What made you decide to go Vegan???? The Winners….

from our contest on Facebook!    Congrats to Doug Novak, Tamara Aguilar and Kaharra Harbour….they each won a $10 Gift Card to Native Foods Café…HURRAY!

(Stay tuned for the next contest)

Kaharra :

Read the book "Skinny Bitch" and couldn’t eat any animal products the next day. it talked in graphic detail about what does on it slaughter houses and how bad meat in itself is for your body. i've always had problems with dairy and eggs... i... finally accepted it and stopped eating it. I feel sooo much better and happier. increased mood, decrease of appetite, faster metabolism, no sluggish feeling after eating more decadent foods, and a good conscience about sparing God's animals. I feel in my heart that He's proud that I'm sticking up for His creations. :)

Doug:

 When i was a young boy my father would buy a calf and a man that worked for him had a farm and would raise the calf to maturity and then the cow would be slaughtered and we would have meat for a a few months. (this was back in the 1950's). ...The same time I had a horse and the horse was on the same ranch as the calf being raised. i knew the calf was our family's so I became attached to the calf and it became like my pet. It was happy to see me when i came to the ranch and I would take it with me when I rode my horse. When it became time for the cow to be slaughtered after being fattened up, I told my Dad that i loved the cow and please do not kill it. He of course did not have it killed and we got rid of the freezer in the garage and my father never bought another calf. I immediately stopped eating all meat because i saw the link between what is on the dinner table and a live animal. I started to go to other ranches and saw the suffering and the death of animal agriculture and became a full fledged vegan. I also visited dairies and saw the inhumane way cows are treated and it made me very sad. I went on a crusade to learn and educate other people to switch to a plant base diet. I befriended Paul Bragg as he owned a heath food store in LA and also Adelle Davis as she was a nutritionist in LA too and they became my gurus. I am 64 years old and have never been to the doctor and feel like I am 24 years old. I am an avid vegan and animal rights activists as well as an environmentalist as I see the devastation the meat and dairy industry is causing to the environment. I have been a long time customer of Native and have met Tanya many times and I am inspired by the great example that she is establishing. The cuisine at Native is superior to any vegan restaurant i have ever been at. The consistency of healthful choices and preparation is amazing and Tanya's integrity and philosophy on the environment and veganism is very admirable. Thank you Tanya and the entire staff at all of the Native Foods.

  

Tamara:

I went veg in college after I killed a snail and felt incredibly guilty.  Less than a year later, I was at my Tia's house eating a breakfast of beans, platanos, and queso fresco when my uncle asked me, "Why are you eating cheese when you don't eat cow? Cheese is from the cow." So I said, "You're right," and have been vegan ever since. That was ten years ago =)

 

Comments

[Catherine]

I just read the China Study and have started to change our diet to vegan. I need to find a good cookbook! I am not used to eating this way at all. Neither is my family. But I am determined to do it. Any tips for other good recipe sites (especially with kid friendly meals) would be really appreciated!!

[Native Foods]

The China Study is doing wonders for the world!!! Definitely recommend the Native Foods Restaurant Cookbook. It is super easy to follow (most of the dressings and sauces you just throw all the ingredients into a blender and Voila!) and Chef Tanya gives you a ton of info on food, cooking techniques, and pantry essentials. Also, we will be giving out lots more recipes, for kids and adults, via this blog! Stay tuned!