Once again, I am SO excited to be launching ANOTHER new segment in this blog: THE VEGGIE CORNER! So what exactly does this mean?
It's pretty safe to say change is happening in this world. So many people have gone vegan in the past few years and there's been a massive shift in the market of vegan/plant based food products. Every day when I check instagram or OneGreenPlanet there's talk of some new 'life-changing' vegan product that's been released either here in Aus or in the US. EXCITING STUFF! And one of the great things about social media is not only can I screen-shop (is that a thing?) for cruelty free goodies, but I get to connect with other ethical guys and girls who are also thriving on this crazy-awesome lifestyle.
One of those people is the gorgeous Aimee, the girl from Colorado behind the stunning Instagram account, @Boulderraw.
Aimee was pretty much one of the first vegan instagram accounts I ever followed, where I spent hours drooling over her fruity 'nicecream' creations and envying her vibrant plant-based creations (I'm a hopeless cook). With well over 3,000 people following her beautiful food snaps, she's definitely worth checking out: @boulderraw is just proof that vegan food is NOT boring!
I was lucky enough to be able to ask Aimee a few questions about her Glowing, Green lifestyle: how it all started and how much she's loving it since!
What is your name and profession?
My name is Aimee Mayumi! I recently graduated from CU Boulder this December. As of now, I work as a member service guide for a credit union!
How would you describe how you eat?
I definitely enjoy eating high carb plant based foods, though I don’t like to label myself within one type of eating style. If I feel like eating a higher fat food like avocados or even vegan cheese, I’ll let myself eat it without feeling guilty. I try to tell myself that it's okay to splurge every once in a while, especially if I have a strong craving that lasts longer than a day. I've found that the more I restrict my diet, the more likely I am to binge on the foods that I've deemed unhealthy.
How do you supplement your lifestyle other than with food?
I really enjoy exercising between 6 and 7 days a week! My hobbies don’t really supplement my vegan lifestyle though as they are completely separate from that part of my life. They include working on film productions, editing films, and watching movies. I have my undergraduate degree in both Studio Art and Film Production so I try to constantly educate myself in the visual arts.
What made you adopt a vegan lifestyle?
In high school I watched a short PETA documentary that was randomly handed to me during a music festival. It completely changed my way of thinking about meat. I remember looking at my dog after watching pigs get slaughtered and thinking, “Wow, those pigs were as intelligent if not more intelligent than my dog, so why am I eating them??” That documentary really changed my life and propelled me to go vegan for a few months. I had experimented with being vegetarian as a child though, so I feel like I’ve always wanted to be plant based and live a more ethical life. Anyways, I was on again, off again vegan for a few years throughout high school and again in college until about 2 years ago when I finally decided to go vegan and stay vegan!
Is there a film/book/person who has inspired your vegan journey?
Sasha from the YouTube channel, “Rice and Raw” really motivated me to commit to veganism because of her very honest and healthy approach to the lifestyle. Hannah aka High Carb Hannah has also made a huge impression on my decision to go vegan. There are so so soooo many inspirational YouTube channels out there that have helped and inspired me on my vegan journey.
The BEST vegan product you ever discovered?
Wow! This is a tough one, the amount of amazing vegan products on the market is endless! The best vegan product I’ve ever discovered would have to be Andalou Naturals skin care. They are a cruelty free brand that has tons of vegan products for literally every skin type. I suffer from combination oily and dry skin and this is the only brand that has made a positive impact on me.
How do you keep fit?
HIIT!! I love doing high intensity interval training. Christine Salus is my fitness idol, she has an amazing YouTube channel. Throughout the week I try to lift weights 2-3 days and then run or do HIIT workouts on the other 4-5 days. Recently I’ve been trying to do yoga as a rest day exercise but I’m really bad at motivating myself to stretch for any length of time (I know it’s bad but I’m working on it haha!).
Describe a typical 'What I eat in a day’
Honestly, the food that I eat varies on a day to day basis depending on what I’ve done to prepare for work the night before along with what fruit is in season. Typically, the first meal that I eat in a day is all raw, consisting of whatever ripe fruits I can find at the supermarket. I like to snack on convenient “travel” foods like medjool dates or granola bars between my first meal and dinner. Dinner is where I really go all out! I try to eat whatever I’m craving which can range from banana ice cream to a big bowl of pasta adorned with a generous sprinkling of nutritional yeast. On the weekends when I am able to eat my first meal at home, I almost always have banana ice cream because it’s super filling and easy to make.
Favourite quote or affirmation you find inspiring/empowering?
"Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re full.” This is a mantra that I’ve always struggled with but have found to be more easy to follow since going vegan.
How do you remain vegan and healthy while traveling?
Last year, I went to Las Vegas, Nevada with my dad and sister who are the complete opposite of vegan. So, in order to remain vegan I really had to plan ahead with snacks. I bought a ton of Naked Juices, medjool dates, and cliff bars to eat for breakfast or in between meals throughout the day. When we ate out, I always asked the server about the vegan options on the menu and even went so far as to lie about having a “dairy and egg” allergy so that the waitress would make sure to check all of the ingredients going in my dish. I used to feel bad about asking the server to modify meals for me or check the ingredients, but have since realized that I’m just looking out for my health and wellbeing and there is nothing wrong with that. Besides, most servers are more than willing to help find a vegan option for you if you ask politely.
Do you blend or press? What’s your favourite mix?
I blend all the way! I don’t have a juicer so I haven’t really experimented with juicing but I have to say, smoothies have always kept me more satisfied than juice. My favorite mix would have to be 1-2 frozen bananas, 1-5 medjool dates, 2 cups of frozen blueberries, a teaspoon of maca powder, and super cold water (the amount depends on the consistency that you’re going for, sometimes I like my smoothies super thin and other times I like them extra thick). This smoothie is super tasty and tastes sort of like berry pie due to the addition of maca powder.
Biggest vegan myth?
I always get asked where I’m getting my protein!! Vegans are totally capable of getting a sufficient amount of protein from beans, veggies, and grains. It’s ridiculous that people think we need to get protein from meat and dairy products. A few months ago I got my blood levels checked for any deficiencies. They came back revealing that I’m not deficient in anything, not even Vitamin B12 which a lot of meat eaters will claim is only readily available in animal products. As long as you are eating a wide variety of vegan foods including fruits, veggies, starches, and grains you will get more than enough protein in your diet. If you are worried about B12, I would recommend supplementing with nutritional yeast. You can also track your macro and micro ratios using www.cronometer.com if you are really worried about tracking your protein intake.
Top 3 tips you’d give to those wanting to go vegan?
-Think about why you are going vegan. Is it for health? Is it to lose weight? Is it for the animals? If you are feeling doubt about your choice to be vegan, focus on the ethical and environmental impact of going vegan. Visit www.vegansociety.com/resources/environment if you want more information on the detrimental ethical impacts of meat, egg, and dairy production. There are also countless other book, film, and internet resources you can use to reinforce your decision to become vegan. I would recommend "The China Study" by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. -Try to eat intuitively. Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full. Because you’re not eating animal products that are high in fat and protein, you will probably find yourself eating larger quantities of plant based foods. Don’t think that you are eating too much if you have one serving and don’t feel satisfied. Because fruits and veggies are less calorically dense than meat and dairy, it’s natural to feel hungrier than you did on the standard american diet. Listen to your body and avoid restricting yourself. -Exercise! Exercise is good for everyone whether you’re vegan or not. Exercise boosts serotonin levels in your brain, making you feel happier and more energetic.
Favourite plant based recipe
Any recipe by Isa Chandra Moskowitz is delicious. Her blog www.theppk.com has a recipe for Quinoa Caesar Salad that is to die for.
Do you have any aspirations or hopes for yourself in the future? What are your plans?
I plan on starting a blog and a YouTube channel as soon as possible! I want to share recipes, reviews, and HIIT routines with the world in order to help spread the vegan message and prove that vegans can indeed gain muscle and live a healthy, balanced life.
Why do you believe it is important to live a Glowing, Green and Peaceful life?
It is important to live a glowing, green, and peaceful life because it is an act of love not only to yourself, but to the entire world. When you go vegan, you are fueling your body with positive energy; food that didn’t have to suffer in order to make it to your plate. The positive ethical and environmental impacts of veganism are huge. Think about what the world would be like if we used the grain and water that the meat industry uses to feed livestock, to feed the millions of hungry people around the world that don’t have enough food to lead a healthy active life. The world would be a much brighter place.
Love Aimee's work as much as I do?? Don't forget to follow her on Instagram @Boulderraw xx