“Going vegan: The family’s big switch”
SunStar Davao, January 16, 2021
Mompreneur Tricia Mae Su-Lim vividly
remembers the day their family decided to make the “big switch”.
“We were barbecuing some meat on
November 1, 2019 and my brother pushed me to watch “The Gamechangers” on
Netflix. We did and it helped us open our eyes on how animal products affect
our bodies in a harmful way,” she says.
The next day, Tricia enthusiastically told
her husband Leonard that the family would switch to a plant-based diet. Their
initial goal was to become healthier and lose some pounds.
They switched cold turkey and amazingly, their kids were game on as well. She and Leonard explained to their sons Zack (12 y.o.) and Hunter (4 y.o.) the dangers of consuming animal products along with several documentaries on animal cruelty in slaughterhouses and farms. The adjustment was easy, and it took Tricia by surprise.
When Tricia does serve mock meats and replicate a meat recipe, even her toddler will ask if it is vegan and eats only if it is vegan.
“I
removed the cookie flavors that I could not convert. I even made my own vegan
butter, vegan cream cheese, and looked for the best and healthiest substitutes
for my other ingredients. By doing this, I made my recipes free of eggs, dairy,
honey and with less sugar,” explains Tricia who is also a licensed English and
TESOL teacher.
Veganism as a lifestyle
“Veganism is well known as a diet to
remove animal product consumption. However, I would like to correct that and
mention that veganism is a practice or a lifestyle that excludes all forms of
animal exploitation and cruelty, be it from food, clothing, or any other
purpose. So, it goes beyond just the food but basically respecting animals and
looking at them as sentient beings. Sentient, meaning they can feel, perceive,
or experience subjectively,” points out Tricia.
“I can eat all the plant-based ingredients and food. There are some ingredients
though that are plant-based but had animal testing on them and cruelty
inflicted to animals while getting certain products such as palm oil, seaweed
and honey so I avoid supporting those,” she continues.
Back when the family were meat lovers, Zack and Hunter always had allergic
rhinitis, asthma, and eczema so Tricia heavily depended on essential oils but
eventually, their condition would return.
These days though, they have improved energy, better sleep, no sickness, and do not depend on oils anymore. They also noticed that they no longer had body odor.
“Somehow turning into a vegan healed my
addiction to food and made me have a better relationship with food in general.
My kids and I became more compassionate to animals. We decided that we are not
only vegans for health but for the animals and our planet, too,” stresses the
former BPO employee.
Whys and hows
For families who want to try the vegan
lifestyle, Tricia advises that it is important to make sure to know your “why”.
“Why will you be doing this? The hardest
step is the first day. So, get a support system and share your goals, may it be
your partner, friends, or your social media friends. I found out that the vegan community was supportive, so
it made the transition smoother and easier. There are also a lot of vegan
videos out there,” Tricia reveals.
Also, the mommy blogger/vlogger suggests
removing anything from the kitchen that will likely hinder one’s goals. Learn
how to cook as veganism also means saving money by sourcing local produce.
“If you are a parent who wants to
transition, do research about veganism and meat replacement. Our go-to meat
replacements are tofu (from a local vendor), seitan (wheat gluten), and other
substitutes suggested by different vegan YouTubers,” the breastfeeding advocate
shares.
She emphasizes that the key to a
successful switch for kids is to always season the dish with natural herbs and
powder. “Do not skimp on flavors because one can always veganize a dish no
matter what. If you do need someone for support, I am open to help you and your
family,” Tricia warmly offers.
Follow Tricia Lim on YouTube and
Facebook for her vegan recipes; and mommytricialim on Instagram where she posts
her vegan food every day.
E-mail
the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit
http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.
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