Since I announced my pregnancy last year, I’ve been asked quite often whether we would raise our baby vegan. If I saw the question on my blog or social media, I would respond by saying that we decided not to label her diet or lifestyle and I explained why if I had the time. Since I was asked this question so frequently I recently decided to write a blog post on the topic to be transparent about our decision (see: Will you raise your daughter a vegan?). I’ve always been an open book on the blog and figured I could share our thoughts and also ask you to share your own experiences. I enjoy hearing other perspectives because I’ve never been someone who thinks that there is one correct way to do anything. What works for one family might not work for others.
As I expected, there was a wide range of opinions on the topic. Many of you left thought-provoking and respectful comments (whether you agreed or not), and I greatly enjoyed reading them. They led to some wonderful discussions with friends and family this week. However, there were some hateful and threatening comments attacking me, my family, and our decision. According to some, I’m no longer welcome to call myself vegan. This wasn’t entirely surprising; over the past 6 years I’ve often been accused of not being “vegan enough”, being “too mainstream”, or not “doing enough for the vegan movement”, yet here I was receiving hundreds of comments and emails each month from readers telling me my recipes changed their lives, that they were happy to be helping animals, reducing their carbon footprint, and getting healthy even if they weren’t “perfect”. Apparently, my welcoming and non-judgmental approach was indeed the catalyst for major change.
I realize that the scrutiny I’ve faced over the years is from a small percentage of vegans. Tearing each other down is never conducive to furthering the movement though. The majority of vegans I know are incredibly kind and compassionate both to animals and humans alike. However, the personal attacks have made me reflect greatly about whether this label continues to be right for me. Do I want to live my life striving for an elusive perfection that I know I’m too flawed to ever achieve? Or can I do it my way? While some of you will say “don’t let it bother you” and “don’t let them win” I’ll be honest in telling you that experiencing hate on a public forum from your own community wears you down over time. It’s a distraction from my overall purpose and you know what, it sure as hell takes the fun out of the journey.
In the end, I will keep on doing my thing, but without a personal label on my diet or lifestyle. Going forward you can expect to see the same types of crowd-pleasing plant-based recipes on this blog and in my next cookbook; this is how I love to eat and what makes me happy. My goal has always been to encourage others to reduce their animal consumption and embrace more plants in their diet. This is my passion in life not only because of how it has greatly improved my own and those close to me, but for countless other reasons. I still believe that the greatest change happens when we elevate one another, celebrate progress, and of course, share delicious food that challenges the norms of the standard diet. So that’s exactly what I intend to keep doing. There are many ways in which compassionate individuals can spread their message and this is what speaks to my heart. I have no doubt there is something out there for everyone.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, and also, for reminding me why it’s important to remain authentic even in spite of criticism.
Angela
Please note comments are now closed – May 20/15
Thank you for sharing your feelings and being so honest with your readers. I think that putting your personal feelings and beliefs out in public is one of the bravest things you can do. I feel that most people that spew hate online are hiding behind the comfort of anonymity, cowards. Yes, there will be some haters; but on the plus side, you will connect with at least one person in a positive way that can change their life and that makes it worthwhile.
I personally follow about 8 different vegan blogs regularly and by far, yours is the one I consistently go to for my favorite recipes and meal planning. Your cookbook rocks! So many delicious recipes! And from my point of view you are an amazing inspiration:)
And oh my goodness, I have 3 kids, and if I have learned anything at all in my 14 years of motherhood, one size does not fit all. You absolutely have to do what works best for your family and I respect anyone that realizes this and makes their choices in their family’s best interests!
When our daughter moved from Québec to Vancouver for school, I , as any mother would be was totally happy but scared , worried , all the above! One thing that kept me calm was the fact I knew she could and would be eating healthy , properly ( sometimes not , haha ) , because I had left her a great gift !
The greatest , coolest , appetizing recipe book you could ever have or own or hope to receive as a gift ,
” oh she glows book ” !
All students who goes to school and works , are on a budget ! Angela recipes are easy to follow and not so expensive as other books are . And ooooh so tasty !
I , (we all) receive emails from her site and kind of don’t read it right away , I have a special time ,need a cup of her tea and settle down with a warm blanket , pen and paper in hand and start reading her latest recipes then I send it to my greatful daughter.
Today was different as I read her story I could not believe that , “ugly cruel people “could stir up a war of words ! Look around you people she showers us with open arms and happiness and yet , you tend to your evil, jealous pride . God bless y’all !
I wanted to be by Angela’s side and hug her and let her know that she uplifts me makes me feel part of her world and that of her personal world ! The stories were happy , funny !
I would comment on the stupid ,ignorant , jealous so-called people a little bit more , but really it would waste my time that I am living right at this moment … no right at this second!
Angela it hurts , right ? You have demonstrated that you have feelings that you are human. Not that you are whatever someone wants you to think. Now take a moment and remember the love of cooking, writing, and most importantly the person you are, who you want to be , acknowledge your strength and durability thru hard times and show yourself and your baby to be strong, and independent but mostly happy !!
Hoping to receive and read more of your creativities !!!
With love from Québec, Montréal Canada
BRIGITTE ESTELLE GAUDREAULT
MEAT EATER , LESS thanx to my daughter and Angela ♡♥
VEGETARIAN PART TIME !
VEGAN PART TIME !
MY CHOICE ALL THE TIME !!
Hi Angela,
I’m sorry to hear about the attacks in response to your recent post. I am so grateful and appreciative for your contribution to this community and to my personal journey to becoming “vegan-ish”. I honestly don’t think I could have gone mostly vegan without your recipes. Labels are difficult. I love Jonathan Safran Foer’s approach (author of Eating Animals, my favourite book of all time): don’t jump to the conclusion or label that comes from thinking about eating animals, instead let’s focus on the facts, values and beliefs around eating animals. Most people think it’s perfectly fine to kill and eat animals. But most people wouldnt condone gestration crates for pregnant/nursing pigs, the atrocious environmental impacts of factory farms, etc. Let’s talk about those common values and beliefs, and where we can go from there. Can you eat one meat-free meal a week? Go meat-free several days a week? Be a “conscientious omnivore”? Etc. Something is better than nothing. We are so afraid of being (or being seen as) hypocrites, that we are scared off of being veg or vegan or some variation, and that’s a problem. We are in an interesting time. An exciting time. We are living in the era when factory farming will become unacceptable. I’m rambling so I’ll leave you with a talk by JSF who says it so much better: http://youtu.be/wjbS8pM57tY
I never leave comments anywhere, so, I hope that counts towards heavily what I have to say here.
Kierkegaard said, “When you label me, you negate me.” Anytime people do not feel okay within their being, understanding that they alone are strong enough to be a beacon of outstanding light, they look for a group or a label to define themselves by.
Vegan has honestly become a negative connotation in many people’s minds thanks to the utterly ridiculous action of the few who just don’t remember who they really are right now. I don’t BLAME you for disassociating and changing your labels. More importantly, I view it as a sign of an even greater level of personal growth and expansion in you, and I hope you celebrate it. You, little Light, are beaming brighter than ever. :-)
Michelle
Labels are SO over-rated, so is fitting perfectly in ONE category! Keep up the amazing work. You are such an inspiration <3
Dear Angela
I first came upon your blog when you had just announced that you were pregnant.
I looked at your photos and thought, wow, I’d love to look like her – radiant skin, gleaming hair, fit and with a beautiful smile.
I’m still v much in the throes of trying to heal a lot of gut issues, as is my toddler, but people like you inspire me to enjoy a natural lifestyle. I enjoy eating mostly plant based or vegan meals and my son does too although he enjoys a little meat too.
I try to let our bodies guide us while remaining ethical in food choices.
My husband enjoys his meat very much.
We’re each on our own journeys.
May we extend compassion and love to each other and grace.
You’re loved and admired.
Keep running your race … and enjoying it.
Take care
Kay
I am reading this and I am astonished. Maybe I am a bit simple minded when it comes to these kind of things but I just can’t understand why someone would feel the need to leave a hateful comment. When you do not agree you just raise your eyebrows and leave it at that and when it really bothers you just leave the blog for what it is. We all need positivity in our lives so why let negativity in? I was reading someone else’s blog a few weeks ago and this person had a judgement about people who are 100% vegan, which I happen to be since a couple of months (and I have you to thank for it!!). It made me angry and I do not like to be angry. So, I left and did not return. Brushed of the dust on my feet and moved on. Why feel the need to tell her she made me angry. She has the right to have her opinion and so do I, and so do you Angela!! Please do not let it get you down. Be strong, as you are!
I would also like to say that although I am a vegan and truly convinced, I also let my daughter decide for herself. Hoping that leading by example will help her. She is her own individual and has the right to make her own decisions as do we all!
Please keep up the good work. You know what they say…what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger ;)
I ADORE YOU.
PLEASE dont hesitate to let me know if I can ever lend an ear.
<3
Hello dear Angela
You have been such a great inspiration for me now over a year! Your meals and ideas are wonderful and I often try new recipes from you. For me, putting the label “vegan” on and then go the whole way (with no leather, etc…) is good for everyone, who really wants that. But let’s be honest – it’s great to get a s many people as possible to eat less meat and less animal products. And that’s what you are doing. I really hope you do not get too discouraged by those dogmatic people. I live in Switzerland and a lot of friends asked me for good vegan ideas and I always gave (and will give) them your homepage. It’s truly wonderful – keep on! Much love and encouragement from far away…. – Alexa
Angela,
When I decided, 3 years ago, to learn about and begin my vegan journey, a quick internet search led me immediately to your beautiful blog. I spent hours looking through your past recipes, bookmarking and printing many of them. I’ve been reading your blog since then, and have tons of respect and admiration for you and the work that you do. Every recipe I have made from your blog and your book has been nothing short of delicious, and I don’t think there’s anything that I only made once!
You are a true inspiration and role model. Your baby posts have been very informative as well, as we are planning our first pregnancy! I can’t imagine how those hateful comments made you feel, but just know that for every hater, you have a thousand readers who love you and look forward to your next post. You are a glowing inspiration and a real, true, honest person!!!!
Please keep on doing what you’re doing!!!
Labels are something we can do without in society. We don’t want to label our children, why should we label ourselves? Labeling is restrictive, whether imposed by society or ourselves. People can wind up making decisions based on their “label” rather than the freedom of their spirit. We should be free to take the JOURNEY of life, along with the ebbs and flows that go with it. Good for you Angela, looking forward to the journey!
Honestly, those who threatened you, berated you and told you that you weren’t vegan enough should be ashamed of themselves. As a new vegan, their dogmatic attitude gives me pause about becoming vegan, whereas your amazing blog and recipes really helped me decide to become a vegan. In other words, you rock, Angela!
I’m sorry you’ve had a negative response in view of the fact that you’ve done such good over the past 6 years. I’m a fairly new visitor to your site and your cookbook. I, too, have had to change my diet because of health reasons. Your nonjudgmental approach is a main reason why I find your recipes and advice so easy to follow. I DO understand and agree that we should all be more concerned about how we treat animals in our food system, and that alone should move at least some of us off of meat products. I get that completely. But I’m imperfect in my choices as well. And while I’m moving closer and closer to true veganism, I’m not there yet, and I might not ever be fully there. Since, in all honesty, I didn’t start my own journey from the same place as true vegans, I can’t stand on my soapbox and judge others. I don’t want to tell others that I am now vegan because it isn’t true, and I don’t own it philosophically. I’m just trying to do the best I can for my health, and if along the way I can positively contribute to different treatment for our animal friends, well…I’m very, very happy about that, but it isn’t what started my journey so I’m in no place to judge.
Please continue to do what you do! You are making such a positive difference! I’m becoming a different person because of your example and help.
Angela I love your website and your cookbook. Because of you, I’ve learned to eat a plant based diet that is truly delicious beyond just salads. I’ve shared your website with all my friends and they love it. A good friends once told me…You are not responsible for other people’s actions, but you are accountable for your own reactions. Don’t let strangers steal your joy!
Dear Angela: I love your blog , your recipes and specially you, what you do is fantastic.
I don’t have to be vegan to appreciate what you do. Fanatics are not free people, and have forgotten the very important element of enjoyment and love for food! It becomes something totally different which is not healthy anymore.
Please keep doing what you do because you touch so many people vegans and non vegans!
Angela, you broke the internet!!!!! Look at all these comments!!!! (okay, just trying to add a little humor…..). Take care dear Angela, always looking forward to new posts from you…..
Do not think of yourself as flawed!! Everyone is different, everyone’s bodies need different things — people who think that we can all fit ourselves into boxes (that they define based on their own experience in life) are ignorant/misguided. I think your approach is perfect, and you need to follow your own heart in raising your family. Keep it up!!
Criticisms hurt. More when it is an attack on ur children or your parenting. Stay strong. There’s always terrible people out there that love the pportunities to tear others down to pump themselves up.
I have been reading your blog for years, purchased your last cookbook and will purchase any more you write in the future, and am in love with your tea shop! You are a wonderful writer, amazing chef, and awesome photographer!! You have definitely made an i,impact in my life through your thoughtful blogging and wonderful recipes, keep it up!
Well, I love all these recipes, Angela! They’re absolutely “vegan enough” for me. I have your recipe book, which is pretty dog-eared having been used so much, and I consult your website whenever I’m looking for something new to try out. I’ve been mostly vegan for about a year and your book and website have been fantastic resources as I’ve made the change. My family has benefited enormously enjoying all the great, imaginative, healthy food too.
I’m just so sorry to read that some people allow themselves to be so mean-spirited in the name of food, for crying out loud. To hell with the spiteful ones! Carry on, regardless. Frankly, I think they’re consumed with jealousy at your success.