Beans, tofu, soymilk, tempeh. These foods are all too familiar to the vegan community. Whether it’s because of strong opinions on animal rights or a desire to eat healthier, vegans go out of their way everyday to find alternatives to the animal products that society loves so much. Isabel Sandweiss, a sophomore at Community High School, is currently participating in Lent this year, andshe has decided to become a vegan.

Every year, millions of Christians all around the world, in the days leading up to Easter, participate in faithful fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence.  This traditin is called Lent, and this year, itstarted Wednesday, February 22, and ends Thursday, April 5. Sandweiss states that although she is not a Christian, she does Lent every year because she enjoys the challenge. “It’s cool challenging yourself in life because it keeps you occupied,” she said. Many of her friends participate in it for fun, too.

Currently, Sandweiss is still adapting to the vegan lifestyle. “So far I haven’t really missed meat, but I do miss Greek yogurt and all the products that have eggs in them. The foods I miss the most are chocolate, spaghetti with meatballs, and waffles,” she said.

Sandweiss got the idea of becoming a vegan cousin who lives in Ann Arbor. “My cousin helps with meals and stuff. [She also] helps me find alternatives for meat and dairy,” Sandweiss said. Some substitutes she uses for meat and protein include tofu, tempeh, beans, nuts, hummus, and Portabella mushrooms. She replaces dairy with soymilk, rice, almond, and coconut milk. “Vegan food isn’t that bad, and I feel good knowing that I’m making healthier choices,” she said. According to the National Dietary and Nutrition Association, a vegan diet is much healthier and more nutritional than a normal diet because your body isn’t consuming all the fat and chemicals found in meat and dairy.

CHS freshman Fiona McKillop has been a vegan since they* were 12. Their inspiration came through a dream, in which they became an animal activist saving animals all around the world. “When I woke up I really felt like I should do something about it, so I decided to become a vegan,” they said.

Because McKillop’s whole family is vegan, they ate vegan food most of the time even before McKillop officially decided to switch. “The transition wasn’t that bad and my family welcomed me to the tradition,” McKillop said.  Today, McKillop feels like part of a global movement dedicated to saving animals. “Being a vegan feels good because you know you aren’t killing or using animals for their products and you’re making a healthier diet choice,” they said.

Sandweiss’s parents were supportive of the idea of her becoming a vegan for Lent. “We are glad that Isabel is presenting herself with a challenge and trying a different lifestyle. However sometimes it can be a pain having to get so many vegan products at the grocery store,” said Sandweiss’s mom, Susan.

When Sandweiss wasn’t a vegan she had dairy daily in her breakfast and often had at least one meat and/or dairy product for lunch, dinner, or snack. “I guess you could say it was a pretty big transition but I definitely feel a lot healthier physically,” she said. Sandweiss also says that a part of her is very happy knowing that animals weren’t used and killed for her food. “I feel a lot less guilty for the food I eat now and it definitely makes me feel like a better person,” she said. “Once Lent is through I hope the guilt of eating meat and dairy products won’t rush to me too quickly.”

Although Sandweiss has enjoyed this vegan experience, she says that when Lent is over she is going to transition back to eating meat and dairy products. When asked what she would say to the non-vegan crowd, she replied, “There’s nothing wrong with not being a vegan but in this past week, I already feel healthier.”