Our kids are definitely holier than us—no contest. We raised them as vegetarians, but somewhere along the way, they soared past us, landing gently (and firmly) in vegan territory. One of them even went full raw vegan.
And while we parents could easily polish off a bottle a day without blinking, these two chose to be complete teetotallers. No lecture, no drama—just quiet conviction. Somehow, they instinctively opted for clarity while we reached for another glass. These two are teetotallers. Not a drop!
When they were younger, I chauffeured them everywhere, my car radio faithfully serving up a steady diet of classic rock. Yet, these two old souls preferred Aarthi Paatu from Bala Vihar or Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Not exactly the playlist I expected from kids buckled into booster seats.
They don’t emulate their parents; they create their own paths—paths that, eventually, we parents find ourselves walking on behind them, slowly, reluctantly… and then gratefully.
In October 2021, I finally stopped protesting. I went vegan.
We were visiting our daughter in Hawaii, which made the transition surprisingly pleasant. I told myself I’d try it just for the three-week vacation. Why not?
But something unexpected happened. I felt good—clean, light, energised in a way I hadn’t in years. So I stretched those three weeks into another month. That month became several.
At my next check-up, my doctor reviewed my meds, raised an eyebrow, and cut them in half. A year later, she told me to stop them altogether.
Somewhere in that journey, I also lost about 25 pounds and gained a kind of energy I thought was reserved for teenagers and hummingbirds.
“From the mouths of babes,” they say.
Turns out, from the choices of babes, too.
Fast-forward to the end of 2025. Four years strong.
Still vegan. Still feeling great. Still enduring the occasional ridiculing, eye-rolling, and unsolicited protein questions. And yet—I’m healthier, happier, and living with a much smaller carbon footprint. Morally and ethically, I’m in a peaceful place.
After all, there’s a fine line between neurosis and psychosis—and somewhere along that line, I found clarity, compassion, and a plate full of plants.
Dr Michael Greger’s book How Not to Die has been a big influence. https://nutritionfacts.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJSfPjA4s50
Why these celebrities went vegan: https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/features/vegan-celebrities/
The Video that Made me Vegan: