*Retired NBA Player *Producer *Talk Show Host
"I used to believe that you couldn't go without cheese, that you need some fish oils. I used to believe the hype." (source)
In this video, Salley talks about his previous health issues, his workout style, and why he became a raw vegan.
How long have you been a vegan?
I have been a vegan for about six months. I am new to the lifestyle and I still have my struggles. I have been raw for about two months
What made you decide to embrace a plant-based diet?
I love how I feel when I eat a plant–based diet. It has improved my iron levels.
What was the hardest food to move away from?
I will have to say fish. It was something I grew up with. I’m a country girl.
Any advice to new vegans?
1. If you want to get into the vegan lifestyle don’t make it complicated just go buy some simple fruits and vegetables and start small. You will grow.
2. If this is new to you give yourself lots of praise. If you fall get back up and don’t worry about it. Be kind to yourself-you have been eating a certain way your whole life,
3. Have an open mind about this lifestyle. If you want to enjoy it you have to have the right mindset. Don’t think about what you can’t have, think about all you can have.
4. Don’t get into labels. Just eat healthy and be kind to others.
What are some of your favorite books or websites on veganism?
The Raw Food Detox Diet
Please share a recipe you enjoy.
One of My Favorite Raw Juice Recipes:
Goddess Lemonade
1 cucumber
2 pears
½ lemon
Want to reach Pamela?
How long have you been a vegan? Well I was a vegetarian for 4 years and then transitioned to vegan. I have now been vegan 4 years as well and loving every minute of it.
What made you decide to embrace a plant-based diet? It started during my graduate school days when I started my first master’s degree. I had just moved to south Florida and I was starting to notice a change in my body that was hard to ignore. Basically, I was a little too “regular” if you know what I mean. So I took a visit to the doctor to have a check up and see what may be the problem. He asked me a question that I will never forget… “John, do you eat a lot of meat?” I responded, “Sure, but I don’t think it is out of the ordinary, look at how big I am.” The doctor told me that he wanted me to try not eating meat for 30 days and see how I felt after that 30 days. Well let’s just say that would not have been my first choice (I was a fan of a good philly cheessteak). I did figure that he was the doctor though so I would try it.
Even though the doctor suggested that I complete 30 days of this meat fast, I did not make it to the full 30 days. I noticed that only after 2 weeks of avoiding the meat that I had become completely regulate and that my stomach felt a million times better. At first I was torn between the fact that I loved meat so much and the fact that I had healed myself by avoiding meat. So I had to make a call, and my health won that battle. Even though I gave up the meat, I still did not give up the cheese, milk & eggs.
My career in health and fitness was taking a turn for the better and my research into the human body and nutrition made me look more and more at my own health. I was a vegetarian for 4 years before I finally realized that I was in an “unfaithful relationship” to my health and finally made the commitment to drop the dairy and eggs. Even though I had felt so much better I was shocked at how much growth my body and mind was able to show when I went all out vegan. I was so impressed at how well I felt, I wanted to share with the world.
What was the hardest food to move away from? I would have to say it was my cheese. I was a happy cheese eater ignoring the gar that 75% of all humans are lactose intolerant and that I was one of them. lol
Any advice to new vegans? Don't listen to the masses....listen to your body! Pay attention to the way your body reacts to every piece of food that you put into your mouth. Just like a finely tuned engine, your body will only run the best when it's full of premium fuel.
What are some of your favorite books/websites on veganism. I would have to say any book by Anil Phyo (she's a raw vegan chef). I also love and live by the The China Study
Please share a recipe you enjoy. One of my favorite recipes is my Bad Ass Dates and Nanners
Slice 3 bananas and place in a bowl
6 dates (pitted)
Place dates in blender with 1/3 cup water and blend until smooth
Pour mixture over sliced bananas
Website: www.badassvegan.com
Twitter: @badassvegan
Facebook: Bad Ass Vegan
You can email me at John@badassvegan.com
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? Summer 2009
What made you decide to embrace a plant-based diet? I am very interested in health and maintaining a healthy weight.
What was the hardest food to give up? Dairy was my number 1 food group. Yes, I love the entire group.
Any advice to new vegans? If you relapse, it is not the end of the world or your road to veganism. Evaluate how you failed and what made you fail, and try to make changes and improvements from there.
What are some of your favorite books or websites on veganism? Skinny Bitch
Please share a recipe you enjoy.
Vegan Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Ingredients:
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup vegan, non-dairy butter
3/4 cup strawberry spreadable fruit ( jam, jelly, etc.)
1 cup dried blueberries
1/2 cup chopped cashews
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 8 or 9 inch square pan or 2 loaf pans.
In a large mixing bowl, combine light brown sugar, all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and quick cooking oats. Stir it all together well.
Next, add in vegan butter. Start by stirring the vegan butter into the dry ingredients. Eventually, your going to have to get dirty and combine it with your hands. The ingredients should come together to form a dough with no dry/floury parts. Use 3/4 of the dough to cover the bottom of the pans and reserve 1/4 the dough for later. Layer on strawberry spreadable fruit, then dried blueberries, cashews, and then crumble the remaining oatmeal dough on top. Lightly press all of the components together to make sure they form a cohesive bar. Bake for 30 minutes, until bars are browned and fruit parts are bubbly. Allow to cool before cutting and serving. Enjoy your vegan oatmeal and all cookie bars.
Tasha is a full-time graduate student in Public Health
Reach her:
Email: thesweetestvegan@yahoo.com
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 celebrate one year as a vegan in February 2012!
What made you decide to embrace a plant-based diet?
I mainly decided that my whole life needed a change after a major breakup in July 2010 that left me depressed and looking for an outlet. I began heavy eating in order to mask my pain and gained a significant amount of weight onto my already sizable frame. After finally getting sick and tired of eating my pain away, I realized my direction was not simply to “diet” but to find something that would work for me in the long haul. During the first month, I realized elimination meat was nothing. It became a sort of challenge to me to find all the animal byproducts in the items I used. I never looked back and in the midst of it all, I healed my heart.
What was the hardest food to give up?
Without a doubt, low moisture mozzarella, and ribs. When I have a craving, I make vegan mac & cheese and throw some bread crumbs on top for crunch and bake! I haven’t found a cheese that can replace dairy, but I’ve learned to live very comfortably with Daiya!
Any advice to new vegans?
Group up! Finding other like-minded people will help so much in those weak moments. Also, find your own comfort zone and start from there. When it comes to many newbies, we want everything right then and there. Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day and you can’t build a lifestyle without a little time, patience and planning!
What are some of your favorite books or websites on veganism?
The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone
Please share a recipe you enjoy.
I recently fell in love with a dessert that I learned to make from other Youtubers. I realized that many were putting way too many ingredients to suit my pure and simple tastes so I made it myself to see if I could make it taste good. It was chocolate banana peppermint chia seed pudding. I smashed a banana in a bowl and added five healthy tablespoons of chia seeds to the mixture. I then added cacao powder, about 2 tablespoons and three drops of peppermint extract. I let it marry together for 10 minutes then added vanilla coconut milk and put it in the fridge overnight. I’m happy to report it is now my new midday snack. What's better than that?
I’m always on a journey. Always seeking higher and better. I love to help others, it truly does my heart good to serve. Guess it runs in the family. I would love to make this blogging and documenting a business, since I love to talk and share. I actually hope to progress it into something businesslike, lord willing. I hope to continue to explore veganism and progression into raw veganism. My love of sweets has turned me into the ultimate prowler for the most delicious vegan possibilities to create. On this journey I’m learning to not overload myself on the possibilities, but not limit myself to only a few! I love meeting new people, not only for networking purposes but for genuine friendships. If you can’t tell by now, I can talk your ear off about almost any subject! Love and light.
Email: Veganjourneygurl@live.com
