A Psychologist’s Journey to Finding Herself Through Veganism
Introduction
From a young age, there was nothing that Angela Crawford did half way. Shy and introverted by nature, she had an insatiable curiosity about the world and her place in it.
A voracious reader, Angela spent an idyllic childhood in Midwestern farm country, watching cows peacefully grazing in open fields and rafting in a nearby lake. She loved animals, especially her pet cat and the family of stuffed toys that she took with her everywhere.
“It was disturbing,” she once said in an interview. “I realized that if I didn’t like how the workers were treated, I would be appalled if I saw the slaughter process or how the animals were treated. For the first time in my life, I began to consider the systems that produced my food.”
Angela Crawford prepares a nutritious vegan meal, showcasing her passion for healthy, plant-based cooking
The first recipe she picked out was a roasted red pepper and artichoke lasagna, mid-way through which, she had to drive to K-mart to buy the appropriate pots and pans.
As her childhood conditioning unravelled, Angela continued reading about vegetarian ethics and lifestyle. Gradually, she absorbed that despite what her upbringing and culture had taught her, she did not need meat to thrive physically.
She also learned that whole food plant-based diets have been shown to reverse heart disease, diabetes, and many forms of cancer and auto-immune disease. But what impacted her the most were the stories about how the animals are bred, raised, and slaughtered, and the cruelty and pain inherent in every step of the process.
“At that point, I knew I needed to speak my truth,” Angela said. “I’m no longer eating meat.”
So, she once again turned to books. The 30 Day Vegan Challenge and Main Street Vegan helped her with many practical skills for living a vegan lifestyle. She also learned skills for communicating with others about my choices.
Through her research, Angela took in the reality that the living conditions for dairy cows and egg-laying hens are as cruel as those endured by animals raised for meat, and that at the end of their relatively short lives, they go through the same slaughter process.
She also mentors vegans and compassionate advocates to flourish emotionally, find their authentic voice, and express their unique gifts toward creating a healthier and more compassionate world.
Veganism also helped Angela explore her dream of writing. She recently researched and wrote a book on the transformational impact of a vegan lifestyle for mind, body, and spirit (to be published by Lantern Publishing & Media in 2025).
Angela Crawford’s journey from an introverted, compassionate child to a vegan transformation coach and author highlights the profound impact of living true to our deepest values.
As Angela herself has shown, each step towards a more ethical life is a step towards greater health, awareness, and fulfillment—encouraging us all to consider the legacies we wish to leave behind.
- Interested in the whole food plant-based diet? Learn more here.
- Follow updates about Angela’s work and her book through her newsletter.
- Check out Main Street Vegan Academy for courses to become a certified vegan
coach.
Together! Lets show the world the power of a plant-based lifestyle
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