It feels SO GOOD to finally have a steady stream of blog posts coming your way (newsletter soon!) after being away for a fair bit-- unfortunately I've been sick and ALSO, I've been wondering and rethinking how I approach this blog and creating my own way of spreading the vegan message. In my natural habitat (somewhere cosy with a giant smoothie and scrolling through instagram) the thought came to me. Rather than struggling to think of ways to educate you guys by screenshotting research papers or trying to decipher science I don't yet understand, why don't I just take the approach others took that eventually led me to becoming a passionate vegan?
INSPIRE! Which is why these interviews are so damn exciting and hopefully will be for many others as well-- hear it first from the passionate people that know best, and one of those people I'd like to introduce you to (undoubtedly many of you already know who she is!) is the beautiful Stephanie Braganza.
Steph is a recording artist and a strong animal activist-- she performs at vegan events such as the Toronto Veg Fest (you might have seen her in Vegan Gains' video!) and regularly speaks out against animal cruelty through her social media platforms. I really hope I'll one day be able to attend one of these events and see her perform for myself, her voice is incredible! #voiceforthevoiceless
What is your name and profession? Stephanie Braganza. I’m a freelance musician and animal activist. How would you describe how you eat? I’m on the go all the time, so it’s more challenging to keep a healthy eating “mantra”. I pack whatever I can that’s vegan and portable when I’m travelling to shows and rehearsals, such as granola bars, and fruits/veggies that are high in energy in a Tupperware container, thermos of tea in the winter to stay hydrated and keep warm!
How do you supplement your lifestyle other than with food? -Performing on weekends
-Walking/running my dog
-Trying to squeeze in some music writing when I can
What made you adopt a vegan lifestyle?
Some subway adds in the Toronto TTC transit had the question: “Why love one but eat the other?” This question forced me to align my lifestyle to my values and end the hypocrisy of me thinking that I love animals while still eating animal products. I was vegetarian for 3+ years and then when I became an activist, I became vegan.
Is there a film/book/person that has inspired your vegan journey?
Activists that have done whatever they could to help animals and promote awareness, living a truly compassionate lifestyle in spite of the law or opinions of others, have inspired me to be strong and vocal about animal rights. Anita Krajnc (co-founder of Toronto Pig Save), Gary Yourofski, and Vegan Gains (Youtuber) are 3 such people.
The BEST vegan product you ever discovered? Makeup: Tarte
Food: Vegan Chili
Drink: Coconut Water (everyday!)
Restaurant: Hogtown Vegan in Toronto How do you keep fit? Squats and planks
Describe a typical 'What I eat in a day' -Coffee with almond milk and Toast with organic nut butter spread, sprinkled with granola and chopped bananas for breakfast.
-Vegan chilli (sometimes on a bed of rice) with avocado and a bit of sriracha sauce.
-Lots of choices of Indian food that I mix up!
-Coconut ice cream
Favourite quote or affirmation you find inspiring/empowering? “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito in the room” – Dalai Lama
How do you remain vegan and healthy while travelling? I do my best to know the area ahead of time so I can plan. I try to pack snacks just in case, but I’ve never been in a situation where there has been nothing I could eat. More vegan options are popping up everywhere!
Do you blend or press? What’s your favourite mix? I blend right now but I definitely prefer juicing and I’m looking for a good/affordable juicer at the moment. Biggest vegan myth?
“But we’re all omnivores!” Just because we can eat meat, doesn’t mean that we’re supposed to. When you look more closely at our anatomy and biology and compare it to that of obligate omnivores you’ll notice some very obvious differences. Unlike biological carnivores, we will not die from malnutrition if we stop eating animal products. We will simply go vegan. On other hand, if we stop eating plants, we will die of malnutrition.
Top 3 tips you’d give to those wanting to go vegan? I’d start by looking online to find quick and tasty replacement meals for replacing one meal a day (breakfast, lunch or dinner). Do this for about a week. Then replace another meal for the next week. Then the following week, replace the last meal if you haven’t already. I understand that people can’t always prepare meals. I use the “Happy Cow” app on my phone that tells me all the vegan places near me, if I need to do a quick take-out meal. If you need motivation, watch the “Earthlings”, “Forks Over Knives” and “Cowspiracy” documentaries.
Favourite plant based recipe Avocado spread on toast with black pepper, cayenne paper, and a bit of maple syrup
Do you have any aspirations or hopes for yourself in the future? What are your plans? I want to be able to [reach people through music] combine my music and activism. This would be a dream for me to do on a regular basis, whether it is performing at Animal Rights events, animal fundraisers, Vegetarian festivals, etc. Right now I’m working on putting together a new single for release in the next few months, about the journey I’ve been on for the past year.
Why do you believe it is important to live a Glowing, Green and Peaceful life? Avoiding animal products is one of the most obvious ways you can take a stand against animal cruelty and animal exploitation everywhere. The health benefits and reducing our carbon footprint are an added bonus. What can be wrong with living a cruelty-free life?
~Be sure to check out Steph's social media accounts and follow her powerful posts on instagram!~
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBraganza/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephBraganza
Instagram: @stephaniebraganza