Tag Archives: healthy lifestyle

Vegan Like Me No. 6

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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.

Susmitha, vegan 9 years

Name:  Susmitha Subbaraju

Where do you live?  Bangalore, India

How long have you been vegan?  9 Years

What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet?   Awareness. When I found out about what was happening in the dairy industry (I was always vegetarian before turning vegan), I knew I didn’t want have anything to do with that stuff any more. My husband’s support helped me stay on the path.

What do you love most about being vegan?  I love who I have turned into after going vegan. I’m a healthier and happier person. I’m an enthusiastic cook/baker. And I’ve experienced higher spiritual growth.

What three items do you always have in your pantry?  A variety of dried Grains, Beans and Dals (lentils).

What is your favorite vegan comfort food?  Bisi Bele Bath. It’s a South Indian dish made of rice, split lentils and a bunch of wholesome vegetables, all cooked together and simmered in a special spice mixture.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet?  Find a good support system, either in your community or online and just go vegan. Cold tofu! ;) Don’t think about it too much. It’s a decision which will bring you happiness.

Do you find anything difficult about being vegan?  Only the fact that all people around me aren’t vegan. It’s so easy and the right thing to do, it’s hard to see people not make that choice.

Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add?  You can find me online at:  Blog: 
http://blog.veganosaurus.com

Etsy: 
http://artbysusmitha.etsy.com
, Facebook: 
http://www.facebook.com/artbysusmitha
 and 
http://www.facebook.com/vegnosaurus

Twitter handles: @artbysusmitha, @veganosaurus  Thanks for reading and see you around the interwebs. :)

Thank you so much Susmitha!  It’s amazing to me that being vegan has now connected me with people all around the world.  It is so inspiring!

Vegan-ize It: Tofu Scallops

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Before I went vegan, I used to go crazy for a perfectly pan-seared sea scallop.  Anytime I went out to a restaurant and scallops were on the menu, I need not look any further.  My parents always had scallops for me when I would go visit.  I was the scallop girl!  I “Excuse-itarian’ed” (Colleen Patrick-Goudreau coined this term and I love it!) my way around consuming scallops for quite a while — “They don’t have a face!” was my perfect reasoning.  When I connected the dots about the problems with industrial fishing and factory fish farms, I preferred that those little tender fleshy morsels stayed in their cute little shells in the sea and not in my belly.  If you haven’t learned about the downside to the seafood industry, you can get a little snapshot about it here, here, and here.

My ever-creative amateur chef (and partner of 6 years) Melissa came up with a brilliant solution to satisfy my scallop cravings — make them out of tofu!  After all, it is the seasonings, sauces and marinades that have us so attached to eating flesh anyway.  We aren’t like tigers and lions who eat flesh raw, no problemo.  Here is her brilliant recipe… my mouth waters just thinking about it!

Tofu Scallops

Ingredients

  • 1 block extra firm tofu
  • 1 lemon
  • 2-4 tablespoons vegan butter (I recommend Earth Balance)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Tools

  • Small cookie cutter or juice glass with a small diameter

Directions

    1. Press the tofu.  See Tofu Isn’t Scary for more detailed instructions on pressing tofu.
    2. Cut thickness of tofu in half.  
    3. Use cookie cutter or juice glass to cut circles out of tofu.  Season tofu scallops with the Old Bay and salt and pepper.
    4. Heat pan with 1 tbsp (approx.) of olive oil on medium/high heat.
    5. Place tofu scallops in pan, allowing them to get golden brown on each side.  Remove from pan and set tofu scallops aside.
    6. Turn heat to low and melt 2-4 tbsp of vegan butter in the pan.  Use more butter if you are making more scallops.
    7. Squeeze half the lemon into the pan with the melted butter, stir to incorporate.  Add dill.  Stir and turn heat off.
    8. Plate tofu scallops and drizzle/spoon lemon dill sauce over scallops.  Serve with your favorite veggies and sides.  Pictured with a mix of quinoa and kale.

I hope you enjoy this recipe — its one of my favorites!  Do you have a favorite vegan-ized recipe?

Vegans (NOT) Anonymous

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My name is Emily, and I’m vegan.

“Becoming vegan is the greatest thing I’ve ever done.”

This is how I often will start any conversation that begins after someone finds out that I’m vegan.  Its a loaded statement, right?  How can changing what you eat be the greatest thing you’ve ever done?  Well, lets start at the beginning…

Veganism isn’t only about what you eat.  Its a lifestyle.  Not only am I graced with “regularity” that’s more on time than the A train, but I lost 15 pounds.  FIFTEEN POUNDS!  Just by changing the way I eat.  Its like a built-in diet… a diet plan, but without the “plan”.  Cupcakes at the office?  Out.  You want that candy bar?  Out.  Big box of donuts?  Out.  Its a blessing in disguise!

I gave up eating animal flesh in early 2008, inspired by the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, this bad-ass farmed animal rescue located in Willow, NY.  Once I met my meat, I had several major revelations about the animals I only knew as food:

  • They develop relationships that rival those of the Golden Girls
  • They are smart.  Hella smart.  Just look at what Anne the Goat did:
  • They have varied personalities, just like folks on your favorite reality show.  There’s the pig that gets grumpy if he’s not the first one to the feeding trough, the chicken that likes to sit on your lap and be petted, the goat that will escort you around their pen to show you the ropes, the inseparable pair of ducks… I could go on and on.  I did not see any Snooki poofs, thank goodness.

Justifying eating animal flesh and secretions became as difficult as justifying my Jersey Shore addiction (I know, I know, two Jersey Shore references within a sentence of each other, shhhhh).  From that point on, tofu and I became BFFs, Silk replaced Milk and kale and I became intimate.  I will not comment on the status of my Jersey Shore addiction… thanks for understanding.

My veganism began with just the food, but I soon realized that I couldn’t just stop there… I needed to “veganise” all aspects of my life, to the best of my ability.  As products got used up and articles of clothing wore out, they were replaced with vegan ones.  Vegan bath & body products, vegan clothes, vegan shoes, vegan cleaning supplies… vegan vegan vegan!  Does this seem overwhelming?  Obsessive?  The overwhelming part, sure at first, any kind of major lifestyle change can seem daunting.  But its really not, I promise.  After all, in my lifetime I have at one point uttered the words, “I could never give up cheese” and “I’m a total carnivore!”.  As far as the obsessive part goes, well yes.  It does become obsessive.  But its an awesome thing to be obsessed about — living a kind and compassionate life!

Its been over seven months since I took the vegan plunge.  I predict that veganism is going to be the next big thing.  Like Atkins, but with no bacon and more stay power.  And definitely better variety.  I’m here for you, to show you the ropes and encourage you!  We’re all on this journey together.  Got your glass of vegan chardonnay ready?  To the animals!  *clink*