131a What’s cooking? Sustainable healthy diets
Kafli 1 af 6 - Description of diet
Describe your diet in your everyday life. Do you define your diet in a certain way? If so, what does that definition entail?
I do not consume any animal products. I try to eat as much healthy as possible, I limit sugar intake and processed food.
For how long have you adhered to this diet?
I have been a strict vegan for 2 years. Before that I hadn't eaten processed meat for many years, stopped eating chicken 2 years prior and pork 5 years prior. Before I stopped consuming animal products I was eating fish, sometimes lamb and beef on rare occasions.
Kafli 2 af 6 - Reasons and experience
What made you change your diet? What are the main reasons behind the decision and why do you stick with it?
First and foremost I wanted to change my health for the better. As it improved, my road of animal welfare began and that´s why I stick with it.
Where did you first hear about this diet? How did the change occur? Suddenly or gradually?
I first heard about it 30 years ago. The change occurred gradually, as I had given up most kind of meat some years before, and I only ate meat on rare occasions.
Has your approach or perspective changed in any way since you started this diet? Can you give an example?
Like I said before, this change has made me aware of animal welfare.
Have you experienced any changes in yourself following a changed diet? For example changes in how you feel (physically or mentally), your sense of taste, your behaviour, interests, or social life? If yes, please describe the changes or give examples.
My health improved (mentally and physically), my menopause symptoms diminished and my weight is stabile. I enjoy eating, I have had the best meals ever, but it has caused slight problems in my social life, as I am always the one with the special needs regarding food. People have even told me "come on, what will happen if you eat a dairy product?"
Kafli 3 af 6 - Your diet in everyday life
Where do you usually shop for groceries? What determines what goes into your shopping basket? (Does f. ex. pricing matter? The origin of the product? How about marketing and advertisement? The information on the labels and packaging? The layout of the store?)
In any supermarket, but I try to shop at the Vegan shop occasionally. Price, quality, organically grown food and environmental things matter when I shop for groceries. The origin of the product matters, I try not to buy products from Israel.
Where you live, how is the access to the food or raw materials you need to be able to follow your diet?
It could and should be better.
How much interest do you have in food and cooking in general? Is food an important aspect of your life? How much time do you devote to thinking about, making and consuming food? Do you enjoy trying out new recipes, or even coming up with your own?
I am interested in cooking delicious and healthy food, and it is an important aspect of my life. I would say in general, I spend one hour per day around food. Yes, I like to try new recepies.
What characterises good food? (For ex. regarding taste, smell, texture, appearance, or other qualities?)
Taste and quality. Freshness and spices.
What characterises quality food when it comes to your specific diet? Does it matter for instance if the food is fresh or processed or contains additives?
I prefer fresh food, but sometimes I am lazy and give in for prepared packed food.
Is there anything you especially miss from your previous diet? Why?
Not really. I use to love fish, cream and chocolate. Now I can't stand the smell of fish and cream, and chocolate I can get without milk so I am fine.
How often do you cook at home? What needs to be in place in the kitchen for you to be able to follow your diet? (Any specific tools or equipment, a certain amount of space or anything else?)
I cook at home at least 6 timer per week. I need just a normal kitchen and basic kitchen equipments.
How often do you eat out? Where do you prefer to go? Is it easy or difficult to order food that matches your diet in restaurants?
I eat out at least once per week, sometimes more frequently. It is easy to find something to eat at restaurants that suits my diet, because most restaurants have at least one vegan dish one the menu. There is however not so much to choose from, and sometimes I end up eating the same every time I go out to eat. The should be more variety and ambition, because consumers who are not vegan also like to eat vegan sometimes.
What are the main obstacles you have met in your daily life when it comes to following your diet? What would make it even easier for you to follow your current diet?
The main obstacles is other people's ignorance and judgmental views. Also when I am told something is vegan and it is not. It would be easier if veganism was presented positively and information is clear. And if culture around animals would change, that it would not be considered normal to kill and eat another living being, nor to exploit them.
Kafli 4 af 6 - Home/family, traditions, and gendered perspectives
Describe your household conditions (How many live in your home? Are there children in the home? etc.). Does everyone follow the same diet as you do? If not, how does that affect your eating habits?
We are 2 in the households on a daily basis, and I am the only vegan. It does not change anything for me but more for the my husband, he eats more vegan that he would do otherwise.
Do you experience support or criticism from your family, friends, or colleagues/school mates? Does that make a difference for you? Can you give us an example?
Yes I have experienced criticism, not so much from my family but a hint or a word here and there. Friends and colleagues sometimes ask if I am "still" a vegan, like it was some sort of a trend that I would temporarily follow. I have also been told that "nothing will happen" if I accidentally consume some animal products. My co-workers have been utterly tolerant when we chose restaurants for work lunches/dinners.
Do food traditions matter to you, f. ex. during celebrations? Have you had to adapt food traditions to your diet? How so?
No not really. I am not much for traditions and I feel happy not being "obligated" to cook or bake certain type of celebration food. Now I chose my own food to bake/cook according to my taste and wellbeing.
How about dinner parties and gatherings where food is offered? Do you make special arrangements regarding those? What kind of attitudes have you experienced from the hosts or other guests? Please tell us about real-life examples if you have any.
Sometimes I bring my own food to places or other people's homes. Or I tell people honestly about what vegan means and if cooking vegan is a problem I can help or bring my own food. Normally this is considered okay, but sometimes non-vegans are insecure about their vegan cooking. When I have animal eaters in my home for dinner and meat or fish is served, I make sure that everything else and all side dishes are vegan.
Have you noticed any specific attitudes or anything else regarding your diet based on your gender? If so, please describe an example.
No I haven't. Rather that people comment on my age and my background.
Kafli 5 af 6 - Information, education, sustainability and health
Where do you mainly look for information, knowledge, recipes, or inspiration for your diet? Please put in links for any websites or social media accounts that you use (if any).
I use websites (veganistur.is and I google) and I ask my son and his wife, they both are vegans. I have been cooking for 35 years so I know a lot about food and recipes. This has not been complicated.
Do you find it important to educate others about your diet? Why, and how do you do it? / Why not? Please describe some real-life examples.
I find it important, but I haven't found an easy way to do it. For some people it is like vegans are on a mission like religious people. So I am happy to tell if I am being asked, but otherwise I don't say much about it.
I am working in the field of adult education and the subject of veganism is fragile. Animal eaters are offended by veganism.
In your mind, what does sustainability in everyday life entail?
Limit food waste, don't consume food which has a large carbon print and never support, buy or eat animal products. If applicable grow your own garden.
In your mind, what does healthy eating entail? What is healthy food?
In my mind fresh food is healthy food and raw products rather than processed food. Food that gives you energy, vitamins and minerals is heathy, originally grown food with out pesticides and pollution.
Kafli 6 af 6 - Final remarks
Are you planning to continue to follow this diet for the foreseeable future?
Yes absolutely
Is there anything you would like to add that has not been covered so far?
There could be more positive media coverage. I believe that in the future that animal consuming will decrease and even some day completely quit. Our descendants on the far future will not believe that we ate animals.
What is your occupation?
I am a career counsellor, teacher and project manager in adult education.
What is your level of education?
M.Ed. is the highest level but I have a few other degrees.
Do you have any remarks or comments on this questionnaire?
This was interesting and fun to fill out. Where and when can I read the conclusions?