Other Brown Vegan: Ayanna Wells

Download a free meal plan here.

 

With about 2% of Americans practicing a plant-based diet, it’s no wonder many feel making healthier changes don’t relate to their lives.  Most people don’t even know anyone practicing a plant-based lifestyle.

I’ve decided to start a series to spotlight past and present brown vegans (famous and non-famous), who have made a change in their lives for health and/or ethical reasons. Enjoy!

 

How long have you been a vegan? I only seriously started practicing veganism since October 2011 but have been a vegetarian since winter 2003.


What made you decide to embrace a plant-based diet? I have been a vegetarian since 11th grade because I wanted to improve my athleticism and become faster and stronger. I refrained from eating meat and flirted with fish off an on throughout college and grad school.  But I. LOVED. CHEESE... and baked goods which was a problem. I was never an egg person and adopted soymilk (which I no longer drink) at an early age.  Even though I have always been a healthy eater, a recent cholesterol reading summer of 2011 showed me I wasn't as fit as I could be. Still under the recommended levels (which is actually where most aneurysms lie) I was puzzled.  At 24, vegetarian, and a certified gym rat, why weren't my numbers better? That honestly scared me, so I began to read about ways to improve my already healthy lifestyle.  After learning about the meat industry and their brainwashing effects over the general population, I began consciously (but secretly) incorporating more vegan dishes in my meals.  Sitting down at a meal felt more like a protest, a blatant disrespectful gesture to "the MAN."  I my digestion and mood is now normalized, skin clear, energy high and I just feel lighter and happier. Not to mention I don't feel bad about the animals sacrificed, the rainforests leveled, or the unnecessary sea trolling that had to be done in order for me to eat. I finally feel at peace.
I recently developed a love for cooking/ baking. Trying out new grains and vegetables is fun and exciting to me. My taste-buds are so much more now that I'm vegan.  I enjoy baking treats and serving them to skeptical audiences too! ::evil laugh::

What was the hardest food to transition away from? ummmm cheese, duh... mainly pizza. But there are so many yummy substitutes out there. And the longer you stay away, the less you have those cravings. I tell myself I can make ANYTHING someone else eats. It just takes creativity and patience.

Other Brown Vegan: Coretta Scott King

With about 2% of Americans practicing a plant-based diet, it’s no wonder many feel making healthier changes don’t relate to their lives.  Most people don’t even know anyone practicing a plant-based lifestyle.

I’ve decided to start a series to spotlight past and present brown vegans (famous and non-famous), who have made a change in their lives for health and/or ethical reasons. Enjoy!

Civil Rights Activist *Author *Singer

 

King became a vegan during the last 10 years of her life.

(Picture Source)

Other Brown Vegan: Deneice

With about 2% of Americans practicing a plant-based diet, it’s no wonder many feel making healthier changes don’t relate to their lives.  Most people don’t even know anyone practicing a plant-based lifestyle.

I’ve decided to start a series to spotlight past and present brown vegans (famous and non-famous), who have made a change in their lives for health and/or ethical reasons. Enjoy!


How long have you been a vegan? I started the transition to plant-based eating in April 2010. So, that would total a year and a half.

What made you decide to embrace a plant-based diet? I lived in Japan for two years and had unconsciously adapted to their plant-centered lifestyle. So, on returning home to Jamaica, I decided to make the full switch and eliminated animal flesh, eggs and dairy from my diet. Dr. Jewel Pookrum's video presentation "Dis-Ease" was the springboard for me.

What was the hardest food to give up? It was not a difficult decision to go plant-based, since the Rastafari and Adventist communities in Jamaica practice vegetarianism. But, I was a crab-lover since I was a fetus so, I was sure my new dietary lifestyle was solidified when I could walk past a crab pot without salivating.

Any advice for new vegans? The first and most important thing is nutritional education. The average person does not know how to feed their bodies optimally, so this health-sustaining knowledge is key for vegans. Be creative and ensure you enjoy eating - the flavors, the textures, the energy.

 

What are some of your favorite books or websites on veganism? Some great books are:

Caribbean Vegan by Taymer Mason

Delicious Jamaica by Yvonne McCalla Sobers

The Rasta Cookbook by Laura Osbourne

Are You Sure That's Vegan by Claire Gosse, and

The Ultimate Raw Ice Cream Cake by Heather Pace.

My favorite websites are www.pcrm.org, www.veglov.com, and www.thesweetestvegan.com.

Please share a recipe you enjoy.

I'd love to share some Jamaican soul food: "Stewed Peas" (made with red kidney beans). The preparation is demonstrated in this video from a local show: http://youtu.be/Z4-4ztEe2SI

Stewed Peas is a traditional Jamaican dish that is frequently done with salted beef, salted pig tails, or chicken feet. However, this version uses tofu. Please feel free to use TVP chunks or wheat gluten if you prefer.

N.B. Spinners are small dumplings made from dough. The dough is made from 225 grams ( ½ lb) whole wheat flour, 1/8 tsp. salt mixed in evenly with the flour and enough water to bind to make a smooth dough. Knead for about 1 to 2 minutes, cover and allow to relax for about 5 minutes. Pinch or cut small pieces of the dough, ( about 1 teaspoon) and roll between the palms of both hands for one second. They are ready in a short time.

 

I love veganizing traditional Jamaican dishes and trying new ones. I grab every opportunity to share with other Jamaicans my love for plant-based foods and how this way of eating has changed my life. As such, I'm a member of the Meatless Monday Jamaica team and am working hard at developing and sharing plant-based dishes with people islandwide. My plant-based diet has led me to practicing plant-based beauty - so, I use all-natural, plant-based products to groom my locs and care for my skin.

I may be reached on twitter: @deneicefalconer and on facebook.com/deneice.falconer whilst I have a few blog posts on veggieyabba.blogspot.com

Other Brown Vegan: Misty

With about 2% of Americans practicing a plant-based diet, it’s no wonder many feel making healthier changes don’t relate to their lives.  Most people don’t even know anyone practicing a plant-based lifestyle.

I’ve decided to start a series to spotlight past and present brown vegans (famous and non-famous), who have made a change in their lives for health and/or ethical reasons. Enjoy!

 

How long have you been a vegan? Since March 1, 2010 (vegetarian since October 25, 2009) 

What made you decide to embrace a plant-based diet? Spiritual reasons, as well as my personal health and that of sick family members.  I made the connection that sickness is coming from poor diet (not mainly, but big part).

What was the hardest food to give up? NOTHING. I can veganize anything! 

 

Any advice to new vegans? Stay true to your own convictions.

What are some of your favorite books or websites on veganism? By Any Greens Necessary: A Revolutionary Guide for Black Women Who Want to Eat Great, Get Healthy, Lose Weight, and Look Phat by Tracye McQuirter, The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet by Alicia Silverstone, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted And the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, And Long-term Health by T. Colin Campbell, www.earthlings.com, and Food, Inc.

Please share a recipe you enjoy. Vegan.com has great recipes.

You can reach Misty on her Facebook page.

Other Brown Vegans: Erykah Badu


 "Vegan food is soul food in its truest form. Soul food means to feed the soul. And to me, your soul is your intent. If your intent is pure, you are pure"  VegNews 2008 article

*Singer-songwriter *Actress *Producer

"My eyes are green cause I eat a lot of vegetables" Green Eyes, Erykah Badu

“If they were to choose to do anything else after they become high school students, I would have full confidence that they know how to take care of their bodies and themselves,” Badu is quoted as saying on the celebrity baby blog. “By making sure they use preventive medicine – getting plenty of water, plenty of chlorophyll and vegetable juices and good, healthy rest and activity – I know they’ll be able to take good care of themselves.”

(Badu's youngest daughter, Mars)

“We make sure we keep a school menu on hand and we prepare the same foods the kids at school are eating but in a healthier manner.”

(Source)