Personal Novelty: Going Plant-based & Raw

As much as I love eating: the idea of occasionally eating much of yummy food, I realize that I come to that moment when some things are gonna change forever - for good, for better. I have expressed my love for food and cooking in my previous posts, which are very different things from what I have got recently. The part of loving food and cooking stays the same, while kinds of food I prefer differ significantly.

Being a visual admirer, I am impressed about how a meal looks beautiful, regardless how it tastes. That is how meal concept of mine changes in the first place: from what my eyes capture and enjoy.

Then, it is my growing desire that what makes me feel more alive and definitely happier does matter. My circle of social networks-based friends seems getting bigger and wider, and through those wonderful personas I know that I will let myself try some things which are out of my daily basis. A meal, by one of the vegans whose feeds I follow, consists of white rice, wedges of roasted potatoes (both regular and sweet), mango salsa, and handful of herbs (coriander and parsley) is among my first visual experiences which got me so excited.

To me, the meal was not only beautifully prepared, but also mouth-wateringly looking, though the ingredients are very simple.

Its humble appearance even “disguises” the fully-packed nutrients it carries - I mean, most people wouldn’t agree that such humble meal is nutritious. As usual, just like someone who always places last in a race, I got that spirit to claim my first place ever, or someone who has been hibernating all winter, I was wide awake for spring betterment.

I would like to emphasize that the term “vegetarian” and “vegan” are not really ideal terms for me. I am not a religious person, but I have my faith which is not something I can simply relate to what I have as meals. I mean, my being a Muslim has everything to do about myself as a person, but nothing to do with my preferred diet. I don’t think I would like to go with vegetarian or vegan either - but having known “plant-based” term really makes me an enthusiast of it. Vegan sounds a little bit bothering and intimidating to me, but it is just a term anyway. When I look into my heart’s desire, I think I am qualified to tell everyone that I am a vegetarian or, more strictly, vegan. I manage to eat no animal products, including eggs and milk; and I love animals, though I am not an activist for their rights.

I equally realize that "veganism" does not only go for things about food, or how we treat animals, but also things like non-edible goodies people use in their life on daily basis, such as clothes, cosmetics/make-ups, and home equipments - basically the whole mindset of it.

I recently found the term "Ethical Vegan", and I have not coxnsidered myself belong to that definition. I still put on my ordinary clothes and use stuffs which are not vegan-certified, but I manage to have more and more vegan stuffs into my life whenever possible and available. What works with my mind is simple - as long as it is sustainable, I go for it.

The very prominent confidence of my selection of food is about me taking it seriously, yet it is a compromise; that besides it is not religion-based, it is also not merely because of my food restrictions. At this moment, so far, I haven't found any food which exactly causes me in serious problem, such as food intolerance. My being vegan is not necessarily for health reasons, although I have experienced rashes on my skin and discomfort in the stomach. Yet, as I age every single day, I kind of being more open-minded about what I put into my body - I guess nothing is wrong about it. Hence, vegan food. Having vegan food is really about preference. About everything I choose over everything else; about preferring, for example, tempeh to beef; about liking crunchy salad greens better than crusty fried chicken; about would rather have soy milk or rice milk or oat milk or almond milk than regular cow milk; and about would prefer breakfast of granola with seasonal berries rather than English breakfast with fried egg and sausage. Even, choosing avocado for healthier fat source in preference to butter to spread on toasts.

The preference is based solely on my personal decision which doesn't go like how I will  strictly never sip wine, beer and other alcoholic drinks; or eat pork - simply following Islamic dietary laws.

What I want to tell is, simply said, it is surely okay for me to eat non-vegan meals as I did before I decided to go vegan (and, still doing it now sometimes, here and there, and everywhere). It's not like I am going to suffer from something bad for having some fried chicken drumsticks, or it is going to be fatal to sip latte with cow milk. My vegan rule goes deliberately simple: I like it better. I just wish that I can prepare more homemade vegan menus on my own with ease, and there would be much more vegan cafes or restaurants around where I live (but, it will always be fine for me to have a plate of humble, delish vegetarian Nasi Goreng which is cooked in a wok or pan shared with other non-vegan cooking). Of course, deep down inside, I really wish that the very issue about farmed livestocks which are treated badly for human consumption would end in any possible way, sooner (again, I strongly state that I am not an advocate for animal rights, but I feel absolutely disgusted with any animal being harmed when still alive or when slaughtered). That's how I go being open-minded. That is how it is prominently essential for me.

It was around 11 weeks ago that I decided to go plant-based. As I was preparing meal: stirring veggie curry (with potato and carrot), then carefully and excitedly serving it over a bed of hot, white rice; then tearing lettuce and crumbling tempeh chips for a plant-based meal which I always think as a very joyful moment of confronting my comfort zone - I was aware that people in my closest circle at the moment would not consent to what I have when going plant-based.

Not that I question why I should care about what they thought, but this has something to do with gut.

As much as I thought that I could go crazy as hell when thinking that the very decision to go plant-based keeps me away from every single non-vegan thing I crave (and, love) - it continues to wow me that I actually run into people who go "ew" about veggies - either hating or feeling disgusted. I know there are such people, and of course I would let them be, as much as I want them to let me be myself, a plant-based enthusiast, still I was like, "Really?". I mean, it doesn't have to be extreme adrenaline moments, but I go for "making friends with fear and challenge (of eating vegetables) opens us up to a flurry of exhilaration".

I was so pumped for state-of-the-art scheme at that moment. Plant-based diet and navigating my meal in new ways are pretty good experiences. Though I don't start a vegan habit in such a way, it's been a huge adjuswtment especially for food-lover me. I was on my another day of skin inflammation - it changed color and produced raised bumps. It let me think that I have issues when it comes to food (and cold breeze, and allergens, and chemical irritants) while at the same time I just can't fake my passions: for foods, for any little art that resonates with me, for pursuing what I love. Every. Single. Day. Just, YOLO.

At this point, I feel like just because I only live once, I want to eat just everything; also, because I only live once, I want to give myself a chance to not eat just everything. 

I don't think I'm experiencing a complete case of a creative drought, but I definitely haven't felt as motivated as I normally do to be inspired by those wonderful peeps within my circles. Great people always interest me (I know I keep saying that!) - because when I'm fuelled with inspiration and ideas from them, I feel great (and when my skin is good!). I was told that a "Buddha Bowl" is "a bowl which is packed so full that it has a rounded 'belly' appearance on the top much like the belly of Buddha." Whatever the trend is, its hearty, filling dishes made of (basically) greens, grains, protein, roasted veggies, and good fat (namely, avocado) just have purpose for me: giving myself a try for all which adds value to what I do (not just eating, but savoring the inspiration) - and also that it does the job of fuelling me.

Ever since I knew more about plant-based diet, I have also come to embrace terms such as “raw food” and “whole food”. Raw food means uncooked whole food - more or less, but mine is intended to be without meat and dairy. It is said that whole food is great source to healthiest meal. Being an open-minded person, I take it simply as reckoning that every body has its own need, thus every nutrients will take effect differently. 

There was also that weekend with wind-swept hair of mine, white shirt and denim shorts; and lettuce for greens, white rice for grains, spiced chickpeas for proteins, roasted cauliflowers and sweet corn, and caramelized onions for veggies, and avocado for fat - and some others, too.

I realized that it was a pretty long-winded rant about what I put into my body, but I guess I wanted to keep meal a serious business.

The hardest part is not about having (much, much) fewer options on my edible list. It is something else; that indescribable thing which strikes me as a much worthier assertion. I often feel I should be doing something more for the world - contributing to its betterment. Or, I wonder if maybe it's just all too hard and I should give it up altogether, and just disappear.

Another day passed, and I had roast veggie Couscous featuring a frolicking lesson: "Cut back gradually. Your palate will adjust”. It’s incredible when I think I have just come safely, soundly, fully-spirited, and wholly; I see that there are always challenges.

My husband seems to be the only person who directly out-speaks  everything about my so-called new diet. He is always supportive, but sometimes very annoying for asking me the reasons why I go plant-based (Am I only following trends? And he is so sure about it, and seems like waiting for me to finally fall, face-down to my own irrational point of view), and for telling me how I have been very disgracing local wisdom.

He said that I should just have and support local source with dignity rather than wishing for things which are unavailable locally, such as arugula and Brussels sprouts.

I mean, he sounds like what I want is something bad, like I am a bad person for wanting it. I think it is nothing wrong to want something like a dream, for it is what makes me feel alive.

Of course, eating out is also a challenge. When I was told that there are very few places which are able to cater to this insane "plant-based" diet of hers (and, mine), despite the spread of cafes in Sidney, I knew that a typical vegetarian lunch once I had on an eating-out was the reason why best meal is made at home. I wish that there are more plant-based cafes to cater the trend. Yes, chances are if it is a great trend, why wouldn’t I do that?

One of my ideals about homemade meals is keeping every edible thing tasty and simple, but fancy things are fancy. It was  that day when I prepared coconut rice, stir-fried bitter gourd, stir-fried long beans, carrot & sweet corn, tempeh chips, and  then some Sriracha hot sauce. Tasty - because I can always adjust everything to my taste. Simple - because I have my hands on the ingredients (not always, because some ingredients are unavailable locally, but I know I will have more).

I realize that food access is a serious barrier for me, hence going vegan is almost an unrealistic option, but I do wish that in the near future, I am fortunate enough to be able to have access to, and afford, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Going plant-based and raw is a relatively new thing for me, a personal novelty, but I know I will go more for that - not because I want to be healthier, skinnier, or more beautiful; but I know I will change: getting better health, body-goals, and more attractive - and, most important thing: because my meal is delicious. This is about the novelty of living my dream, being inspired, and truly alive. 

picture: private documents