I chose to explore the topic of food sustainability not only because I’m interested in the topic, but because I also wanted to learn ways I could change my everyday habits to be more sustainable. Going into the project, I didn’t really know what this would look like or if I would be able to change my habits based on what I learned. However, In the middle of the first week of senior project, I decided to go vegan. This felt right for multiple reasons. With all the crazy and slightly disturbing new information I was learning about (the impact of meat and dairy production and consumption), I felt motivated to change this part of my diet. I have been cutting dairy out of my diet recently for health reasons, so I thought why not go all the way. I almost feel hesitant to share this information because of the stereotypes that often come with the label of the “diet”. I can imagine that this might be a reason why many don’t even consider cutting out animal products from their diet or even limit them in their diets. Because I’m home and don’t have the influence of anyone else that could change my food habits, I don’t feel too self-conscious about making this change. However, I wonder If we were not in this situation and I did have the influence of my peers, if I would make this same decision. I think senior projects are always a unique learning experience, but being stuck inside has allowed me to really experiment and notice my everyday habits more than I have had the chance to anywhere else.

I’ve been really surprised how natural and easy this diet has been for me. It almost feels like I haven’t made any changes. This is probably partly due to the fact that I rarely eat meat at home and I often chose milk substitutions. For people who are used to meat and dairy as a part of their everyday routines, culture, or traditions, I can imagine that these changes might seem very limiting and difficult. I also feel very lucky because I have access to a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. If someone decided to go vegan but lived in a food desert, not having this essential part of the diet would make the transition really difficult. With circumstances of food insecurity in mind, I have been paying attention to the accessibility and pricing of my food to see if a vegan diet is really as expensive as stereotyped. However, I think I’ve actually reduced the cost per serving of what I eat. I found that eating whole grains and vegetables have actually kept me fuller longer, reduced the number of shopping trips I have to make, while still making food enjoyable and exciting. Staples like rice and many plant-based proteins like beans are pretty inexpensive and last a very long time. Even if people can’t go completely vegan, I think incorporating these types of foods as the majority of one’s diet (a “flexitarian” diet) would be a major step in food sustainability. It seems that even with a strict budget, making these changes would likely be very doable.