Interview with a Vegan

We couldnt have Vegan Week with hearing from a real Vegan! I asked Mipa Lee of AliensDayOut to help us out and answer some questions on Veganism. Mipa runs a great site about her life, and her Vegan lifestyle.  Her posts are humorous, informative and often sprinkled with fantastic pictures.
Thanks Mipa!

Where are you from?

My nationality is Korean, I grew up in several countries.... England, Scotland, Ghana, Ivory Coast, the US, and Korea.

How long have you lived in Seoul?

3.5 years!

What is veganism?
This is how Donald Watson who came up with with word 'vegan,' defined it. He put it much more eloquently than I could: "[T]he word "veganism" denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.^"

Basically, veganism means trying your best not to contribute to the unnecessary harm and suffering of animals. It's not just a diet, but a lifestyle and philosophy.

How long have you been a vegetarian? Vegan?

I was vegetarian for 2 years before going vegan about 1.5 years ago.

Why did you choose this dietary plan for yourself?

The more I learned about the suffering that goes on in the meat, dairy and egg industries, the harder it was for me to justify the action of eating animals and their products. I realized that there is no point in having values such as compassion, kindness, and peace, if I do not practice and live according to them. Ultimately, compassion for all living creatures is the main reason why I am vegan. Of course, there are also a host of other secondary reasons, such as better health and having a smaller environmental footprint.

Assuming you have eaten meat before, is there anything you miss, or having cravings for? 

I do miss certain meat dishes, but mainly only for the happy memories that are associated with those foods. I might miss something for nostalgia's sake, but that doesn't mean I actually want to eat it. For example, I might miss 'chicken pot pie' because that was one of my favorite childhood dishes, but that doesn't mean I actually want to eat chickens in a pot pie. I guess animal products just don't register in my brain as food to me anymore. I also have cravings, but they're more like general cravings for sugar, or salt, or fat, and I can always find vegan ways to satisfy them. If my mind is saying that I'm craving cheese, then it's usually my body just craving fat and salt. Moreover, if there is a specific meal that I'm jonesing for, such as pizza or a burger, I just make my own that's animal-free. I always try to have my cravings satisfied!

What advice would you have for someone that wants to start living a vegan life but feels it might be too tough, or too constricting?

I understand the fear because I had those exact thoughts when I was thinking of veganism. Yes, it might be tough at first, but any kind of life-change is going to have its difficult moments. There's a learning curve with anything new, but as time passes, and the more delicious vegan meals you learn to create, the easier things get and the more confident you feel about your choice. All good things are worth working and fighting for!

 

As for veganism being too constricting.... Personally, veganism has opened my life up to so much more than I thought possible, rather than limiting it. My diet has become completely diversified in that I eat a variety of foods that would otherwise be displaced by meat. Foods that I used to detest (ie, tofu, beans, kale, eggplants, chestnut jelly...) have now become new favorites, and I have also come to know a number of ingredients that I never even knew existed, such as quinoa, nutritional yeast, or agave syrup. Not only have my food options expanded, but I feel that I have opened myself up and allowed myself to feel more. I think that when we eat meat, we block ourselves off from feeling compassion towards the animals we eat. We say, "Don't tell me what's going on, I don't want to know" and turn a blind eye, because we are afraid that we might actually want to change. However, I think that that is the more constricting way to live. I would rather live in a way that celebrates life- not just my own, but that of other sentient beings as well. To me, that is an expansion of living.

What are three of your favorite vegan dishes?

Wow, so many to choose from! I would say that I love bibimbab (minus the egg and meat). It's my favorite Korean dish and I would be happy eating it every day. I also love banana chocolate chip muffins. And burritos. And pizza. And Indian curry. And pancakes... They're pretty much the same as anyone else's favorite dishes, just veganized. Vegan food really isn't anything mystical or in its own separate category- it's just vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts.... food that everyone already eats!

How hard is it to find vegan food at a restaurant?

I think it depends on what kind of restaurant you're at. I usually eat at places that I know are veg-friendly, such as Korean restaurants with bibimbab or lots of veggie side dishes, Indian restaurants, Mexican restaurants, or vegan buffets. I would say that most restaurants have at least one thing I can order or ask to be veganized. I tend to avoid Korean bbq or seafood restaurants because it's doubtful that there will be anything vegan, and they're also environments that I'd just rather not be in.... As a vegan in Korea, eating out does take a little more planning and patience, such as researching and suggesting veg-friendly places to your friends, or asking the cook to modify a dish. It does have its challenges, but it gets easier with practice. It also helps to remember that being vegan isn't about being perfect or beating yourself up over accidentally eating an animal product. Accidents and mistakes happen. The best thing to do is just remember for the next time and move on.

A good friend of mine told me "Vegans lie". By that she means that vegans claim their vegan baked goods etc are just as good  or better than non-vegan foods, but in reality they take like bricks of flour. What is your response?

Obviously, she hasn't tried MY vegan baked goodies. ;)

touché  Mipa, touché...

Comments

[Stefanie]

Very interesting. Thanks for the Q & A!