This Month’s BAV is a force to be reckoned with. She has been vegan for 19 years and has made it her life’s work to help others do so. She has helped people world wide on their journey to incorporating a plant based lifestyle and at the young age of 38 she is showing the world how a vegan lifestyle can keep you young. Please help me welcome @rodiah to the BAV family!
Name: Rodiah
Where do you live and where are you from? I was born, raised and lived in Queens, NY until age 32. I currently reside in Los Angeles and Indiana… allegedly lol
Age? 37 (turning 38 in…)
What do you do for a living/profession? I am the Founder of The Spirit Diet and that is my full time career. The Spirit Diet is a lifestyle health and wellness brand with focus on personalized nutrition. We are rolling out a line of consumer packaged goods in 2017 followed by a brick and mortar store & cafe.
What do you like to do for fun? As cheesy as it sounds, I like to research and read for fun. I also love listening to music. Documentaries & chill?
How long have you been vegan? About 18 years going on 19
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Why did you become vegan? I am a animal lover and even as a child, I never liked eating meat. When I turned 19 and I was living with my boyfriend (now husband), I tried to “clean a chicken” and I was looking for that bag of body parts that they detach… only to place back inside of the carcass..what are they called? Giblets? Ugh. Long story short, I couldn’t find thebag so I called my mother who told me to “reach up in there and pull them out yourself” … I put the bird in a bowl in the sink and walked away from the whole meat eating situation forever.
How was your transition? Honestly, it was easy for me to stop but hard to find options. I was a junk food vegan for a while but my parents were vegetarians when I was young and my mother was big on fresh fruit and eating salad & veggies so I was already juicing, doing apple cider vinegar shots, etc when I was growing up. I never missed eating meat because I had never committed to the idea of eating dead animals. I have never had a “pork chop” or “hot wings even when I ate meat. I also stopped eating beef around 16 years old. I never ate bacon or pork either and I thought turkey was dry af. I held on to eggs for a while because I was sooooo attached to the “idea” of breakfast. I feel like i’m still transitioning, still seeking the highest vibration way of eating and living that benefits my bio individuality. I am big on Raw foods these days, herbs, superfoods. In the long run.. I will probably be a breatharian or a Sun Eater. Lol.
What is the funniest misconception(s) that you have heard about vegans? Well.. It was the 90’s in Queens, NY so I heard I was going to “die” pretty often. Theother funny statement was that “too many veggies give you cancer”. LOL
What is your Favorite thing(s) about being a vegan?
For me it’s knowing that nothing died for me to live. I also like how I am aging and how my body has held up. The more raw foods I eat, the clearer my skin. I don’t have stretch marks or cellulite and I know this is because of my diet. People usually think I am at least a decade younger than my age. Time is a man-made concept but it still feels good to look good.
What Do you think makes a Bad Ass Vegan? I think being true to who you are and authentically trying to help shift the vibration of the planet. We are all connected. I stand in awe of everyone who is present on purpose. We have to help each other. That is what this whole experience is all about, Love.
.What is the best vegan dish that you make in your kitchen?
“chickpea “Tuna”
• 1 – 15 oz. can chickpeas
•1/3 C finely chopped celery
•1/4 C finely chopped red onion
• 1/3 C vegan mayonnaise
•1 tbsp lemon juice
•1/2 tsp old bay seasoning
•1/4 tsp sea salt
•1/4 bell peppers red and green
•1/4 tsp ground pepper
I wash the chickpeas, and drain them. You can put everything together and use the food processor or you can just mashed the chickpeas and mix everything together and season to your taste.
You can serve on collar greens left rolled up with sprouts and avocado or on fresh baguette
My second favorite is my “crab cakes “•
•1 (14-ounce) can hearts of palm,Trader Joe’s , roughly chopped to the consistency of crab meat
•1/4 cup chopped celery
•1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
•1/2 cup chopped onion
•2 teaspoons minced garlic
•2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
• 1teaspoon cornstarch
•1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
- Crab Cakes: Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the hearts of palm and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook until golden brown on all sides. Set aside to cool. Add the celery and peppers and mix well.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet over medium-heat heat. Add the onions and sauté until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat, add to the hearts of palm, and mix well. Add the Old Bay seasoning, cornstarch, and mayo.
- Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and mix well. Set aside to cool to room temperature, then shape the mixture into four round patties.
- In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs and Old Bay seasoning, stirring to mix. Coat the patties with the breadcrumb mixture and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Heat oil in a non stick pan over shimmering. Carefully place the patties in the pan and cook until golden brown on each side, approximately 2 minutes per side. Place aside enjoy with hot sauce or
- Vegan tarter sauce ,(Mix the vegan mayonnaise, sweet relish, yellow mustard, lemon juice, and pepper in a bowl
- ¾ water
- ½ medium avocado
- ¼ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- Sea salt & black pepper to taste
What is the best Vegan Restaurant you have ever had the pleasure of eating at? Shojin in Los Angeles which Vegan Sushi/ Japanese…hands down best vegan restaurant . The vegan Mac and cheese at Follow Your Heart Cafe in Canoga Park, CA is amazing as well.
What advice do you have for those that are thinking of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle? My humble advice is, allow yourself time to change. This is a journey not a race. Focus on what you CAN eat and not what you can’t eat. Being “vegan” doesn’t automatically equate to optimal wellness so don’t get attached to the label. Find resonance with theviewpoints and facts that speak to you. Allow your tastebuds to acclimate. Be gentle with yourself. Bless your food before you eat. Plants contain DNA / information that you “download” through consumption. This works both ways. Eat Life for Life …Eat Death For Death.
Do you have a website to share with the BAV nation?
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