A year and a half ago I decided to become a vegan. Since then, one of the most disconcerting questions I face is, "But you can cheat, right?" It doesn´t help much that the question is usually accompanied by some omnivorous dish being enthusiastically pushed in my face (imagine a caterer, insisting you try the delicious hors d'oeuvres on their platter. The ones with cheese. Why is it always cheese?!) I mean, I'm not the straightest arrow around. I'm not ashamed to say I'm not above cheating at board games (Monopoly isn't Monopoly if you're not robbing the bank blind), and sometimes one needs a little help to finish that extra complicated level in a video game. But from that to "cheating" at what I want to eat...
It's clear the misunderstanding arises from a difference in definitions. If you think veganism is a diet, like the carb diet, or the apple juice, the cabbage, grapefruit and lemon juice diets (Seriously? And I'm the freaky extremist?), etc., you can understand why one could consider cheating. But, if like me, you consider veganism as a lifestyle in which the goal is to cause the least suffering to other sentient beings... things change completely. I don´t want to, nor can I, cheat. How do you fool yourself?
I admit I'm a cheating vegan. I'm a mom, I have a job and I enjoy having some free time. So, you'll find a some recipes on this blog, where I might have skipped a step or two to save time and effort. Sometimes I buy processed foods. Because, honestly, making my own soy milk or humus, although fun, isn´t something I have time for every day. Here´s hoping these recipes are a good guide for those looking to eat deliciously with a clear conscience (regarding other sentient beings, because I can't promise anything when it comes to calories :) )
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