next reincarnation, I'll be born into a family, religion and culture where being raised as a vegan is the norm. It'll make my next life so much simpler!
--Melanie Bucher turned vegetarian at the age of four after being horrified to learn where meat comes from. She's originally from England but now lives in Switzerland, looking after her meat-loving husband and boisterous vegetarian daughter. As well as being a mother, she also works as a Business English lecturer and part-time writer.
