Here are some questions we asked local Durango vegetarians and vegans!
Margaux Newby
A local 10th grader and thriving vegan.
A local 10th grader and thriving vegan.
1. What made you decide to go vegetarian or vegan?
I decided to go vegan for two reasons: to lower my environmental/climate impact and because I did not want to contribute to the mass slaughter of animals and the use of them just for food. With the current state of our climate, I did not want to support the meat and dairy industries, which have some of the biggest environmental impacts of any industry, whether that be in terms of carbon footprint or environmental destruction such as deforestation. I was also absolutely disgusted that I was eating animals and using them for food. I have always felt so passionate about animals and have felt such a connection with them. I realized that there was no point in being passionate about the protection of animals/animal rights if I was eating them.
2. Do you think after you changed your diet your overall health or mindset improved?
I definitely think that my health and mindset have improved since I have been vegan. When I first became vegan, I wasn't doing it primarily for health, but now, I realize just how much the health of my mind and body have improved. I think my mindset definitely improved as well. For example, before I became vegan, or even vegetarian, I knew about the climate crisis, but not much. I didn't realize what kind of impact my lifestyle had on this, and what parts of my lifestyle have contributed to my personal impact. But since I've been vegan, I have become much more conscious of that impact and have also changed other parts of my lifestyle to lower my impact, such as transportation, consumption, and clothing.
3. What did you use to replace meat or animal products after you went vegan or vegetarian to make sure you were getting enough protein? I have discovered so many different foods with great sources of protein to integrate into my diet. I eat a lot of beans and rice, which has lots of protein and is delicious! Another great source of protein is tofu which is also delicious! I also am trying to eat more whole grains such as quinoa and protein-rich vegetables. I have discovered that the key to getting protein when vegan is to eat lots of complex carbohydrates, which are found in foods like what I mentioned before: beans, whole grains, and vegetables. Another thing I love to eat, which can be integrated in many different meals is chia seeds! I sprinkle chia seeds on my breakfast every morning and sometimes in smoothies. I also of course eat nuts, and nut milks.
4. What are some of your favorite meals or recipes that you have discovered?
The meals I make actually haven't changed much since being vegan because before I was vegan, I rarely ate much meat in the first place, so most of my meals have been pretty much the same but with a few tweaks. Some of my favorite meals/recipes for dinner and/or lunch include: bean and rice tostadas with veggies, lentil soup with veggies, power bowls with bases like quinoa, chickpeas or rice with veggies and/or fruit, and pasta with homemade tomato and bell pepper sauce with herbs. For breakfast I love: cashewgurt (cashew milk yogurt) with granola, blueberries, and chia seeds, vegan pancakes or waffles, and oatmeal with nuts and berries.
5. Do you think your life would have been different or better if you decided to become vegetarian or vegan earlier in your life? I definitely think that my life would have been better if I had decided to go vegan earlier because my health would definitely have been better, and so would my mindset. I am actually very surprised with myself that I didn't decide to do this earlier considering how I have always loved and cared so deeply about animals and the environment. I do really wish that I would have done this earlier in life and I regret not doing it, but I don't really worry too much about that because I'm just happy that I'm doing it now!
I decided to go vegan for two reasons: to lower my environmental/climate impact and because I did not want to contribute to the mass slaughter of animals and the use of them just for food. With the current state of our climate, I did not want to support the meat and dairy industries, which have some of the biggest environmental impacts of any industry, whether that be in terms of carbon footprint or environmental destruction such as deforestation. I was also absolutely disgusted that I was eating animals and using them for food. I have always felt so passionate about animals and have felt such a connection with them. I realized that there was no point in being passionate about the protection of animals/animal rights if I was eating them.
2. Do you think after you changed your diet your overall health or mindset improved?
I definitely think that my health and mindset have improved since I have been vegan. When I first became vegan, I wasn't doing it primarily for health, but now, I realize just how much the health of my mind and body have improved. I think my mindset definitely improved as well. For example, before I became vegan, or even vegetarian, I knew about the climate crisis, but not much. I didn't realize what kind of impact my lifestyle had on this, and what parts of my lifestyle have contributed to my personal impact. But since I've been vegan, I have become much more conscious of that impact and have also changed other parts of my lifestyle to lower my impact, such as transportation, consumption, and clothing.
3. What did you use to replace meat or animal products after you went vegan or vegetarian to make sure you were getting enough protein? I have discovered so many different foods with great sources of protein to integrate into my diet. I eat a lot of beans and rice, which has lots of protein and is delicious! Another great source of protein is tofu which is also delicious! I also am trying to eat more whole grains such as quinoa and protein-rich vegetables. I have discovered that the key to getting protein when vegan is to eat lots of complex carbohydrates, which are found in foods like what I mentioned before: beans, whole grains, and vegetables. Another thing I love to eat, which can be integrated in many different meals is chia seeds! I sprinkle chia seeds on my breakfast every morning and sometimes in smoothies. I also of course eat nuts, and nut milks.
4. What are some of your favorite meals or recipes that you have discovered?
The meals I make actually haven't changed much since being vegan because before I was vegan, I rarely ate much meat in the first place, so most of my meals have been pretty much the same but with a few tweaks. Some of my favorite meals/recipes for dinner and/or lunch include: bean and rice tostadas with veggies, lentil soup with veggies, power bowls with bases like quinoa, chickpeas or rice with veggies and/or fruit, and pasta with homemade tomato and bell pepper sauce with herbs. For breakfast I love: cashewgurt (cashew milk yogurt) with granola, blueberries, and chia seeds, vegan pancakes or waffles, and oatmeal with nuts and berries.
5. Do you think your life would have been different or better if you decided to become vegetarian or vegan earlier in your life? I definitely think that my life would have been better if I had decided to go vegan earlier because my health would definitely have been better, and so would my mindset. I am actually very surprised with myself that I didn't decide to do this earlier considering how I have always loved and cared so deeply about animals and the environment. I do really wish that I would have done this earlier in life and I regret not doing it, but I don't really worry too much about that because I'm just happy that I'm doing it now!
Rio Edmondson
A 9th grader and life long vegetarian
A 9th grader and life long vegetarian
1. Do you think after you changed your diet your overall health or mindset improved
I’ve been vegetarian my entire life, mainly because of my love for animals and how cruel the meat industry is.
2. Do you think after you changed your diet your overall health or mindset improved?
As I said i’ve always been vegetarian so I have nothing to compare it to, but my diet really does fuel me with a lot of energy to do a lot of active things.
3. What did you use to replace meat or animal products after you went vegan or vegetarian to make sure you were getting enough protein? There are many fake meats on the market now, becoming more and more common with impossible meat. there are plenty of protein sources coming from tofu, nuts, and lots of other things I can eat throughout my day.
4. What are some of your favorite meals or recipes that you have discovered?
This is not exactly a recipe, but I went to a burger place in Denver that had an impossible burger (a burger that made out of grains and nuts but it tastes like a normal burger!) that I really loved, and it inspired me to use impossible meat more often!
5. Do you think your life would have been different or better if you decided to become vegetarian or vegan earlier in your life?
I have been vegetarian since birth so have never included meat in my normal diet.
I’ve been vegetarian my entire life, mainly because of my love for animals and how cruel the meat industry is.
2. Do you think after you changed your diet your overall health or mindset improved?
As I said i’ve always been vegetarian so I have nothing to compare it to, but my diet really does fuel me with a lot of energy to do a lot of active things.
3. What did you use to replace meat or animal products after you went vegan or vegetarian to make sure you were getting enough protein? There are many fake meats on the market now, becoming more and more common with impossible meat. there are plenty of protein sources coming from tofu, nuts, and lots of other things I can eat throughout my day.
4. What are some of your favorite meals or recipes that you have discovered?
This is not exactly a recipe, but I went to a burger place in Denver that had an impossible burger (a burger that made out of grains and nuts but it tastes like a normal burger!) that I really loved, and it inspired me to use impossible meat more often!
5. Do you think your life would have been different or better if you decided to become vegetarian or vegan earlier in your life?
I have been vegetarian since birth so have never included meat in my normal diet.
Mark Williamson
A Durango Athlete
A Durango Athlete
1. What made you decide to go vegetarian or vegan?
I think it is entirely possible to have a healthy diet from vegetables, nuts and grains. There is a great movie called "The Game Changers" about athletes from a variety of disciplines who have made the leap to plant based and had great results.
2. Do you think after you changed your diet your overall health or mindset improved?
I feel like I have more energy throughout the day.
3. What did you use to replace meat or animal products after you went vegan or vegetarian to make sure you were getting enough protein?
Whole grains, like quinoa, oats, nuts, and all kinds of leaf vegetables (kale, spinach,) root vegetables like yams and sweet potatoes.
4. What are some of your favorite meals or recipes that you have discovered?
Arugula, chick peas, sautéed yams, goddess dressing and sometimes some feta cheese on top along with pine nuts.
5. Do you think your life would have been different or better if you decided to become vegetarian or vegan earlier in your life? Maybe. But starting later gives me much more perspective. Certainly better for the environment, but I don't think my life would have been different. The choice in my case was more of an experiment.
I think it is entirely possible to have a healthy diet from vegetables, nuts and grains. There is a great movie called "The Game Changers" about athletes from a variety of disciplines who have made the leap to plant based and had great results.
2. Do you think after you changed your diet your overall health or mindset improved?
I feel like I have more energy throughout the day.
3. What did you use to replace meat or animal products after you went vegan or vegetarian to make sure you were getting enough protein?
Whole grains, like quinoa, oats, nuts, and all kinds of leaf vegetables (kale, spinach,) root vegetables like yams and sweet potatoes.
4. What are some of your favorite meals or recipes that you have discovered?
Arugula, chick peas, sautéed yams, goddess dressing and sometimes some feta cheese on top along with pine nuts.
5. Do you think your life would have been different or better if you decided to become vegetarian or vegan earlier in your life? Maybe. But starting later gives me much more perspective. Certainly better for the environment, but I don't think my life would have been different. The choice in my case was more of an experiment.