Page 110 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2016

HEALTHY LIVING veg out
Life after giving up the consumption of meat
story by Susan Ruddiman photos by James Edward Bates and courtesy of Madison Talley and Lisa Christopher
AMANDA Keith
MADISON Talley
MARK Talley
LISA Christopher
wo years ago, Amanda Keith of Gulfport made the decision to become a vegan.
“I worked for a
dairy, and took a vacation. During that time, I watched
documentaries and was presented information that made me decide I didn’t want to participate in eating meat any longer,” she said. “I stopped eating animals and animal products.”
Keith found the vegan approach was a catalyst to change other areas in her life by cutting back on alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, eliminating some prescriptions and changing jobs. “It was the best decision I’ve made in my entire life,” she said.
Madison and Mark Talley of Ocean Springs adopted a vegetarian lifestyle almost a year ago. “We were revolted
by how the animals are treated, and we didn’t want to be part of that. We didn’t like the idea of what it could do to our bodies. We felt it wouldn’t harm us if we cut meat out of our diet,” Madison said. “We feel great.”
Keith and the Talleys represent the two main types of a vegetarian diet. The vegetarian doesn’t eat any animal
product or part, however will consume dairy products such as milk, cream, cheese and eggs. The vegan excludes any animal products and parts as well as dairy items or products made by an animal such as honey.
The Vegetarian Society lists the four main groups of vegetarians as:
• Lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat both dairy
products and eggs; this is the most
common type of vegetarian diet.
• Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products
but avoid eggs.
• Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy
products.
• Vegans do not eat dairy products,
eggs, or any other products which are
derived from animals.
“The change has been difficult because
the world doesn’t cater to vegans,” Keith said. “I had to do a lot of research to help me transition.” Among the documentaries she recommends for research are
“Forks Over Knives,” “Vegucated” and “Earthings,” and books are “The China Study” and “How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.”
Keith prepares and eats most of her food at home. On a typical day, she will have oatmeal with blueberries, almond milk and coffee with a soy based vanilla
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