What can you tell us about your book Going Vegan?
Going Vegan
Gerrie- Going Vegan is a collaborative work that combines two different convictions for adopting a vegan, plant-based diet together into one very compelling argument for why eating a plant-based diet is the best way to achieve optimum health for ourselves, preserve the environment of our planet, and secure the welfare of animals. Readers will be treated to a complete guide to Veganism, from understanding what "vegan" means to how to shop on a budget, cook easy and delicious meals while assuring that they are consuming all their vital daily nutrients. Suggested daily meal plans are also included.
Joni-We wanted to write a book that talked about ALL the reasons for going vegan (the environment, our health, our pocketbook, and of course, the animals!) and one that provided nutritional guidelines, some easy to make recipes, and general support for those who are looking to transition into a more compassionate lifestyle.
Why are people afraid of the thought of going vegan?
Gerrie- Over the past six years I have heard all types of reasons as to why people could never adopt a vegan diet. The three most common reasons have been, "I could never give up cheese", "Where would I get my protein?", and "I refuse to give up my meat". Most people are just not willing to "give up" the food that they turn to for happiness and comfort. They are afraid that a plant-based diet will not bring them that same level of comfort. They are also not aware that their favourite foods are slowly robbing them of their health. Unfortunately, it takes people becoming very ill and being sick and tired of being sick and tired before they "resort" to trying a vegan diet.
Joni-No more bacon! Haha. But, seriously, many people think of going vegan as a deprivation diet, when it couldn't be more abundant! When I decided to ditch the cruelty I discovered a whole new world of foods. I eat a far bigger variety of foods now than ever before. People think it's more expensive and too hard to do, especially with a busy lifestyle. But that couldn't be further from the truth! Walking down the aisles of the grocery store there are now vegan versions of virtually every food imaginable from frozen entrees, burritos, burgers, hot dogs, lunch meats, milks, coffee creamers, cupcakes, pies, ice creams...and the way artisan vegan cheeses have exploded on to the scene...not to mention all of the fresh produce that can be prepared in so many delicious and nutritious ways. Another important reason people state for not being vegan is the fear of not fitting in. And that one breaks my heart. I wish that there wasn't still a stigma attached to veganism. It is getting better as veganism and plant-based lifestyles become more and more mainstream, but there are still a lot of uninformed people out there, who don't understand how plentiful a cruelty free lifestyle really is.
Why is it important to have the support of other vegans while transitioning?
Gerrie- Change of any kind is very hard for people. Changing a life-style is always easier if you have someone along for support, encouragement, and accountability. Changing what we eat is extremely hard because eating is something we "have" to do several times a day to survive. It is not a behaviour we can switch out for another type of behaviour. In addition, we are surrounded on a daily basis by very convenient, unhealthy, delicious, and cheap food options that are hard to pass up when we are hungry. Humans are creatures of convenience and we will grab whatever is handy. Being around others who have the same goals and priorities makes it easier to overcome temptations until we have had time to retrain our taste buds and our priorities to place our wellbeing ahead of convenience.
Joni-Support is important for any lifestyle change...but many fear change. And when others decide to make a positive change in their own lives, like going vegan, well others feel like you are judging their way of life as wrong. It creates uncomfortable and awkward situations. Whether that comes from guilt within, or a simple misunderstanding of what veganism is all about. If you are in a relationship or are part of a larger family unit, it is important to talk about these things with each other, especially in mixed households where not everyone has decided to make the switch (yet!) and to make sure that the others understand why you are doing what you are doing, and that it is not a reflection on them, rather a self-improvement tool for yourself. If that doesn't work, there are countless numbers of meet-up groups, both online, and in real life, for vegans to get together and support each other. When I first became vegan, I found a community online that eventually became real life friends, and now I have a network of vegan friends to lean on all over the world! The vegan community can be very supportive and extremely caring, like a second family.
What are the advantages of a vegan diet?
Gerrie- Since it is required that a warning label be put on all drugs and supplements, I think warnings of side effects should be placed on diets as well. The advantages of a vegan diet are best summed up in this health warning that should be posted about becoming a vegan: A Vegan Diet is a serious eating plan that uncommonly affects humans. It is a major cause of health worldwide, but is less common in the United States. The eating plan is primarily a problem to people that value their health and wellbeing. People who are concerned with their health may be most at risk of adopting this eating plan. Persons adopting this eating plan will experience one or more of the following symptoms and side effects; less sickness, daily bowel movements, great and prolonged spurts of energy, feelings of happiness, clear skin, restful sleep, and more food for their dollar. Symptoms of arthritis, stiffness, acid indigestion, and intestinal problems will disappear on this eating plan. If these symptoms last for years and you do not want them to continue, stop eating a vegan diet immediately and contact your physician.
Joni-We could write a whole book on that! In a nutshell, eating animal products in the world we live in today, is unsustainable, wasteful, and cruel. By switching to a plant based diet you reduce your impact on the environment (the animal agriculture industry causes more environmental damage than ANY other industry...even oil!), improve your health (assuming you actually eat vegetables and fruits and don't assume a diet of vegan French fries and cupcakes), and most importantly, you can save the lives of countless animals.
Why do people feel cheese is so hard to give up in order to become vegan?
Gerrie- I love it when I ask people if they consume a lot of dairy in their diet. The answer is always, "No, I really don't drink a lot of milk". I then ask them if they eat cheese, and the answer is always, "Well, yes, I love cheese". Funny how the disconnect between cheese and dairy has happened! I believe there are two reasons people find cheese so hard to "give up". First of all cheese is an ingredient found in most recipes and restaurant menu items, so people have just become accustomed to it being in everything. Second, why is cheese in almost everything we eat? Because it tastes so good! I cannot argue with the fact that cheese (fat) tastes delicious! People's taste buds are trained to that taste. It is much like people who use a lot of salt. They look for the taste of the salt and not the taste of the food. Cheese is most definitely an ooey, gooey, delicious comfort food and is a hard habit to break. Cheese may be the most difficult to convince people to do without, but the tasty plant-based, nutritious substitutions are even more fun to help them discover.
Joni-Because it is addictive! No really. The protein, casein, found in dairy milk, has a mild opiate effect. The science behind this, is that when a baby drinks the milks of it's mother, it gets comfort and wants more. This assures the baby will thrive. Then, when the baby is old enough to ween, the mother stops producing milk. That's how it works in the non-human animal world. But humans decided we needed to continue using dairy products, thus continuing the addiction. And cheese, well it's concentrated! And let's not fool ourselves, cheese is really tasty. It's melty, gooey, and downright delicious. Up until just a few years ago, the options for tasty vegan cheese were quite dismal. It was chemical-y tasting, didn't melt, and had a funny aftertaste. But now, there are so many awesome vegan cheeses, from everyday sandwich slices, to cultured and aged artisanal cheeses that are worthy of any wine and cheese plate.
Why should everyone have at least one vegan cookbook in their kitchen?
Gerrie- A major cause of the illnesses people experience is due to people not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Most people like fruits and vegetables, but simply do not know how to incorporate them into their diet in a delicious way. Vegan cookbooks are a wonderful resource for people to step out of their common everyday routine recipes and discover a whole new world of different types of ingredients and uses for foods, i.e., flax seed and water replacing eggs and date paste replacing sugar. It is sometimes easier and more successful to have people establish one or two days a week to eat vegan dishes than having them go cold turkey and try eating vegan all at once. Having vegan cookbooks around may help encourage a change in people's food choices.
Joni-Because everyone knows at least one vegan! And also because it's important for everyone to reduce their consumption of animal products, even if they are not ready to make a complete transition. Having at least one vegan cookbook, gives people the opportunity to play with vegan recipes and see that the food can be delicious and satisfying. And adopting a meatless meal a few times a week can help ease people into the lifestyle.
Joni, you are self-taught, so please tell us why you were inspired to get creative with your vegan cooking?
Joni-I am a natural creative. Ever since I was wee I wanted to make things, anything, from scratch. Veganism was an opportunity for me to really get creative with new ingredients, cooking techniques, flavour profiles, and have a blast doing it. Have there been disasters? Of course. But they were learning experiences. I find it meditative to create in the kitchen. I can chop vegetables for hours. It's therapeutic. And when something comes out delicious, and I can share that recipe with someone else, I feel like I am doing my part to change the world. And there was also the fact that when I went vegan, there simply weren't that many vegan restaurants where I lived, and there weren't as many pre-made vegan options available. If I wanted good vegan food, I had to make it myself. I turned to the internet for inspiration in the very beginning, and then I started collecting vegan cookbooks, and reading them like romance novels. Then I started reading traditional cookery books to learn the techniques used for cooking meats and other animal products so I could figure out ways to veganize my favourite pre-vegan foods. And I watched (and still watch) cooking programs on TV. I love to keep up on food trends and see how they can translate into vegan versions.
Gerrie, at what point did you decide that you wanted to pursue a career in food?
I suffered major health problems and had three major surgeries during the first 35 years of my life. Driven by the fear of yet another major surgery, I began researching and experimenting with different diets to try and achieve optimum health. Through major dietary changes such as eliminating diary and red meat and incorporating more fruits and vegetables I experienced an incredible shift in my health. Things that had been happening to me consistently for more than 30 years, stopped happening! It was then that I realized that "we are what we eat" and that I had been the major contributor to my health problems through my food choices. It was at this point in my life, in my mid 40's, that I decided to combine my new found passion of eating for health with my love of helping people. I knew that if I truly hadn't realized the consequences of my dietary choices, most people didn't either. Wanting to be a creditable source of information and not just another self-taught food Nazi, I went to school and received my B.S. degree in Food Science with emphasis in nutrition. Armed with passion and information, I started my career in helping people keep and regain their health. I have never had a moment of regret. In fact, I have been so blessed.
As a healthy eating specialist what are your top tips for eating a plant-based diet?
Gerrie- A. Choice and consume foods that contain the essential micro-nutrients necessary for optimum health; vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and phytochemicals. If you choose your food for micro-nutrient quantity, the macro nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats and fibre) will automatically be met. B. Incorporate leafy greens into everything; soups, casseroles, smoothies, stir fries, etc. Leafy greens are not just for salads! C. Do not deprive yourself. There are healthy options for everything. Depriving yourself is a recipe for failure. D. Have FUN with your food choices. Keep it interesting. Discover new foods and recipes weekly. E. Keep it real! Eat minimally processed foods and stay away from overly processed, premade meals. F. Keep it simple and convenient. Start out by taking your current favorite foods and substitute ingredients to make it plant-based and healthy. G. Don't focus on what you can't have, instead look for those things that you CAN or WANT to have. Seek out the restaurants that are willing to accommodate your new, healthy way of eating. Make it a game to take the menu and adapt one of their dishes to be plant-based and healthier.
Why are cooking demonstrations so important for the vegan community?
Gerrie- Through my cooking classes over the last seven years, I have learned that demonstration is necessary for people just starting out on a plant-based diet. One reason is because they only way most people know to eat vegetables is to steam them and then drowned them in butter. The majority of the cooking shows on television in the past have all been about dishes with lots of meat, cheese, butter and sugar (familiar ingredients). None of the mainstream cooking shows made vegetables "sexy" and definitely not the main ingredient. Most of the time, people in my cooking classes have never seen the ingredients I am using. So demonstrations definitely help open people up to all the possibilities of a plant-based diet. Another reason demonstrations are so important is that they take the "mystic" out of plant-based cooking. People have the opinion that preparing a plant-based meal is so much more time consuming and difficult. I have become the queen of "30 minutes or less". I like to show people that plant-based, healthy recipes are actually less time consuming and can be totally easy and delicious. Once people see how it is done, they feel so much more comfortable with trying it.
Joni-Because it shows people how easy it can be. (Or how fine-dining-gourmet it can be, depending on the reason for the demo.)