Why Vegan?
When I first became a vegan (a person who refrains from consuming any animal products, including dairy and eggs) eleven years ago, I found it really hard to cook for myself. I missed cheese like you wouldn’t believe and not being able to eat egg salad sandwiches was a real game changer for my lunch breaks. The few vegan cookbooks I could find called for ingredients I’d never heard of and when I was finally able to track some of them down, I couldn’t afford them. I did feel amazingly good, but I struggled to find easy vegan meals to feed my growing family. My, how things have changed since then!
My kids are now 10, 8 and 6. Vegan cookbooks and recipe blogs abound. Restaurants and grocery stores are catering more and more to plant-based lifestyles. “Vegan” is becoming a household name. And I’m intent on feeding my kids the healthiest and yummiest food to be found in our delicious world. As I read about food, watch documentaries about food and engage in the “Food Revolution” discussions going on all around us, I am convinced more than ever before that a vegan diet free of all animal products is the healthiest choice for our bodies and for our planet. I also think it’s the most delicious kind of food out there. The fact that it’s a lifestyle compassionate toward animals is the butter-free icing on the vegan cake.
I love to cook and I love to watch other people enjoy my food. Some of the recipes you’ll find on here have been borrowed and adapted from others, and some are completely my own. I’m no chef but my husband and kids think I am so that’s pretty cool. I hope that some of the ideas you’ll find on this blog will inspire you to try cooking and eating vegan, even if it’s only for one meal a week! I always try to make my food easy to prepare and easy to serve… to kids and adults alike.
Thanks for visiting One Happy Table. May yours be happy as well.
–Lauren
Hello
my name is Niki Kefala and I am a Greek journalist. Few weeks ago I create my site http://nikisreviews.com/
I really admire your site and I wonder if I can make an interview with you.
Best wishes
Niki
Hi Niki! I’d be honored! Send me your email and I’ll get in touch. 😊
Thank you! n.kefala@hotmail.com
thank you for your blog! your food looks amazing, i will be trying some recipes for sure! http://meatlessmain.com
Yay! Thanks Michal!
Hi Lauren,
I am newly vegan and wondering basically how much to intake in a day… Are there any informational sites you would recommend me look at for research on how to have a balanced vegan diet? I fell in love with our blog the second I clicked on the first recipe I came to! I definitely look forward to trying more of your recipes 🙂
Your advice is greatly appreciated!
– Chelsie
your**
Hi there Chelsie! Congrats on going vegan and thanks for visiting OHT! : )
Peta has a great vegan starter guide that may prove helpful: http://www.peta.org/living/food/free-vegan-starter-kit/
But you can also learn a lot by simply googling about vegan nutrition. Also consider talking to your physician if he/she is supportive of your vegan diet which I hope they are! I recommend this because every person is different as far as what their body needs to be healthy.
Personally I do not measure my portions or abide by a strict regimen. Instead I live by these general rules: eat lots of fruits and veggies (I try to eat one serving of dark leafy greens each day), eat whole grains, legumes, nuts and beans, cook at home as much as possible, enjoy oil and sugar in moderation, buy and eat non-GMO, organic as much as possible, and experiment in the kitchen! I’ve been able to stay healthy with these as my general guides. I hope this helps!
Thank you so much! The link for the Peta website was an incredible help. I really appreciate it 🙂
I’m so glad! And you’re welcome!
Thank YOU for the link for Peta!!
You’re so welcome!
Hello. I don’t agree with you on the matter of plant-based food being the healthiest for us. We’re omnivores after all. 😉 I’m not going to stop eating meat (also: red meat). I’m not going to run away from vegan food – it’s opposite I have to be careful about eggs (whites/mayonaise) and milk so I’d be happy to see more and vegan shops/restaurants. But eating vegan is already a hassle when travelling. I can’t imagine being a vegan is a small town in Indonesia or in some other places.
I’ll pop up from time to time. Cheers and bon apetit. 🙂
Hello there. Thanks for your comment. It’s okay for us to disagree; that’s what makes us interesting. 😊
I hear you on the subject of vegan being a hassle at times, like when traveling. After 11 years, it feels less like a hassle to me and more like a fun challenge. And since my main reason for eating vegan is to be compassionate toward animals, any perceived “hassle” is well worth it to me.
I’m glad you can find some helpful vegan recipes on here and I look forward to having you stop by again in the future!
Hey dear,
Love your blog, it’s awesome. I’m trying to launch a blog on vegetarian recipes and health tips. Still under construction, but hopeyou’ll check how it looks and let me know what you think?
I’m definitely following you.
Hugs,
Silvia
Hi Silvia! Thanks so much for the comment and the follow! Your blog looks great. Welcome to the plant-based lifestyle and I look forward to exchanging ideas, inspiring one another and journeying together!
I just found your blog and I love it! so many amazing vegan recipes that look so delicious and nutritious, I busting to try them out – especially the blondie, brownie w/ caramel sauce!
Thanks so much Bree! I’m glad you found One Happy Table too. Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you think about my recipes. : )
Hi, I just discovered your blog and i love it. I am going to be a regular in your space, exploring, learning and reading through. You are an inspiration 🙂 Happy to have stumbled on your space.
Thank you so very much! I’m so glad you found One Happy Table. Yes, come visit often!
This is a beautiful blog! I’m so glad I came across it, can’t wait to try out some stuff from here!
Thank you so much! I just checked out your blog too and am now following. Your recipes look divine!
Thank you for the follow and the kind words 🙂 Keep visiting!
I came from Freezerburns video Amy’s Teriyaki Bowl Review: Freezerburns 😀
Love it! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Hi Lauren – I just came across your blog and I think it’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see what other recipes you come up with!
Hi Jamie! Thank you so much and same to you! Love your blog and can’t wait to read more. And Madison is super duper adorable. : )
Hey there! I just discovered your blog and love it!! I look forward to more of your posts!! Celeste 🙂
Thank you Celeste! I’m heading over to check yours out now. Thank you for stopping by!
I may not consider myself to be very skilled in this area and far from a foodie expert but as I read your blog and see the inviting pictures of the food and your eager kids to dive in I am inspired to explore and branch out while attempting to delight my family and provide a happy table!
Thank you Sianna! xoxo!
Thank you for following my blog. I look forward to spicing my cooking with vegan recipes. Best wishes!
Thanks Liz! Love your blog!
Congratulations, Lauren! You have been awarded: Super Sweet Bloggers Award
I do not expect any action to be taken, or for you to generate a post, unless you wish to pass it on.
Your blog has been awarded at:
http://faestwistandtango.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/awards-february-2013/
Enjoy! 😀 Fae.
Wow! Thank you Fae! And congratulations on your awards!
Hi Lauren 🙂 I’ve only just discovered your blog but I’m inspired by your honest writing, beautiful recipes and the warmth that you embed in everything you share with us. You’ve definitely got a new follower! I’m also going to try your pumpkin muffins. They sound delicious and the ‘chmelt’ addition is just gorgeous. Thanks! x
Hello dear Laura! Thank you so much for the comment and follow! I am excited to follow you right back. : ) very happy we’ve found each other’s blogs. Yours is simply lovely and your photos? Stunning. Absolutely stunning. You and your husband make a great team.
Thanks beautiful. I think we do too… I am a very blessed woman 🙂 I look forward to sharing more recipes and stories with you as the year progresses, it’s so lovely to have ‘met’ you!! x
: )
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Hi Lauren!
hey, just asking. . you can totally turn me down if you think this is lame. . I’m starting a thing called #FlyFridays. . just trying to get people to bake, share, pause, reflect and be thankful for what we have:
http://hipfoodiemom.com/fly-fridays/
Seriously, no need to even respond to this. . but if you’d like to join just one Friday, please let me know. thank you!
Great idea! I’ll definitely let you know. I post every day so can I use a post I’m already doing on any given Friday and then add the part about what I’m thankful for?
yes, of course!!! 🙂
I”ve tagged you for the Hope Relay, lovely lady! http://veganmonologue.wordpress.com/2012/09/09/hope-relay-and-frugal-salad/
Thank you so much! I loved your words on hope. Thank you for sharing them so openly and honestly. And welcome to the west coast! : ) I’m honored that you’ve tagged me for this and will start thinking about what to write. Many blessings on your new adventure and the boundless hope contained therein!
Thanks for the well wishes. I’m looking forward to being on your side of the country so much!
Hi Lauren,
I am so sorry to contact you like this! I’m reaching out to you this way b/c I can’t find your email address. You are currently subscribed to my food blog and I have recently gone through a re-design and moved to self hosting so I’ve been told that you will no longer receive my posts automatically anymore thru WordPress. If you’d like to continue reading, please go to: http://hipfoodiemom.com/ and subscribe via RSS or email. I hope to keep you as a reader! Thank you so much! (and again my sincere apologies for contacting you this way)
Alice Choi
(hipfoodiemom) 🙂
Done! : ) Will be following you by email from now on. Congratulations on the new site Alice! It all looks amazing.
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Lauren,
I wanted to “introduce” myself! I found your blog through the crazy world of facebook…your husband and I went to middle school together and one of your One Happy Table pictures showed up on my facebook newsfeed a few weeks ago. Glad I stumbled across your blog…you’ve got so many great family vegan recipes!
Sarah (Stearns) De la Cruz
How awesome is that?!? : ) So great to “meet” you Sarah, and share vegan inspiration too!
Dear Lauren, Everything about your blog is beautiful and delicious. Managing a family with three very young children and being a part of ‘post-a-day-blogger’? I am impressed! I am looking forward to further exploring your blog and viewing your new posts! Fae. 🙂
Wow! Thanks for the kind and encouraging words, Fae! So glad you found One Happy Table and thanks for taking a look around. Love your blog too. We are truly citizens of the world! Looking forward to reading more from you and sharing ideas. : )
Hi Lauren, I just want to say thanks for visiting my blog the other day – and for introducing me to yours. As a family new to this whole “vegetarian” thing, I’m going to need all the help I can get. I just nominated you for the “Tell Me More About Yourself” Award. I know you mostly talk about the food, but it’s nice to hear about the person behind it all. You rock!
Sweet! Thanks for the shout-out Fern. Hope the veg thing is going better than you’d imagined… 😉
love. i’m looking forward to reading more of your blog. your recipes are amazing! (and your family is adorable!!)
Thanks Crista! So glad you stopped by. : )
Hi. I looked for an e-mail address for you but couldn’t find one. I wanted to pass along a little info I got at the BlogHer12 conference. In the expo hall I tried So Delicious dairy free ice cream & it was so delicious. They are having this thing where if bloggers make a recipe w/ the product and/or take a picture & submit it, they’ll put it on their website so your blog can reach more readers. I thought of you b/c you take beautiful pictures and you might like this product – idk if it’s completely vegan but it’s dairy free.
Sweet! Thanks for thinking of me. I’ll check it out. : )
I have nominated you for the Inspirational Blog Award. Congratulations & thanks for your great blog. http://myfoodreligion.com/2012/08/01/inspiring-blog-award/
Wow thanks so much!!! Maybe I’ll make a cake today too! : ) congrats on your well-deserved award.
Just wanted to pass on that I think your food/photography is inspirational. I nominated you for the “Inspirational Blog” award:
http://sticktoyourgreens.com/2012/07/24/inspiring-blog-award-tastes-like-pumpkin-pie-protein-smoothie/
Have a good day ! 🙂
Wow, thanks Holly!!!! You’re the best! : )
Hi Lauren,
Thank for all of your beautiful blog posts, I just nominated you for the Blog on Fire award!
Thanks so much! I am honored! : )
Beautifully family photo too!!
Thanks. : )
Great post and I couldn’t agree more! I feel so much healthier with the vegan lifestyle and am PROVING to several people that it is just as delicious as their meals, but a whole lot healthier!
Totally. I think that through blogs like ours, we can help people see that eating vegan (or primarily plant-based diets) is a culinary adventure more exciting and diverse than what they could ever imagine! Thanks Brandi!
Hi Lauren, I’ve nominated your blog for a Liebster Award! (You can find the post here: http://spontaneoustomato.com/2012/07/19/the-perfect-snack-a-blog-award/ )
Oh, Allison, thank you!!! : ) Lots of love!
Oh my word! What a beautiful family! : )
Thanks! That’s so sweet. : )
Lauren, your blog is so beautiful! I’m excited to read every. last. word. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much!! Love your blog as well! Mahalo! : )
Thanks for liking my post! Since I made the choice to stop cooking meat at the beginning of this year, I’ve been amazed by how many delicious things you can cook without it. I still have the big obstacle of my boyfriend cooking meat when it’s his turn, and I still use eggs and butter (I recently switched from dairy milk to rice milk!), but I’m confident that as time goes on I’ll find ways to take more and more animal products out of my diet.
Hi Sully! Welcome to vegetarianism! It’s a journey but a fun and delicious one. Just remember you’re always in process and don’t be too hard on yourself. Thanks for commenting!
Hi there! I just nominated you for a blogging award 🙂 Keep the tasty recipes coming! http://inspiringhealthyliving.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/recent-nominations/
Wow thanks SO very much!!! I am honored!!!
Congrats to you on all your wonderful nominations! : )
I know you already got this from someone else, but I nominated you for One Lovely Blog! Again! Because I love your blog!
Thanks a bunch!!! I am delighted. : ) : ) : )
Hi Lauren, As always, your insights and delights are hard to resist! Marcia directed me your blog earlier this week.
Thanks Uncle Paley!!! : )
Your blog is really gorgeous, and made me look differently at vegan food, good work 🙂 x
Thanks so much Amy! Appreciate the follow!
I am now addicted to your blog. Forgive me if I go and favorite all your posts!!! 🙂
You are forgiven!!! : ) Thanks for the love and support!
You have a very cool blog! I am not a vegna but do eat vegan & vegetarian 5x/week !!
I think your recipes rock, girl! 🙂
Thanks Sophie! Wow, 5x/week is awesome!
Thank you for popping over to All Mussed Up and following along on my adventures in Holland — I love what you’re doing here, and it’s always a pleasure to happen upon people a few steps ahead of me in the vegetarian–>vegan journey. (:
Thanks Valerie! So fun to connect with other veggie-minded people out there, especially all the way in Holland! How exciting. Your blog is pure beauty to behold. Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks for following me! Your food looks delicious and I plan to try out a few of your recipes. I also really loved your “inspiration” write-up. Although I’m really new to adopting a Vegan lifestyle, I have noticed significant health benefits. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for my body (and your blog)!
Hi tofukitty! Welcome to Vegan Nation. ; ) Thanks for the follow as well. Looking forward to sharing great ideas with each other in the days to come. Love your blog!
Thanks so much for following my blog! Your blog is beautiful and I can see myself coming back here often for lots of great vegan recipes 🙂 Thank you!
Thanks to you as well! Looking forward to reading more of your great posts. : )
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for following our blog and thanks for being vegan 🙂 Your blog is beautiful! Keep up the good work in showing how delicious vegan food can be.
If you’re ever in the area, we’d like to invite you to our restaurant 🙂
Best wishes,
One Veg World
Thanks! Will definitely visit next time I’m down there. Your vegan buffets sound divine! Thanks for your support!
Hi Lauren
You are very right about obscure vegan ingredients which costs quite a bit to buy. I’m not a vegan but have plenty of vegan friends. Not only do I expect the ingredients are accessible and fairly priced, I also expect the result to be delicious and look enticing.
Totally!
It was a paradigm shift for me. Ten years ago I thought I had to create brand new recipes with obscure ingredients as you aptly put it. But now I realize I can cook all my old favorite dishes by adapting them to be vegan. I was also bound by the notion that the plate had to consist of three categories: meat, starch and vegetable. Once I freed myself from that and realized a whole, nutritional meal did not have to come from those three categories, I was able to really have fun!
What is the deliciousness in your header photo?
That would be my Peanut Butter Cup with Flaxseed and Sea Salt. I’m trying to put the link on this comment but WordPress isn’t liking that idea right now. You can find it under the chocolate or dessert tags.
I love your blog! Has it really only been going for a month so far? I’m so impressed you can post as often as you do! And with beautiful photos, too. : )
Thanks Allison! Yes, been at it a couple weeks now. Only had an FB photo album prior. This is so much more gratifying. Thanks for your support!
Lauren, I am so happy that you are doing this blog. Jeff and I have been talking about using some vegan or vegeatarian meals in our diet but can never find good recipes that sound substantial enough. Your pictures always look so appetizing. And your recipes are lactose free which is a plus for me. I’m sure we will try a few. I might have some trouble finding some of the ingredients as Plymouth is a rather provincial town and has basically traditional markets with standard fair. The closest Whole Foods is 40 minutes away. Keep up the good work. You are an inspiration.
Thanks Judy! I hope some of these recipes can become easy go-to meals for you both. I totally get the thing about not having all the options near you that a place like Whole Foods has. But as long as you can get your hands on a variety of good produce and some non-dairy milk you can do a whole awful lot! Keep me posted!
I love you!!!
I love you too, beautiful!