Tag Archives: health

Vegan Like Me No. 5

by

Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world!  We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that.  If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.

Name:  Jade

Where do you live?  New Jersey

How long have you been vegan?  15 Years

What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet?   An interest in what is in my food and where my food comes from began at a young age. That curiosity coupled with a love for animals an increasing amount of knowledge regarding the treatment of animals in the food industry as well as the health benefits have led me to become a vegan. Growing up I went from eating pretty well as a kid with a father who was a chef of Chinese cuisine to suddenly having to eat a lot of fast food and cheap junk foods from the grocery store when my parents split. The lack of fresh produce in my household from age 6 and up definitely made me want those things in my diet so much more than a lot of kids I’m sure. I craved it!

What do you love most about being vegan?  I love that it makes me feel like I’m doing something good for myself, my family and the planet. Compassion is something we are born with, but as time goes by we start to let it slip out of different aspects of our lives such as with fashion, food, etc. Ultimately, you can choose where you put your money and it is an easy way to actively do something good.

What three items do you always have in your pantry?  Almond Milk, Nutritional Yeast, Dulse Flakes (seaweed flakes).

What is your favorite vegan comfort food?  My own personal breakfast specialty… vegan chocolate chip pancakes.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet?  Go for it!! It is so much easier these days then when I was 15! I had help when I was younger from friends and I recommend making sure you have some support when you do it, but definitely keep treats and snacks with you at all times to help you transition. You will have a much easier time going vegan if you are always ready to replace sweets and meals at social functions!

Do you find anything difficult about being vegan?  When people tease you for being “different” at family gatherings or in school. I don’t really have that problem anymore, but I know a lot of people who do and it makes me sad… as long as you’re not judging others at those gatherings – people should just be supportive of your beliefs if they love you! It is a misconception that vegans “miss out” on things as well and that is a huge pet peeve. Eat a yummy cupcake for 5 minutes that possibly had something to do with an animal living a miserable life? Yes, chickens who lay eggs that are probably in that cupcake were probably miserable packed in a cage where they got pooped on and pecked at, etc. No thanks, I can have a yummy vegan cupcake when I get home… I can seriously wait like an hour… what is the big deal about this…lol. I also get the argument for free range eggs and more humane animal sourced foods and I support people who make an effort to source that way, but if it is me I’d rather opt for plant-based foods since, in my opinion, it is the best healthfully, ethically and of course just as yummy!

Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add?  I occasionally make vegan bento boxes for my son who is 7 years old that you can check out here: http://mumbentobot.tumblr.com.  Also, I’m an illustrator so you can check out my Etsy shop at http://mumbot.etsy.com if you’d like!  Good luck!

Thank you so much, Jade!

Vegan Like Me No. 4

by

Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world!  We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that.  If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.

Name:  Cassandra Meehan

Cassandra, Vegan for 9 years

Where do you live?  Melbourne, Australia

How long have you been vegan?  About 9 years

What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet?  I had been vegetarian since I was 13, granted, my vegetarianism started through peer group pressure (my group of new-found friends were veg), but it slowly grew to be a huge part of my life. I became vegetarian purely for ethical reasons – for the animals.  For about 2 years (18-20), I was on and off fish, like tuna and salmon, feeling pressure to eat fish for my health, from family, friends, and doctors, but it never sat well with me.  I soon gave up fish for good.  When I hit my 20′s I tried on and off to become vegan, but would always fail with things like eggs (huge cravings, that would develop into sickness once I had consumed them), and occasionally cheese.  I was still wearing animal products, such as leather, wool, silk.  Then when I was around 24/25, I’d recently been stuck  behind a truck carrying a lot of calves to God knows where.  There were so many of them crammed into the trailer, they were on top of each other and every time we stopped at traffic lights, blood seeped onto the road – it was such a bright vibrant red, it didn’t look real. The calves were just looking at me through the grates of the trailer. Anyway, I had to pull over after 20 mins and had a bit of a meltdown.  It had a huge impact on me.  Then a couple of weeks later, with academic assessments coming out of my ears, tired and run down I watched a PETA video on the Dairy Industry.  That toppled me over the edge.  I could not stop crying for about 4 hours.  I rang my mother and said I’d wiped my hands clean, of anything to do with the animal/meat/dairy eating industry.  It was like a switched had been flicked.  There was no struggle.  I was vegan.  I no longer buy clothing such as leather, wool etc.. but there are probably a few items still around in my wardrobe.  So, I guess you could say, it was an evolution for me.  I always knew where I wanted to be – ie. vegan, it just took me a little while to get there. Since then, I have been a fully committed ethical vegan for 9 years :)

What do you love most about being vegan?  That I can live a healthy and happy life without consciously contributing to the use, abuse, death of another living being.  Why wouldn’t I?  All lives are precious.

What three items do you always have in your pantry?  Brown rice, chilli and avocado.

What is your favorite vegan comfort food?  Dark chocolate.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet?  Take it slowly. I recommend mostly to vegetarians, because they’re half way there. But no one I know has actually made the transition to vegan. Most of the times it’s, ‘My doctor said I can’t/shouldn’t…’  My sister has done a few 30 day challenges, but has always failed. Haha. Always won over by the cheese and eggs!

But if you allow yourself time.. Surf the web for tips on making the transition. I get a lot of advise and information mostly from the internet and my own research. PETA and their links were a great help. And vegetarian victoria were great too. Cruelty Free website. The Ethical Consumer Guide. Lots of link clicking and internet surfing!

Do you find anything difficult about being vegan?  Other people! ;) Say for instance, if I’m tired or run down, people automatically say, “Oh, it’s because you’re vegan – you’re not getting enough of this, or the right kind of nutrients!”   Nothing to do with the 3 jobs, 2 assignments and life dramas that may be present at the time.

A lot of people a shocked to discover I’m vegan, they’re always “You look so well/healthy for a vegan” Ha! It’s because I love food and I love to eat. You really need to look after your nutrition being vegan; actually everyone needs to look after their nutrition and eat well. A lot of people don’t see that. Those who have known me a long time, love going out and suggested new veg places to eat or cooking vegan meals, or having me cook vegan meals. They really get in on ‘being vegan for the day/night’ – so they’re totally supportive and curious. It’s mostly new people that I meet, sometimes go on the attack AS SOON as they discover I’m vegan. And that’s when the whole “well, what about the vegetables? How do your morals lie with that?” And “You know I’m not going to stop eating meat around you”. And bringing up the environmental impact of soy etc… And the ol’ classic “I’d like to be a vegetarian, but I could never give up steak” But on a whole – people are more intrigued than anything else. “Can you eat this?” “Can you eat that” “What about this?”

Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add?  All lives are precious. Go vegan!

Thanks so much, Cassandra!  I, too, consider myself to be an ethical vegan… the health benefits are such a great bonus.  Much love to my dear friend down under!

Vegan Like Me No. 3

by

Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world!  We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that.  If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.

Name:  Laryssa Wirstiuk

Laryssa, Vegan for about a year

Where do you live?  Jersey City

How long have you been vegan?  Vegan for about a year, vegetarian about two years

What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet?   My best friend throughout high school and college was vegetarian; I respected her decision to abstain from meat, but I never fully understood it. Never once believing that I could be vegetarian, I picked up Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals” on a whim because I’m interested in food-related issues and admire him as an author. The book surprised me and inspired me to try vegetarianism for as long as I could. Almost two years later, I still abstain from animal products. This fact still surprises me.

What do you love most about being vegan?  I love that becoming vegan forced me to open my mind about new ways to prepare food. A fiercely creative person at heart, I’m challenged by the task of finding and creating delicious meals among people who mostly eat meat.

What three items do you always have in your pantry?  Chickpeas, veggie broth, rice.

What is your favorite vegan comfort food?  Ramen from Souen Noodle in the East Village.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet?  First, rid yourself of any preconceived notions you’ve ever had about vegans. The more I meet other vegetarians and vegans, the more I realize that they really don’t fit any kind of mold. Next, decide what kind of vegan YOU want to be. Reinvent the lifestyle according to your tastes and preferences. Remain open-minded and cultivate reverence for food.

Do you find anything difficult about being vegan?  Being vegan is hard when I’m craving a particular dish or snack, but I’m somewhere that’s not very vegan friendly. Last weekend, for example, I was really craving a soy or almond based smoothie while out and about with my boyfriend. We found a few stores that sold smoothies, but either they used milk or they couldn’t even tell me what their smoothies contained.

Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add?  I’m a creative writer and writing teacher who also does food writing for Jersey City Independent and NEW Magazine. Check out my blog about writing and creativity at www.craftyourdrafts.com or follow me on Twitter @ryssiebee!

Thanks so much, Laryssa!  ”Eating Animals” made a huge impact on me, as well.  In fact, I recommend it on my Resources page.

Vegan Like Me No. 2

by

Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world!  We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that.  If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.

Stacy De-Lin, Vegan for five months

Name:  Stacy De-Lin

Where do you live?  New York City

How long have you been vegan?  Five months!

What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet?   I’ve been a vegetarian for years, since my teenage years. I’m Italian-American and getting rid of meat was difficult, but I always thought to myself the old adage, “I could never give up cheese!” Truthfully though, I think that for a lot of years, I tried not to read things about the egg and dairy industry as a way of keeping it out of sight, and out of mind. Then last winter, my husband and I took a trip to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Once we saw the battery cages and the cows that would have been taken from their mothers and sold as veal, we couldn’t put it out of sight anymore. We took the plunge after that trip and never looked back.

Additionally, I am a physician, and I work with so many patients whose health problems are nearly exclusively diet-related, like Type 2 diabetes and obesity. When counseling my patients on nutrition, all of the evidence points towards a vegan diet as the most healthy. Meat, dairy and eggs are high in cholesterol and saturated fat. It’s hard to ignore.

What do you love most about being vegan?  So many things! I love to cook, and being vegan has opened up a whole new realm of cooking and baking to me. I love being part of a vegan community– knowing that there are so many great people out there who are compassionate and caring too. And of course, there’s the old Franz Kafka quote: “‘Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you any more.” It’s very, very true.

What three items do you always have in your pantry?  Only three??  Ok…. Daiya Mozzarella, Gardein chicken, Raw Ice Cream Company’s mint chocolate chip flavor.  (Don’t worry, I’ve got some vegetables in there too.)   :-)

What is your favorite vegan comfort food?  People always say brunch is the hardest thing to give up when vegan, but some of my favorite vegan foods are brunch foods!  My top comfort food is tofu scramble with potatoes and Field Roast sausage.  I love starting my weekend mornings with some hearty scramble.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet?  After putting off a transition to veganism for some time, taking the plunge was so much easier than I thought.  Find a good community– online or otherwise– to help you with the transition and give you support.  You will feel better, more healthy, with a freer conscience.

Do you find anything difficult about being vegan?  Surprisingly, the food part for me isn’t hard at all. The most difficult part has been the social aspect. My family has had a hard time adjusting and friends don’t always understand. But being a new-ish vegan, I know that in time the people who love me will adjust, and in the future will always make a dinner reservation where there are vegan options! :-)

Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add?  I love being a vegan! If you haven’t taken the journey already, there’s no time like the present. :-)  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns!

Thanks Stacy!  I love to hear about other vegans who have been inspired to go vegan by the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary – just like me!  If you’d like to get in touch with Stacy, feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to get you in touch with her.

Vegan Like Me No. 1

by

I’m pleased to present a brand new feature of Jersey City Vegan:  Vegan Like Me!  Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world!  We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that.  If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.

Christine Goodman, Vegan for 8 months

Name:  Christine Goodman

Where do you live?  Jersey City

How long have you been vegan?  Almost 8 months (I was vegan back in the 90′s as well)

What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet?  During my first foray into veganism in my 20′s, I was careful to qualify my diet choice with statements like, “I’m not doing this for any political reason, or to ‘save the animals’ or anything like that. I just feel better doing it.” I felt that it was my responsibility to make others feel comfortable about my choice to be vegan. These days, I am committed to being a vegan because I feel it is important to stand up for what I believe in. I was floored by the amount of greenhouse gasses meat consumption creates — more than all of the transportation systems and cars of our world combined. As a species, we have evolved beyond the need to eat animals to survive. So I am making a conscious effort to reduce my footprint on the world, to make smarter choices about what I am putting in my body, and to stop contributing to over-fishing, factory farming, and non-organic foods. I was eating a lot of fish before I became vegan in 2011 and I was concerned about fishing in the Gulf — we don’t know what impact the BP oil spill will have on the fish there, fish that’s being sold to us in stores today.

What do you love most about being vegan?  I love everything about being vegan! I am a superhuman superpowered superstar! I love that I have become adventurous with cooking and discovered new dishes and new ways to prepare vegetables and grains. I feel great, I love knowing that I am making my little contribution to the planet.

What three items do you always have in your pantry?  Coconut oil, brown rice, and refried black beans.

What is your favorite vegan comfort food?  Celeste’s vegan chocolate chip cookies from Made with Love Organic Bakery and Cafe - go visit her in Jersey City! http://www.madewithloveorganics.com

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet?  If you expect the process of becoming vegan to be about denying yourself, that is what the process will become. If you expect the process to be about discovering a bounty of foods that are good for you and nourishing to the soul, that is what you will find.

Do you find anything difficult about being vegan?  At first, I really missed having big plates of cheesy nachos. But I don’t really miss that anymore because I make my own vegan nachos at home now and they are SLAMMIN!

Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add?  “I’d like to plug an awesome free podcast from Citizen Radio — it’s called RED RADIO. Erin Red is a rockstar and I recommend all vegans (and non-vegans) follow her on twitter @erinred and download her weekly podcast. You can find it for free on iTunes.  If you’d like to follow me on twitter, come on in the water’s fine: @goodman_is_here“

Thanks so much, Christine, both for participating in Vegan Like Me and for being such a great supporter of Jersey City Vegan!  *high five*