My Vegan World

It seems I’ve been vegan for as long as I’ve been me. Of course, that’s not the case. I grew up in a traditional meat ‘n potatoes family. It wasn’t until my late teens that I explored vegetarianism, and then transitioned into eating vegan in my twenties. That was about 15 years ago, and while that’s a long time, I feel as if I’ve been vegan for much longer.

Eating a plant-based diet is now simply part of my life, part of who I am, part of living a healthy lifestyle for me and my family. This way of living just is for me. I often incorrectly assume that other people are also making healthier changes in their diets. Not vegan, no I don’t expect that. But maybe eating healthier, such as including more fresh produce and whole foods in their diets, and perhaps – just perhaps – eating less meat.

Also, I assume that folks are cooking meals for their families. We know that all these frozen dinners, take-out meals, and other convenience foods are nutritionally void, addictive, and loaded with unhealthy fats and sweeteners. Then I have a reality check moment. Like when we drive past a take-out restaurant with a queue of cars in the drive-thru. Or, when I eye the contents of the shopping cart ahead of me at the checkout. Or, when our family ventures to a restaurant for a meal (with three busy kids this is a rarity!), and the menu is plagued with meat and dairy-laden offerings. Or maybe it’s the constant waft of charring meat from our surrounding neighbors’ barbecues that reminds me.

Yes, unfortunately our family’s plant-based diet is far from the norm. While the vegan diet has had gotten a bad rap for many years, it is important to know how much vegan eating has changed. From fine dining restaurants and cookbooks, to vegan catering and vegan resorts, veganism has blossomed and is far from its “sprouts and steamed tofu” roots.

In my world, vegan food is exciting and diverse, and it’s always a thrill for me to create and share new vegan recipes with family, friends, and my blog and cookbook readers. Who knows, maybe I’m inviting others to explore their own vegan world with a recipe here and there. I think I just may be. At least, I’m going to keep thinking so.