Happy Friday Eve! It’s your friendly plant-based advocate stopping by to see what’s good with ya! If we are meeting for the first time, I am LA from Black Girls Eat. I started blogging about my plant-based journey almost 5 years ago. I definitely went from plant-curious to plant-focused after learning that food is medicine.
It was thrilling to learn that we could use food in the battle against diabetes, obesity, heart disease and inflammation. I grew up in the Bronx with plants on the plate but making plants the star was never a goal. All of that changed when I started shopping and cooking to eat well, feel well and live well.
You are receiving this newsletter because somehow, somewhere….you decided that we should be connected! Recipes and Random-ish is about mostly plant-based recipes and a whole lot about my antics as I bounce around the world remixing my plate.
Last weekend was a whirlwind. I attended the Vegan Women Summit. The 3 day adventure took place in three different locations. We started out on Thursday with a visit to Gracie Mansion, home of the NYC Mayor.
NYC Mayor and plant-based advocate Eric Adams stopped by to share some successes in the food space. He is the first mayor to add plant-based options to NYC hospitals. He also worked to introduce meatless Mondays and plant-powered Fridays to NYC schools.
Then the Summit moved over to Brooklyn for a full day of food tastings and panel discussions. That’s where things got interesting. There were lots of companies on the scene sharing their latest inventions. I saw all kinds of alternative versions of chicken, steak and seafood.
But would I call it food? Not really. No shade to the innovative men and women who are seeking alternative ways to avoid eating animal products. But as someone who is an advocate for adding whole foods to the plate, I was surprised at just how little fresh food was available.
People who are leaning into a plant-based lifestyle are mostly interested in well….plants! That means fruits, grains and vegetables. When I found out that my body was racing with inflammation, I began to move away from the things that caused me so much pain. That meant moving away from meat, dairy, sugar and yes…heavily processed foods.
I’m not into labels but for this post, let’s have a refresher on what it means to be Vegan. A vegan is someone who will not eat anything that has ever had a face or a parent. A vegan lifestyle can also extend to clothing, shoes and accessories. Got it?
We were there to learn and engage in conversations and we did. Some people are avoiding all animal products and they enjoy this new version of food. Some would argue that these new products allow them to enjoy the flavors of their pre-vegan life without the guilt. What do you say?
The Summit did a great job of bringing relevant voices into the space. The guest list was a who’s who of advocates, entrepreneurs and creatives.
And did I mention how many women in business were there? It was Girl Power to the 100th power. Day 3 included a networking session at the World Trade Center and a series of workshops designed to help you think about your business, securing funding and advance your goals.
My final take on the Summit? I walked away understanding that many of the food products being offered could help people who are transitioning from animal products into a vegan lifestyle.
So if you are at the BBQ this summer and there’s a plant-based sausage on a roll with sauerkraut calling your name…you might just go for it. Would I want you to have a freezer full of them? Probably not.
I hope you enjoyed your behind the scenes peek into the Vegan Women Summit. I will write a full blog about the event at the Black Girls Eat Website this weekend. In the meantime, check out the recipe for this week.
The Recipe: Avocado Ice Cream Pops
What? Yes! You don’t have to go to a fancy ice cream shop or pay an insane price at the grocery store. You can make your own. Make a new frozen treat this Memorial Day Weekend!
Sending hugs. Have a beautiful weekend! Thank you to all of the new paid subscribers. I appreciate you. Thank you to everyone who checks in every week. I appreciate you. Don’t forget to shop with me at Amazon!