Before you think about meal planning, grocery shopping and eating out as a new vegan, there are 2 key steps you must take to start your journey.
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Resources mentioned in this episode:
Skinny Bitch - book that motivated me to become a vegetarian
Sistah Vegan - book that motivated me to become a vegan
The holidays are coming, so I had to invite Tracye McQuirter on the podcast to talk about how to navigate a vegan lifestyle during this season.
Tracye is a 30-year vegan, national best-selling author, public health nutritionist, international speaker, and vegan trailblazer. She was named a national food hero changing the way America eats for the better by Vegetarian Times, and her national best-seller, By Any Greens Necessary, was the number one recommended vegan book on The Huffington Post. For 25 years, she's been teaching people throughout the United States and abroad how and why to go vegan for better health. She's been featured in more than 100 media outlets, including CBS News, Fox News, The Huffington Post, and The Washington Post. Tracye has a master's degree in public health nutrition from New York University.
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Her tips:
Be gentle with yourself and others - RELAX!
Never talk about veganism at the Thanksgiving dinner table
Bring enough food for yourself and others
It's okay not to eat traditional Thanksgiving meals...even though you sure can do that!
Notable Quote from Tracye: "Liberate your mind and your mouth will follow."
Other topics we chatted about:
The importance of determining your why when you're going vegan
Why community is essential to a long-term vegan life
How veganism is a black movement
How to Reach Tracye:
Resources mentioned:
Meetup.com - to find vegans in your area
Sistah Vegan book
I answered this question several months ago in this blog post but wanted to put in with a podcast episode because it's so important.
How in the heck do you plan meals without meat being the center of the meal?
Some people think you can only get protein from chicken, beef, fish, eggs, etc. but this isn't the case at all. There are sooo many plant-based options that can easily replace the meat on your plate.
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The best way to approach vegan life when you're getting started is to think about what you're already eating and how you can make a vegan version of that meal.
In this episode, I used vegan fried chicken, taco salad and chili as examples of how this would look.
Try not to overthink your meal planning, be gentle with yourself and I promise it will get easier once you're consistent.
Resources mentioned:
Vegan fried chicken recipe
Gardein Vegan chicken patties
Mac & cheese recipe
Walnut taco salad recipe
Chili recipe
Options for vegan crumble for the chili - Beyond Meat & Gardein
It was a pleasure having Jenné of Sweet Potato Soul on the show to talk about her transition to vegan life.
We discuss:
How she decided to became a vegan after working in a vegetarian restaurant around ethical vegans
Why meat alternatives are helpful when you're transitioning to a vegan life
Some of her favorite food/meals
Whether or not celebrity vegans help or cause more confusion in the vegan movement
How to help your picky eaters
Why she credits finding her purpose from going vegan
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How to reach Jenné:
"Food affects you on so many levels - it heals you or destroys you."
"I will legit bring my own cake to events!"
Resources Mentioned:
Peace Food Cafe in NYC
Veganist book
Vegucated documentary
Soul Veg restaurant in ATL
Beyond Meat & Gardein vegan chicken
Field Roast vegan products
Ezekiel sprouted bread
Beyonce's vegan delivery service
Good Karma Diet by Victoria Moran
I met Lynne several years ago online and since then we've had a chance to connect offline at local events. She's a big believer in balance...not only in food, but how she lives her life.
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We discussed:
How she was able to get rid of her high blood pressure medication after eating a mostly raw diet for 4 months
How she was able to get her husband to embrace vegan life
Why balance is so important in a vegan lifestyle
Her love of cooking and how she prepares her favorite dishes
Quotes:
"That month of raw food changed my life"
"Life is About Balance"
Vegan Tips:
Keep your meals simple
Start with Breakfast
How to Reach Lynne:
Resources Mentioned:
Success Through Stillness by Russell Simmons
Nu Vegan Cafe in DC
Evolve in DC
Great Sage in MD
Seoul Food in MD