Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Elysse.
Hi Brooke, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always had a deep love for animals and when I was in college I had stumbled across the concept of veganism. It excited me that I could eat all the things I love without having to participate in the harming of animals. I decided to try going vegan for twenty-four hours and then those twenty-four hours turned into a week, which turned into a year, which has now turned into four years of being completely vegan. Being vegan is one of the best things that ever happened to me and now I love to share my passion with others. I run an Instagram page wherein I show that eating vegan can be fun, colorful, and most importantly exciting! I love veganizing my favorite dishes that previously included animal products like burgers, sushi, pizza, and desserts. I also love showcasing local restaurants that have vegan options on the menu even if the restaurant is not fully vegan. I love the effort people are making to reduce the harm to animals and I believe all efforts should be praised!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Going vegan is not always not a smooth road. I never want to be “that vegan” who makes ordering out with friends difficult. I consider myself a non-picky vegan who can get down with a salad and sides any day but when you go to a restaurant that has vegan options it’s always such a treat. A struggle a lot of vegans face is judgment from others. As a rule of thumb, I never take things personally from those who don’t know me personally. I am so blissfully happy being vegan that judgment from others doesn’t bother me like it used to. I will always answer questions from those who are genuinely curious, but for those just looking for a reaction, my best advice is don’t give them a reaction.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a vegan influencer who shares good food from restaurants or my own kitchen. I love cooking and connecting with others who share passions similar to mine. I think what sets me apart is highlighting others who are making a difference such as local restaurants that have vegan options or fully vegan restaurants.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Going vegan is a risk in itself. You are going against the grain of the traditional American diet and saying no thank you to any food that has a mother. At first, people said I was crazy and I could never sustain such a lifestyle. I love to prove people wrong. Typically I like to stay in my comfort zone so putting myself out there on Instagram and building a following has been scary for me, but also so rewarding. I hope I can inspire people to eat vegan for even just one meal.
Contact Info:
- Email: gimmeveganfoodplease@gmail.com
- Instagram: @gimmeveganfoodplease
- Facebook: gimmeveganfoodplease
