THERE ARE MANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT VEGANISM: VEGANS ARE PROTEIN DEFICIENT OR IT'S EXPENSIVE TO BE A VEGAN, BUT THE MOST COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING IS THAT VEGANISM IS A DIET. COLLOQUIALLY, A DIET REFERS TO A CHANGE IN ONE'S EATING HABITS FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO ACHIEVE A SPECIFIC GOAL. IN ACTUALITY, A DIET REFERS TO THE SUM OF FOOD THAT ONE CONSUMES. VEGANISM EXTENDS FAR BEYOND SIMPLY WHAT WE PUT INTO OUR BODIES—IT CAN CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
PRIOR TO OUR CONVERSATION I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MY TWIN SISTER, JENNA, HAD ESSENTIALLY CHANGED OUR FAMILY DYNAMIC WHEN SHE BECAME VEGAN. JENNA'S TRANSITION DIRECTLY AFFECTED ME, BUT I ACCEPTED AND ACTUALLY CAME TO LIKE THIS HEALTHFUL LIFESTYLE INTRINSIC TO VEGANISM. WE GOT GYM MEMBERSHIPS, ATTENDED OCCASIONAL YOGA CLASSES AND PLANNED FAMILY DINNERS AT RESTAURANTS THAT WERE VEGAN FRIENDLY. ALL THE WHILE, JENNA CONSTANTLY PRACTICED BY THE MOTTO: "BEING VEGAN IS A LIFESTYLE, NOT A DIET." WE DISCUSSED THIS MOTTO OVER VEGAN BLT'S AT DOWNBEAT DINER IN DOWNTOWN HONOLULU.
PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR MOTTO TO ME.
IT PLAYS INTO HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL RIGHTS ISSUES. SOME VEGANS CONSIDER ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF VEGANISM LIKE MANY OF THE PUBLIC FIGURES WHO VOUCH FOR THE ANIMALS, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTE VEGAN-FRIENDLY CLOTHING. OTHERS MAY ONLY BE CONCERNED WITH ONLY ONE OR A FEW ASPECTS. THE DEGREE OF VEGANISM APPLIED TO ONE'S LIFESTYLE VARIES.
AREN'T THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER TOO, LIKE MONETARY FACTORS?
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S EXPENSIVE BUT IT'S NOT. REGARDING FOOD, IF YOU STICK TO YOUR BASICS—STARCHES LIKE RICE AND POTATOES, BEANS AND VEGGIES—IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ASKED THIS A LOT, BUT WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO CONVERT TO VEGANISM?
AT FIRST, I DID IT FOR HEALTH REASONS, BUT I DON'T LIKE TELLING PEOPLE THAT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT MAY SEEM LIKE A SELFISH REASON. IT HAS NOW BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE I BECAME VEGAN.
WHY IS IT SELFISH?
BECAUSE IT'S ONLY BENEFITING ME. BUT I REALIZED THAT BECOMING VEGAN WAS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MY HEALTH. I BEGAN TO GENERATE AWARENESS OF ANIMAL WELFARE AND I HAVE INFLUENCED OTHERS TO BE MORE CONSCIOUS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S SELFISH, RATHER I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT YOU ARE MAKING THE EFFORT TO CARE FOR YOUR HEALTH.
YEAH. I STARTED DOING MORE RESEARCH AND SEEING HOW I CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF THIS CHANGE. I ALSO WATCHED VIDEOS OF VEGAN INFLUENCERS AND LEARNED ABOUT THEIR REASONS FOR BECOMING VEGAN AND IT WAS VERY INSPIRING.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY CRAVINGS FOR NON-VEGAN FOOD?
I CAN'T REALLY REMEMBER WHAT THOSE FOODS—LIKE CHEESE, MEAT AND MILK—TASTE LIKE...
YOU USED TO LOVE POKE (RAW FISH) BOWLS!
I DO MISS THAT OCCASIONALLY. MOST TIMES WHEN I'M WITH FRIENDS, EATING DESSERT FOR EXAMPLE, I DON'T REALLY CRAVE WHAT THEY'RE EATING BUT I USUALLY WISH THAT THERE WAS AN OPTION FOR ME.
WAS THERE A DEFINING MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT YOUR CHOICE TO BECOME VEGAN WAS WORTH IT?
THE SMALL INSTANCES WHERE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TEACH AND INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGH MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS A VEGAN HAVE BEEN PROUD MOMENTS FOR ME.
THE FACT THAT YOU MADE IT TWO YEARS AS A VEGAN IS A HUGE TRIUMPH.
IT WENT BY QUICKLY, BUT EVERYTHING SEEMS A LOT EASIER NOW.
WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL GROCERY LIST INCLUDE?
ALWAYS A PLANT-BASED MILK, FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, FROZEN FRUITS, GRAINS, POTATOES, BEANS, CHICKPEAS, DATES AND OATS. WHEN I GO GROCERY SHOPPING WITH MY FRIENDS, THEY'RE ALWAYS SO SURPRISED AT HOW CHEAP EVERYTHING IS. THEY USUALLY BUY A LOT LESS AND END UP PAYING MORE THAN ME.
WHEN YOU GO OUT TO EAT WHAT DO YOU DO IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS NOTHING FOR YOU TO EAT ASIDE FROM A SLICE OF BREAD OR PLAIN LETTUCE?
I'VE LEARNED TO NOT ALWAYS ASSUME THOSE ARE MY ONLY OPTIONS AND ASK IF THERE IS ANYTHING VEGAN FRIENDLY. USUALLY I'LL BRING MY OWN FOOD IF I THINK I'LL RUN INTO A SITUATION LIKE THAT. I ALWAYS COME PREPARED.
OVERALL, HOW HAS BECOMING VEGAN AFFECTED YOUR LIFE AND HOW WILL YOU MAKE OTHERS SEE VEGANISM AS A LIFESTYLE AND NOT A DIET?
I DEFINITELY HAVE MORE ENERGY AND I CAN READ MY BODY BETTER. I FEEL MORE EDUCATED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND NUTRITION, TOO. I WANT TO PASS ON THAT KNOWLEDGE AND SHOW PEOPLE THE BIGGER PICTURE AND EFFECTS THAT VEGANISM HAS ON THEMSELVES, OTHERS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.
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