A Vivacious Voice for Veganism: Making the Switch at Her Active Life

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A Vivacious Voice for Veganism: Making the Switch

Posted May 20, 2008 at 03:00 PM by Katie Drummond

Section: Her Health, Her Motivation, Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating

vegan Are you curious about the vegan lifestyle? Does it seem a little bit mysterious? Perhaps you’ve thought about trying it yourself. In this column from senior staff writer Katie Drummond, Katie explores many of the challenges that vegans face and dispels popular myths along the way. She talks about the lifestyle and how she makes it work as an athlete in the world today. She offers first-hand proof that you can be healthy, fit and incredibly happy as a result of going vegan. Follow along as she takes you on her journey.

Choosing to adopt a vegan lifestyle can seem like a big, almost overwhelming, decision. You’ve got to understand and really believe in your reasons, communicate your choice to friends and family, and reconsider the contents of your kitchen, closet, bathroom and beyond. I often encounter people who, though they like the ideas behind veganism and the exciting possibilities of the lifestyle, say they “can’t be bothered” to make the time for the switch. I would beg to differ. While chatting with close ones and internalizing your new way of eating and purchasing food, clothing and personal items is a process that will be different for everyone, the common thread of a kitchen cupboard revamp is something that can be simplified.

Here, I’ve got a nifty little list that hopes to answer some of the biggest questions I’ve encountered about replacing the convenient foods you rely on with vegan varieties. Trust me – with an hour at the grocery store and a few good recipes, you won’t even remember what you stocked your kitchen with before you went vegan.

Sandwich Stuffers: Every day, you head to the fridge and grab a few sandwich staples – loaf of bread, deli meat, mayo, and a few veggies. While it may seem impossible to “veganize” a meat-and-cheese lunch routine, the truth is another matter. Check out a few of the veggie “meat” slices (Yves is a big brand) – one serving is loaded with protein, iron and B vitamins, and very low in calories and fat. Soy mayonnaise is available at any natural food store, as well.

A note, however, for those who love their turkey-and-mayo-on-white every day at noon. Vegan versions of deli meat and mayo exist, but they’re just as processed and sodium-enhanced as their omnivorous cousins. Why not take the opportunity to try a new lunch? Stuff a whole wheat pita with plain tofu, veggies and a snappy Dijon mustard, or go for almond butter, chopped dates and a classy jam spread instead.

Happy Hour: Do you often find yourself entertaining guests, or grabbing a quick bite before dinner rolls around? Having honey roasted peanuts, antipasto and other dips, and some frozen appetizers can be a “must” for some households. This is an easy vegan fix area. Trade the roasted nuts for a healthier variety (trail mix or a raw nut mélange), skip antipasto and turn to hummus or salsa with tortilla chips or pita wedges, and instead of high-salt, high-fat frozen options, serve frozen grapes, baby carrots or exotic dried fruit.

You can buy it all at the grocery store, pre-made and ready-to-serve. But, if you’ve got a few hours on the weekend, whip up a batch of creative dips (roasted red pepper hummus or a spicy homemade black bean salsa) to avoid the salt and preservatives that inevitably go into packaged foods.

Dairy Delights: I know, you love cheese. And it’s true that cream can be delightful in a cup of coffee. But no amount of American cheddar should get in the way of your ethical ideals and health priorities, and a vegan lifestyle doesn’t mean giving up the savory flavors of dairy that you’ve come to enjoy. While vegan “faux cheese” products still leave something to be desired, nutritional yeast is a little-known alternative. These fortified flakes (full of B vitamins and iron) can be made into a cheesy sauce that tastes great on a sandwich, with vegetables (especially baked potato) or nachos.

For you cream-in-coffee aficionados, help is here – soy creamers, in original and flavored varieties, are common on grocery shelves. Why not take it a step further, and whip up your own soy lattes at home? You’ll get the calcium, iron and vitamins in fortified soy milk – and that creamy taste. Just microwave or boil the milk, then use a small, electric milk frother to add a foamy feel.

Quick Desserts: Easy dessert options are a popular item in kitchens all over America – pudding, Jell-O, packaged cookies, and so on. Going vegan doesn’t mean giving up your easy after-dinner treats, though. Many packaged cookies are actually vegan (just check the label), and soy pudding is an easy-to-find option, as well as soy and rice ice creams.

My top tip here is to skip the packaged desserts and enjoy a fresh fruit salad – but really, sometimes we just want a damn cookie! It only takes an hour to bake a fresh batch of homemade treats, which are sure to please the family more than any package of Mr. Christie’s ever could, anyways. Check out some recipes at http://www.theppk.com (my favorite vegan recipe resource online), make a double batch, and freeze some.

No, family burger night won’t be the same when you’ve gone vegan – instead of a saturated fat fest, it’ll be a healthy and delicious evening. As I think I’ve shown, vegan alternatives to your favorite packaged, frozen and convenient foods are out there and easy to incorporate into your daily routine. But if you’ve decided to renovate the contents of your kitchen, I’d suggest going all-out and aiming to eliminate some packaged foods entirely. Take a little time to research easy recipes and alternatives, and make your kitchen not only a vegan zone, but a healthy one, as well.