This Month’s BAV has on of the best Instagram pages ever… but I will warn you, if you are hungry, looking at her page will make that hunger even stronger. Not taking the normal route that most #vegan chefs take… she takes a unique approach of creating amazing dishes that “unprocessed”. She believes in taking the power of the plate back to the people. Not only is she a great chef but a wonderful person to be around. If you ever see her at any events she has a permanent smile on her face. I mean how can you not be happy when you are helping so many people take back their health? Please help me welcome @meganunprocessed to the BAV family!
Name: Megan Lawson aka MegUnprocessed
Where do you live and where are you from? Los Angeles, CA
Age? 30
What do you do for a living/profession? Television Producer .
What do you like to do for fun? Cooking lots of yummy vegan food, and spending time with my husband.
How long have you been vegan? Almost 3 years
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Why did you become vegan? I first started by giving up processed foods, and I felt so much better. That is what started me on this journey of how foods can heal your body. I received my certification in holistic nutrition and from the information I learned from it that’s when I knew that I was going to give up animal products.
How was your transition? My transition wasn’t too hard because LA has so many vegan options. It was a process at first – really having to think about what I was going to eat because we’ve been so engrained to think we need to eat animal protein at every meal, but after a while it just comes so natural. Getting creative is key!
What is the funniest misconception(s) that you have heard about vegans? They only eat lettuce. I also think it’s funny when people say “I dont know if we will be able to find vegan food.” Well if there’s fruits, veggies, beans, nuts or seeds then there’s vegan food.
What is your Favorite thing(s) about being a vegan?
The way I feel. Now that I eat a plant-based diet, I have so much more energy and just feel good all around.
What Do you think makes a Bad Ass Vegan? Someone who accepts everyone for who they are… Just because you’re not vegan doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. I don’t think we should force this lifestyle on anyone, but rather spread the love of it in a peaceful manner. I want my friends and family to live longer, but instead of forcing it I’d rather lead by example. And of course, show them how delicious vegan food is!
.What is the best vegan dish that you make in your kitchen?
- 1 package Firm Tofu
- ½ cup Celery, chopped
- ½ cup White Onion, chopped
- 3 Flax Eggs (1 tbsp flax mean + 3 tbsp water = 1 flax egg)
- 1 cup Vegetable Broth (maybe a little more)
- 2 tbsp Sage (adjustable to your taste preference)
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
- Half the recipe for the Foodbabe’s Vegan Cornbread
- Make half of the Food Babe’s Vegan Cornbread recipe – Cut all the ingredients in half. Set aside *See note in blog post
- Wrap tofu block in dishcloths and set heavy books on top for 15-20 min. This helps get all the water out of it
- Then cut tofu into small squares and place in bowl with Vegetable Broth (covering) to marinate. I let mine sit for about two hour because I started early. It should sit in marinade for at least 30 min before.
- Preheat oven to 350
- Make your flax eggs in another bowl and set aside
- Sauté onions and celery for about 5 – 8 mins
- In a large bowl break up the cornbread into crumble pieces
- Add in celery, onion, flax eggs, sage, salt and pepper
- Then add in a small handful of the tofu and some of the vegetable broth from the marinade. Start with about ⅓ cup and slowly mix it all together with your hands before adding more. You want it a little soggy and moist so judge according. You don’t want it to come out dry.
- Once the moisture is right add in the rest of the tofu and mix again with hands.
- After it’s all mixed together you can taste to see if you want to add more seasonings (sage, salt, pepper)
- Pour mix in a 9×9 pan lined with parchment paper. Pat down making sure it’s all even
- Bake in oven for 30-35 min. The top should be a little brown. You can also fork check it to make sure it’s firm
What is the best Vegan Restaurant you have ever had the pleasure of eating at? There’s a vegan restaurant in Santa Barbara, CA called Mesa Verde. It’s so good I literally think about going back to Santa Barbara just to eat there.
What advice do you have for those that are thinking of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle? Try not to let what others around you think affect your decisions. For some reason, when you say you’re going Vegan people act like it’s joining a cult. Do what’s best for you and ignore the haters.
Do you have a website to share with the BAV nation?
