Vegan Interrogated: Tamsyn

Name: Tamsyn
Location: UK
Website/blog: www.facebook.com/velvetvolcano.jewellery
www.etsy.com/shop/velvetvolcano

A little about yourself:
I'm a 23 year old vegan of 5 years, jewellery maker and all around craft-a-holic. I spend my time with my vegan partner and our furbabies Cali & Percy (jack russell and collie respectively).

What made you decide to go vegan?
I'd been vegetarian for about a year and it was just the obvious next step for me. As soon as I went veggie I started looking into animal rights a lot more, watching things like 'Meet Your Meat' etc (and eventually Earthlings etc).. i'd always been an animal lover (perhaps a misguided one at that) so the things I was seeing were completely devastating to me. I felt so guilty that I was still contributing to such a horrible industry and went vegan after watching 2 videos on dairy.

Who/what inspires you?
Other vegans, totally! I'm continuously learning from other vegans (and I hope some of that may work the other way too..) :).

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.
Are you sure you're getting enough iron/calcium/protein (insert nutrient here ;) )? YES!
You can also use a nutrient checker like cron-o-meter to see where you're at with your nutrient intakes :D - really helpful.

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Just do it! :D If you need any sources, these are always what I list when others ask me about veganism -
http://www.vegankit.com/
Gary Yourofsky - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4
Earthlings - http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6361872964130308142
Dr Klaper, Foods that Kill - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1549763175867837730
Finding Vegan - http://www.findingvegan.com/

Vegan Interrogated: Geoff

Name: Geoff (a.k.a. the husband)
Location: Los Angeles
A little about yourself:
Geoff is a semiconductor sales guy by day and an aspiring photographer by night. It's kind of like a super power. He enjoys short walks on the beach and talking in the voice from movie previews. Follow him on Twitter @gsouder or his photographer fan page https://www.facebook.com/ZombieEyePhotography

What made you decide to go vegan?
There were a few things that happened all at the same time that led me to the vegan bug.

First, I would try to control the quality of my food by limiting trips to Burger King and In n Out but it would never last very long. I weighed too much and I felt generally bad all the time.

Second, my wife went vegan and showed me that I wouldn't have to live off of grass clippings and mud. The places we ate and the food she cooked was really good! Her strength was a huge inspiration to me.

Third, I watched a movie called Forks Over Knives. There was a lot of compelling information in that movie and I took it all in. The thing that stuck with me was an off the cuff remark in the movie. They said that we could feed every mouth in the world with the food that we give to livestock. It stuck with me.

Finally, I love my dogs. How can I continue to let an animal so similar to my dogs get slaughtered so I could eat it? All of these things combined in my head and made the decision easy. I went cold turkey and I've never intentionally slipped (there was a butter-in-bread situation before I had the the guts to speak up at restaurants with work people).

Favorite meal to make:
My favorite meal to make is when I make my way to my car and drive to Mohawk Bend.

Favorite restaurant & why
Um.. Mohawk Bend. It's a cool place, with great vegan food with great service and the occasional celebrity to spice up the night.
Who/what inspires you?
I know this might come off as cheesy, but my wife really inspires me. She has been a great influence and supporter of my veganism without being pushy or aggressive. Also, Jay Z. He's not vegan, but he does inspire me to be better at life.

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan:
More of a statement, at a restaurant: "Oh, you're VEGAN? I think the only thing we have on the menu that you can eat is the Sashimi". I also think it's really interesting that everyone becomes a protein expert once you tell them you are vegan.
Favorite organization/cause & why:
I love the Gentle Barn. I want to say it's for altruistic reasons but really I just love hugging cows.

What was the reaction from your friends/family?
Some were cool, others quiet. I'm sure there was some discussion with me not around. One person told me it was gross that I don't eat eggs or cheese. I think that's very strange... NOT eating unfertilized chicken babies is gross? I don't get it.

Do you find going out/social situations difficult?
I did at first, but then I decided that I don't care what people think. Work is a little tougher because I end up in places like steak houses and sushi bars - I have to, it's part of my job. In situations like this a salad and a cliff bar get me through to when I can get something better for me.

What changes have you noticed in yourself since going vegan?
I lost about 15 pounds over the first 3 months or so and I have a lot more consistent energy. Also, I had long term- erm- stomach issues that have been significantly reduced. Also also, I'm a little more awesome.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you being vegan?
That I don't eat "real food" or that I am unhealthy because I'm not getting my protein.

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Try it for a month. What's to lose? Just have a plan put together so you don't end up chewing on lettuce and celery while starving for a month. Know where you are going to go and what you are going to cook. Also, keep in mind that your body is used to dense foods like meat and you might find that you are unsatisfied with with how full you feel after a meal. You might get hungry between meals. Just eat dense food snacks: nuts, clif bar, etc - and this should go away in a week or so. Avoid smelling meat for a while.

Do you think a vegan diet could be universally adopted?
Yeah, it could, but it won't. People seem really determined to keep their diets the way they are. The only way things will change is if something major happens - mad cow spreads, extinction of farm animals or deep social changes for example. I don't know why this is such a polarizing issue but a lot of people believe they can't survive without meat. The truth is that they can't really survive all that well WITH meat. Ironic, huh?

Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself?
No, I'm just a guy that doesn't eat meat or dairy. I don't expect that to change anything other than myself.

Vegan Interrogated: Cari

Name: Cari Newton
Location: Marion, Ohio
Website/blog:
www.GrandManner.Etsy.Com
www.BrooklynBobbie.Etsy.com
www.facebook.com/VeganDinnerEvent

A little about yourself:
I live in a small town in Ohio with my boyfriend of 8 years, Jay, and our little dog, Trixie. We love traveling and eating good (vegan) food! I'm really into cooking and eating 'whole' foods. We try not to eat very much of processed foods/GMO's (will be easier to do if GMO labeling vote passes). When Jay and I can’t escape our small town, we work together in our jobs, find fun in all things nerdy, and watch shows straight through on Netflix. I am heavily involved with a lot of craft projects and vintage collecting. We have the most fun having elaborate dinners with friends.

What made you decide to go vegan?
I was vegetarian for 10 years and always wanted to go vegan, but I thought it would be too hard. After moving to the mid-west from Los Angeles, I got caught up in eating way too much dairy. I gained a lot of weight too. Shortly after I decided to go vegan, I lost weight and started to feel better than I ever have. I wish I hadn't waited so long to make the switch. When I cut dairy out of my diet, it made as much of a difference in my health as when I cut out the meat.

Favorite meal to make is a huge dinner event. I have been hosting vegan dinner events at a classy local bar, Circa, in downtown Marion, OH. The meals consist of soup, appetizers, salad, main course, side dishes, and dessert. I love coming up with a different menu for each event. Even though I only know of a few vegans in town, the dinner events have become quite popular with mostly meat eaters in attendance! I’m impressed that so many people are willing to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. I love to show that a vegan meal is more than salad and tofu.

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.
I get so many... People ask me if I eat peanut butter a lot. Just shows that a lot of people have no idea what they are really eating... And, no, I am not going to try your pot roast after 13 years of not eating meat, even though you say it's so good that one bite will convert me back into being a meat eater.

What was the reaction from your friends/family?
I tried to be vegetarian when I was 12 years old and was not allowed. So when I was 21, I did it on my own. My friends and family love to make fun of me, but they are supportive and they are becoming more open minded to try my vegan dinner creations.

Do you find going out/social situations difficult?
Going out to eat at regular restaurants can be a little difficult. I ask a lot of questions about ingredients that servers usually do not know. I love it when I go somewhere and the server is helpful with my vegan questions (I always tip extra!)

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Go at your own pace. Don't worry too much about ingredients at first. You will learn as you go. Find a vegan buddy or two to help you with questions or tips. It will be easier if you have someone that you can call, text, or email as you are learning the best & easiest ways to be vegan. Also, you can search on the internet for recipes for almost any regular meat or dairy dish and just add the word 'vegan' in front of your search and lots of recipes will come up, often with reviews.

Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself?
Absolutely! Not only does my veganism have an amazing impact my health and well-being, it also greatly benefits the environment, animals, and others that can use an example of a vegan lifestyle.

Vegan Interrogated: Nikole

Name: Nikole ~ Vegan Sudz Shop
Location: Michigan
Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VeganSudzShop

A little about yourself:
Just a happily married mother of none, living in my own little bubble in the woods of Michigan with hubby and my 2 beautiful pups, Bela & Otis. When I'm not busy posting NO HUNTING/TRESPASSING signs around my property to keep out the butthole hunters that wander around, I love kayaking, bicycling, motorcycling, walking/playing with the pups, and on occasion, binge drinking. Ok ok, that's not entirely true, I kid... I kid... its definitely not just occasional.
I love making my soaps and lotions, the creepy bloody ones are always my faves, but I do have a day job that sucks up most of my happy time, I take care of the pensions for the retired police & firefighters of a big city here. And then yet another job helping my ultra-hard-working husband with his business working in the office. So in other words, I sit in front of an F'n computer a lot!

What made you decide to go vegan?
Finally my actions caught up with what my brain had known for years, and knew what I was contributing to by eating animal products. I love them and don't want to see them hurt in any way, shape or form, but here I am eating my favorite ice cream, which *bla bla bla... insert horrible story of the dairy industry*. I realized that I was an a**hole hypocrite and it was time to cut it out already.

Favorite restaurant & why
Seeing as I don't really have any veggie ones close around - I'd have to say any one of them that don't completely jack up my order by still leaving cheese sprinkled all over it or melted inside of it after I specifically said WITHOUT CHEESE. I love a waitress that understands that by the time I say "no cheese and you keep your sour cream to yourself (please)" that I'm not into dairy, and lets the cook know without me having to be that bitchy vegan who reports my vegany status out loud for the entire restaurant to not give a crap about and just roll their eyes.
Oh wait update - middle eastern food, totally forgot about them, yeah, I can get a lot of good sh*t there!

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.
I  know there have been TONS over the past 14 years of veginess, but this one stands out, it was more of a dumb statement - someone once asked me about being vegan and he stated that he too was vegetarian, and only ate ham and chicken...what do you even respond to that with? It was not worth my effort, breath and sanity to school this person on the fact that not eating red meat does not equal a vegetarian and the fact that he eerily reminds me of Jeffrey Dahmer helped me to just let it go. Enjoy your ham dude. Idiot.

Favorite organization/cause & why
I love love love the Detroit Dog Rescue!!! They have helped so many of the homeless, neglected and abused dogs in this area and are focused on having a no-kill facility in Detroit, as opposed to the 90% of them that are euthanized now. Between the declining city and the amount of people still believing that dog fighting is cool, we need these guys more than ever!

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Can't hurt to try it, right?
I know I could probably give a more involved answer here, but if they're already thinking about it, what are you waiting for? You obviously are interested in it because its better for your health and the well being of countless numbers of animals. At this point, why would you NOT at least try it?

Vegan Interrogated: Amy

Name: Amy Wright
Location: Seattle area
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/overthefenceart
www.over-the-fence-art.com

What made you decide to go vegan?
I went 100% vegan 3 years ago.
My love for animals, the planet and my health helped me embrace the vegan diet.

What was the reaction from your friends/family?
My friends and family supported me in the decision to go vegan from the very start.

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.
The dumbest question I still get regarding being vegan is "Do you still eat fish" and "where do you get your protein"?

What changes have you noticed in yourself since going vegan?
So many changes I've noticed since being vegan. The first being dropping 12 lbs., my digestion improved, my energy went up and my chronic sinus trouble vanished.

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
My advice to others toying with the idea of going vegan is that it's a process. I was a vegetarian for 30+ years until I switched to being vegan. I read everything that I could get my hands on in the vegan life style. Books like The China Study, The Kind Diet, and the influences of many other Eastern medicine doctors convinced me that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
There are so many minor and major health isssues tied into eating a non-plant diet. I struggled with headaches and sinus troubles for most of my adult life. Since I became vegan and gluten-free, I am headache free!
I think I always knew that I wanted to adopt the vegan diet, and now that I have I feel that I am being true to my real self. My health has improved, no animals are suffering from my diet choices, and the planet benefits as well. Yay!

Vegan Interrogated: Kendy

Name: Kendy/MissMuffcake
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Website/blog: www.missmuffcake.com

A little about yourself:
I am a 33 year old vegan zine maker, cat lover and tea drinker. I like spending time reading, doing yoga, cutting and pasting text, going to new places to eat with my boyfriend and learning new things!

What made you decide to go vegan?
After being vegetarian for 6 years I started learning about why dairy was bad. It shocked me that dairy could be so cruel. I have been vegan for 12+ years now.

Favorite organization/cause & why:
Local no kill shelters. I have a soft spot in my heart for cats. I like hosting vegan bake sales to raise money for local no kill shelters. I like seeing my money helping the blocks I walk down.

What do you think is the best way to spread the word of veganism/compassion?
Coming together as a collective force. I understand we are all busy with our day to day lives but we need to take time and connect with others in the community and share our knowledge and help one another out. Support those with the same goals as you and in turn I hope they support you!

Favorite meal to make:
Kendy's $10 vegan BBQ plate. I always joke with my boyfriend and ask him if he would spend $10 on the plate of food I put in front of him. The BBQ plate consists of pan fried BBQ soy curls, mac & cheeze, watermelon and toasted bread with spread!

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan:
I have been asked a few times if I eat fish...I find it odd that after saying I do not eat anything from animals or insects fish is still a question!

Vegan Interrogated: GiGi

Name: GiGi
Location: Berkeley, California originally from Brooklyn, New York
Website/blog: Http://gigi-2boomers.blogspot.com/ Veganville.etsy.com Veganville on Facebook

A little about yourself:
I have been a Vegan for eight years and a vegetarian since 1972. I currently have a vegan baking and cooking business in the San Francisco Bay Area and online store at Etsy. I currently supply five cafes with our vegan sweets and savories. I have been happily married to my best friend and partner in crime for twenty one years. We have two cats named Satchmo girl and Zule boy. Over the years I’ve worn many hats. I’ve made a living as a tennis pro, actress, Cabaret singer (with my husband who is a pianist) and writer before entering into this incarnation. Thank you for having me on your lovely blog.  

What made you decide to go vegan?
It started in the seventies. Yep I’m kind of old, but I don’t really look it because I use good moisturizer and I don’t wear old lady clothes. Nooo, silly. I’m a vegan, that’s why. Anyway, the parental unit was eating chicken, and Dad said, “Hey Gi, pass the leg”. For some reason I never gave much thought to a chicken having a leg, but that was it and my vegetarian/vegan journey began. In the beginning, my mom chased me around the dinner table with a hamburger. I was a competitive athlete and my mom thought I would faint on the court if I did not eat dead flesh. Once my mom saw that my vegetarianism was not a phase, she bought me vegetarian pate’ and Morningstar bacon, made me hard boiled eggs, salad plates and a yummy carrot cake which is actually more like a side dish than a cake. I lived on graham crackers and fresh PB from the only health food store around. Once in a while I had a scoop of tuna at a local diner. Oh the shame that’s not vegetarian! This is true but in the early 70’s really, who knew what a pescetarian was? I was vegetarian enough.

The years brought greater commitment and love for the world’s creatures. Giving up dairy was simple. I was a performer/vocalist and I didn’t like the phlegm. The thought of what little yolks could be made of made my tummy hurt. Sure, the egg on the plate was gone, but I had to compromise, didn’t I? I mean I was a baker after all and I didn’t want my baked goods to suffer. But what about the chickies? What about their suffering? All of a sudden, being “mostly” vegan felt like being a little bit pregnant. I would find a way to make these baked goods taste good without sacrificing taste and most of all not sacrificing a living creature. I read about factory farming and other miserable atrocities and that was it for me. I made the leap to veganism.

Favorite meal to make:
Are ones I can share with my fantastic friends. My husband is a vegan as well and we love entertaining at home. We’ve had dessert parties, pizza parties, chili and potato parties where I asked people to bring their favorite potato toppings, and I always have some kind of fun dessert bar.

Favorite restaurant & why:
I am so blessed to live in an open minded community (San Francisco Bay Area, California) There are three vegan restaurants within a 1 mile radius of my house. Lately, I really love the deep dish stuffed vegan pie from Zachary’s Pizzeria. This is saying a lot, since my husband and I grew up on NY Italian food and his family owns pizzerias.

Who/what inspires you?
Kindness inspires me. Dignity in the face of adversity inspires me. I am a Winston Churchill fan. His perseverance in spite of so many obstacles inspires me.

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan?
It’s not so much dumb questions as redundant questions, like “don’t you miss cheese, butter, eggs, ICE CREAM?!” What about ice cream?

What was the reaction from your friends/family?
My friends are my friends because they are kind and open minded. I also married a very smart guy who also loves animals. Two of my close friends are vegetarian and two of my other very close friends eat vegan with me and love it. My husband has been vegan for two years and before that was vegetarian for five.  

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about you being vegan?
I think the biggest misconception people have about me being vegan is that I am an extremist. I think if people were not so blind to the truth of rampant animal abuse and how poorly animals are treated and sacrificed they would see their carnivorous viewpoint were in fact extreme and perverse. I don’t understand how people can’t connect the face on the plate. One of my favorite quotes is, “There is one trait that will keep man in everlasting ignorance, and that is contempt prior to investigation”.

Vegan Interrogated: Susmitha

Name: Susmitha Subbaraju

Location: Bangalore, INDIA

Website/blog: http://blog.veganosaurus.com

A little about yourself:

I'm a vegan of 9 years, living in Bangalore, India with my awesome husband. I enjoy cooking and baking and taking beautiful pictures of the food to share on my blog, Veganosaurus (http://blog.veganosaurus.com). My other creative outlet is jewellery making and sculpting with clay. I have an Etsy store called Art by Susmitha (http://artbysusmitha.etsy.com) for my jewellery and another called Veganosaurus (http://veganosaurus.etsy.com) for my miniature sculptures of monsters and animals. I'm also a Reiki healer and a Tarot reader.

What made you decide to go vegan?

In India, vegetarianism is a common part of the culture. And the reason I never ate meat is because I grew up in a vegetarian family. It wasn't a choice, it was just the way I was brought up.

Growing up, I was not a lover of animals. It's not like I disliked them, it's just that I didn't feel any sort of connection with them. I loved our family dog because he grew up with us like our brother, but if I saw a random dog or cat or cow on the street, I wouldn't run up to pet and play with him/her like my little sister would. In fact, I'd be afraid to do so, thinking they'd hurt me somehow.

So when veganism found me in 2003, it wasn't my love for animals which made me embrace it. I simply became aware of the injustice of the dairy industry. I realized it wasn't fair of us to exploit these sentient beings for our greed. It didn't matter whether I loved animals or not, what was happening to them wasn't right and there was no way I was ever going to be supporting that any more.

Funnily enough, over my years of being vegan, I have developed a sort of love for animals and my respect for them has deepened. I'm not so wary of making friends with a strange animal any more. It's as if they know I'm on their side so it's okay to connect. :)

Who/what inspires you?

My husband is my inspiration when it comes to being kind to all living beings. It is because of him that I became vegan. And he's the one who has taught me to be gentle with the smallest of critters like ants and spiders. Even the ones we're not happy to have inside our home, like baby lizards, we don't harm them, instead, my husband carefully guides them out of the house using the tip of a broom. I'm still incapable of doing this, so I'm completely awed each time I watch him calmly perform the act. It's amazing to see the little lizards respond to the light touch and move in the right direction a few steps at a time.

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.

Haha this was during my very early years of being vegan. We were at a party with a bunch of families and I was passionately talking about how I don't consume or use anything which comes from animals and this couple said, "oh but the plants you eat are grown with animal dung any ways!"

I was still in my defensive stage of veganism so all I did was sputter. The question was so beyond dumb that I had absolutely no idea how to respond. And not being able to tell them off made me angry and the strong emotions even made me choke up a bit. =oP

It's all very funny when I think back on it now but gawd how many times I have replayed the scene in my mind ending with me suavely replying , "oh I bet pooping is *really* torturous to animals!"

I have to mention here that thankfully, in all these years, I have met a lot more intelligent people with genuine, sensible questions about veganism than I have met dumbos who are simply looking for an argument. I'm really grateful for this.

What was the reaction from your friends/family? Do you find going out/social situations difficult?

I am really blessed to have a partner who is on the same path as I am. I truly admire all the vegan people who live with non-vegan partners and manage it so peacefully. I can never imagine having to do that.

When we became vegan initially, our families, relatives and a lot of our friends reacted with shock. But almost everyone was open to listening to our reasoning and luckily, everyone understood very quickly. When we visit friends, aunts, uncles and cousins, they prepare vegan food just for us. And now, a lot of them even seem to consider me the go-to person when it comes to food and health related matters.

Last November, both my parents turned vegan after attending the Reversing Diabetes program by Dr. Nandita Shah of SHARAN India (http://sharan-india.org). She follows Dr. Neal Barnard's Reversing Diabetes system and is a pro at explaining the relationship between the food we put into our bodies and our health. Though my parents became vegan because of the health aspect, they have also been slowly understanding the ethical aspects of it.

Both my grandmothers have followed suit and practice a vegan diet most of the time.

My sister is almost vegan too and even though I fight with her sometimes about her not being completely vegan, I feel truly happy each time I see her make vegan choices on her own. She has always been the real animal lover of the family, so I still have a lot of hope for her. :)

What changes have you noticed in yourself since going vegan?

As soon as I turned vegan, I saw a marked increase in my overall energy levels and also I'm healthy more often than not. But vegansim did not bring about just a physical change in me. I'm what you might call a "spiritual vegan". I believe that whole, plant based foods carry happy energy. And when we fill our body with only that which comes from love and nurturing (not from suffering and pain), our vibrations shift to a higher level. Being vegan has turned me into a more positive and loving person and it's helped make my spiritual journey go smoother.

Do you think a vegan diet could be universally adopted?

Absolutely! The diet and the lifestyle. In fact, I truly believe we're headed in that direction. Human beings are by nature creatures of love and compassion. All these hurtful things we do are things we learned as we grew up. We are quite capable of unlearning them too. All it takes is awareness and guidance and these have been increasing all around us, everyday.

History shows that many unjust practices which were the accepted norm at one point have been shunned and replaced by kinder ways of living simply because people realized that was the right thing to do. I can see the same thing happening with more and more people embracing veganism each day.

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?

Just dive into it whole heartedly and confidently! It's easy and it opens up a whole new world of delicious foods and "better-natives". You're already eating a lot of food that happens to be vegan anyways. Fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, beans, seeds...  Connect with other vegans in your community. And if you think you're the only vegan in your town, then feel lucky to be living in a world where the internet exists. There's a whole network of vegans from all over the world out there. Online groups and forums, thousands of vegan food blogs with millions of recipes, websites answering every question you have about veganism, free vegan starter kits that you can order, online vegan grocery stores... it's never been easier to go vegan. All you have to do is take that first step and you will find an abundance of guidance and support.

Enjoy your vegan journey! :)

Vegan Interrogated: Bianca

 
Name: Bianca
Location: Nelson, B.C. Canada
Website/blog: http://www.reloveplanet.com/
 
A little about yourself:
I'm a free-spirited, positive gal living my life as fully as possible. I love inspiring people and spreading joy and love to anyone around me… and giving hugs of course. :) I've been vegan for 3 years, I definitely had my slip-ups until about a year and a half ago where I went full-on vegan and brought it into my lifestyle in every aspect as well.
 
What made you decide to go vegan?
Finding out the truth. I started as a vegetarian simply for the reason I wanted to be healthier. From there I actually found out what goes on on factory farms, just how much we exploit animals and the level of cruelty. Sadly before that I just never Thought about it. Which is why I do my best to spread the word and inform people, as I know that I, personally, wish I had known sooner.
 
Favorite meal to make?
Smoothies! It's almost silly! I make them just about every morning, such a wonderful way to get a healthy dose of fruit and I find ways to add protein (whether it's protein powders, tofu, or nut butters). They're just so fun to make and play around with! Plus you can add super foods like cocao, coconut oil, maca, matcha, hemp so easily into your diet with smoothies. Simply yum! I think it's also kind of therapeutic, I think we truly are what we eat and we should take care in the preparation of our food just as much as when we eat it. :)
 
Do you find going out/social situations difficult?
Only sometimes. I generally surround myself with more like-minded people which I think is important no matter what your beliefs are. There are definitely times when I go out though and just find it so strange and kind of heart-breaking that people eat meat and wear wool and continue to subject animals to unreasonable cruelty for selfish reasons (again, often without ever thinking about it). But most of the time it's super fun and easy and generally people meet my veganism with warm curiosity.
 
What changes have you noticed in yourself since going vegan?
So many! My mood improved, my health improved. I pretty much never ever get sick--unless I'm super stressed out, but that will happen to anyone. My skin is clearer. My mood is better. My stomach feels so much better, I used to almost always feel like crap! I have more energy. And my karmic soul feels better too. ;)
 
What is the biggest misconception people have about you being vegan?
That I don't get to eat delicious food! Or every so often there are those who think I'm crazy and unhealthy, haha. But people will always have their own opinions. I just follow what I believe in, lead by example, and share information when it's welcome. Easiest thing to do is be confident in your own decisions and usually people come around.
 
Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan?
Just go for it! ;) Dive fully into it. The hardest part about making the switch is that you're changing old food habits, and giving up addictive things like cheese. If you commit yourself to two weeks, or even a week, chances are you'll continue with it because you'll be over the bump of addictions and have created new eating habits that will be easy to stick to by this point. Also always keep in mind that it is FUN! Attitude is everything!
 
Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself?!
Absolutely! They say vegans save 100-200 lives a year. That, to me, is enough to know I am making a difference. Plus, vegans tend to be enthusiastic about their lifestyles, they are going to share what they know with others, and chances are "convert" others. I know that I, personally, have shared this lifestyle with countless others, and many have gone vegan or started to make the switch even if it's slower. Leading by example and showing how in love I am with being Vegan is one of the greatest things I can share with other people to encourage their own switch. More and more people are becoming vegan every day, we all count towards something bigger than ourselves.

Vegan Interrogated: Beth Br00tality

My name is Beth Br00tality. I live in Cincinnati, OH, I'm 24 years old, and I'm vegan and straight edge. I live with my boyfriend, his two cats, and my Boxer/Ridgeback mix. I work in cosmetics, both as a freelance makeup artist and in retail. You can find me on any major networking site as Beth Br00tality, but most notable on my YouTube and my blog. I have a Facebook as well, so please look me up and add me (http://www.facebook.com/bethbr00tality.yt).

What made you decide to go vegan:
There is, of course, an answer to this that spans the twenty four years of my life, but let's start a little more recently and simply. I've always been really close to animals, and in my teens I decided to be a vegetarian. My parents weren't really that supportive, they assumed it was a phase, and do to a lack of options at home, I eventually went back to eating meat. When I moved into my boyfriend at the time's place, I went back to being vegetarian one January, and the following March I went vegan. It's been about six years maybe? Not only is it better for the environment and my body, I just really can't get over the use of animals in products, and how cruelly we obtain those sources. Say what you will, but I believe that animals are not here to be used by humans; they're just here to be animals the same way we're here to be humans.

Reaction from friends/family:
My family assumed it was, again, a phase. When I was still doing it a year later, they started to believe me, haha. My mom grew up on a farm and my dad was a very efficient eagle scout by the age of like fourteen or something crazy like that, so neither of them share my views. My dad still makes jokes about it but I know he supports me. My mom has learned how to make a few vegan things here and there and tries to randomly get me things when she finds out they're vegan. It's really cute. They never pressure me to eat something at a family function to make someone happy, and I really appreciate that. I know a lot of vegans lose their way because of the implied guilt from family members. They're good to me.

Do you find going out/social situations difficult:
The smart vegan is a prepared vegan. The dumb vegan is a whiny little brat that makes us all look bad because, "well I can't eat anything here!!" Unless you're picking the restaurant, don't ever assume you're going to have something to eat, haha. You might be scraping by on flavorless veggies ("hold the butter please") and if you're lucky, bread. Eat a snack beforehand, or stash something substantial like a hearty trail mix in your bag or car. That way not only will you not be a whiner, people won't be able to try to exclude you from outings based off of your dietary needs. The important thing to remember is that they're your ethical convictions, not anyone else's. It should never seem like a chore...you do it because you believe in it.

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about you being vegan:
People always expect me to be this malnourished little waif; I am a thick girl! I have had people tell me before, "You can't be vegan, you're to thick." Well, in the past I was offended but I've come to terms with my extra twenty or so pounds, and would like to consider it a compliment to veganism that while I could be eating healthier for my body, I'm not some sickly little string bean that blows away in the wind (not that there's anything wrong with being skinny; I'm focusing more on the sickly part of it). If anything, my health has drastically improved since I embraced a vegan lifestyle. I used to have chronic IBS issues and those have mostly disappeared. I used to get ridiculously regular ear and sinus infections, and since cutting out the dairy the only time I have issues with those are when my allergies flare up (and I don't think there's much my diet can do for my allergies to the air I breathe). Dairy is associated with ear, nose and throat issues a lot so I wish I would have cut it out a lot sooner so that I could have spent my childhood with the ability to move and breathe a little better.

Do you think a vegan diet could be universally adopted:
Sadly, no. As forward thinking as I would like to think my generation is, they have still been brainwashed since childhood to maintain the disconnect between a living, breathing animal, a cruel, disgusting slaughter practice, and the slab of flesh on their plate. There's a reason we don't call beef a hunk of cow. Pork is rarely called pig flesh. They've worked really hard to keep this crazy image of cow's milk being good for growing human bodies for centuries. Are you a baby cow?! C'mon! Sadly, it's going to take a lot of change to get people to see things differently. That certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Just being a vegan raises a little bit of awareness to those around you; "hey.. that person eats differently and believes different things than me.. there are options." Being a happy, prepared, balanced vegan will help create a better image for all of us, not yelling at meat eaters and being snotty to vegetarians.. the important thing to remember is a lot of people don't know. Sit them down, hand them a plate of vegan cookies, and turn on Earthlings. Those two things can speak volumes about our way of life.

Vegan Interrogated: Laura

Name: Laura
Location: Texas
Website/blog: www.gynxyarns.com

A little about yourself:
I've been a dietary vegan for 3 years, but before that I became a vegetarian when I was 4 years old. I love knitting and working out.

Favorite meal to make:
I really love sushi, and even though it's not hard to make, a lot of times I'm lazy and put all of the ingredients in a bowl instead of a roll. My favorite stuffing for sushi is the spicy tempeh from Veganomicon. So simple, but so incredibly delicious.

Favorite restaurant & why
Spiral Diner and Bakery. There's one in both Fort Worth and Dallas, and their food is incredible. I love them so much I even had them do my wedding desserts! I love Spiral because I can take people who have never eaten vegan food before there and they'll come out talking about how vegan food is actually tasty. I love a lot of the dishes there, but I've been stuck on the Spiral burger with a nut patty and cheese for a while. Oh, and a side of potato salad, of course.

Dumbest question someone asked you about being vegan.
The dumbest question actually came from my husband the very first time I met him. He asked me if I got a cut on my finger and put my finger in my mouth, would that be vegan since I'd technically be consuming blood. He didn't really make a good first impression, haha.

What was the reaction from your friends/family?
I'm sure my friends thought it was weird, but for the most part they didn't bug me about it. There was more of an adjustment period for my family since they'd often cook for me, but everyone's used to it now and no one tries to feed me things with butter in them.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you being vegan?
A lot of people seem to be confused as to what all is restricted in a vegan diet, especially with all the other different allergies and diets out there. People seem confused all the time that I'm eating gluten, something with sugar in it, grains, or really anything that isn't a vegetable. A lot of people see a vegan diet as extremely restrictive, and think we can't eat anything. Most people don't believe me when I tell them I started eating a much greater variety of foods when I became vegan, but it's true!

Vegan, Interrogated: Mary

Name: Mary
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Website/blog: http://gothcupcake.blogspot.com/

A little about yourself: I have been vegan for over 5 years, I love hiking, horror movies, baking vegan goodies and all things artsy!

What made you decide to go vegan? I was inspired by my friend Scott who was Vegan and his "V" Vegan baseball hat. I had always been interested in being vegetarian and always had a love for animals, it just made sense.

What was the reaction from your friends/family? When I first became vegan I don't think most of my friends and family knew what to think of it. My friends didn't say anything outright, but after I had been vegan for a year, one of my closest friends told me they were all betting it would last 3 months. My family went through different phases of indifference, annoyance, and finally acceptance. Offering to buy my own groceries when I became vegan was a big step. Now my family is extremely supportive and even swap out their meat meals for veggie burgers and ask me for recipes.

What is the biggest misconception people have about being vegan? That vegans don't eat anything but vegetables or tofu! Don't get me wrong, veggies and tofu are awesome! However, vegans eat way more! There is a whole world of flavors and foods to explore that people never open their minds (and their mouths) to. I enjoy Indian food such as samosas or aloo gobi and I like to munch on kale chips and my latest vegan cookie recipe, I can still eat pizza and burgers, I just have daiya cheese and veggie burgers instead.

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan? If it's something you want to try, or something you believe in, go for it. Read everything you can, reach out on-line or in your community to other vegetarians/vegans and find out ways to get the nutrition you need to maintain a healthy vegan diet. Salad for every meal is not the way to go! You can do it! I believe in you!

Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself? Definitely! Just being able to talk about our veganism and help others explore new foods and try new things, even in the smallest of ways we are broadening minds and inspiring positive change. I have friends who will text me or go out of their way to let me know when they've eaten a vegan meal. Everyone has heard the Ghandi quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I truly believe that by being vegan we are already inspiring change in those around us, which can lead to amazing things.

Vegan, Interrogated: Nixx

Name: Nixx
Location: upstate NY
Website/blog: www.eyescream.etsy.com

A little about yourself: I love food, music, and traveling! If I'm lucky I get to do all three at once. I strive to see the positive in every situation and hope to inspire others to do the same. My best friend is an orange kitty named Boris. I love Bon Jovi & Motley Crue, and have an obsession with both Nikki Sixx and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I enjoy making clothes with lots of metal, and still carry metal lunchboxes. Oh, and I have been vegan for over a year and a half! :)

What made you decide to go vegan? Research. I love animals so much, and learning about the pain and suffering they go through just so I can wolf down a Big Mac or a bowl of ice cream, or wear leather boots, was too much. I am not more important than them just because I am human. Their lives mean just as much as mine, and they deserve a chance at life just as any human does. We are WAY past the time when we needed to hunt to survive (in most parts of the world anyway), so I see no reason to continue slaughtering and abusing animals to satisfy the human ego.

Favorite meal to make: Mac-n-cheez!!! Pizza with Daiya vegan cheese, and spicy "sausage" from scratch :)

Favorite restaurant & why: Blossom in NYC!! Because it has the most amazing Cape Cod Cakes, awesome desserts, and great memories of umbrellas being stolen. Blossom du Jour also rocks, as well as Candle 79, and Franchia. I also LOVE The Organic Grill, even though they are not 100% vegan, their vegan dishes are AWESOME! They do a great job and I hope they do go 100% vegan at some point :) (All in NYC!)

Who/what inspires you? Life inspires me! There is so much within one day that inspires me, it's unreal! The sky, someone's face, a fabric, a song....there is so much going on!! Also, my friend Bianca from ReLove Plan.et inspires me, because no matter how good of a person you think you are, you can always be better. She's a gorgeous ball of energy and sunshine! My friend Kylie (umm, the one asking me these questions...) also inspires me with her dive into veganism, and her beautiful open mind. Also, that Metal Motivation guy...he's so damn smart! Check him out. Oh, and the Vegan Black Metal Chef ;)

Favorite organization/cause & why: Farm Sanctuary and Woodstock Sanctuary. Both of these animal sanctuaries are close by, and visiting them really opened my eyes further to how important it is to treat all living things with respect. Meeting animals that were rescued from slaughterhouses and testing facilities, really opens your eyes to what is really going on to bring you the food you're eating, or the cosmetics you're using...it's a sad state of affairs my friends. Both of these sanctuaries do an awesome job at taking care of these animals for the rest of their days, and educating the public.

What was the reaction from your friends/family? My stepdad said I'd be back through his door asking for his meatballs I loved so much ;) (He was wrong!) Everyone was pretty open to it, and have been awesome at making sure there is something I can eat at family gatherings. My co-workers sometimes made fun of me, and would make jokes at lunch time, but they just needed some education ;) There's a joke or two made once in a while, but overall I think everyone understands why I chose this lifestyle.

Do you find going out/social situations difficult? Not at all! If anything, adopting a vegan diet has made me more creative and most of the time the things that I order grab the attention of the people with me! I usually get a "Hey, that looks pretty good!"

What changes have you noticed in yourself since going vegan? The first changes were an increase in energy, weight loss, and a general feeling of being "lighter", both physically and mentally. My mental strength has improved and I do not get as irritable as I did before. My body just feels cleaner, and there's definitely more of a bounce in my step ;) I don't have belly aches anymore after eating a big bowl of mac-n-cheese, and I can eat more cookies with soy milk than I could with regular milk!!! How cool is that??

Do you have any advice for people toying with the idea of becoming a vegan? Focus first on living a cleaner life! If you find it scary to give up meat or dairy, start small and work your way up to it. But honestly, I think nosediving head first into it is the way to go :) I did, and am so glad! I think I would have had a harder time if I only had cheese on Saturdays, or made some other silly deal with myself. You need to have a clear picture of why you're making this choice & really believe in your decision! If you don't believe in your reason, or yourself, you'll fail. Do what you feel comfortable doing...utilize the many prepackaged vegan options that are out there if you're not a cook, veganize your family favorite recipes, or cook everything from scratch! Whatever you're doing now, continue to do it, only in a vegan way :) OR branch yourself out a little bit and explore, you never know what you'll find out about yourself!! Becoming vegan is such a fun experience!

Do you think your veganism has an impact on something greater than yourself? Yes, I do believe that becoming vegan has not only saved lots of animal lives, but that it's helping the Earth in general :) There's just too much research on the positive effects of veganism for me to think otherwise.