Transform your life – go vegan

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Falafel and hummus platter – vegetarian heaven. Picture: LANCE

What was once a diet thought only for hippies, the poor and the religious, choosing a meat-free, plant-based lifestyle opens up a whole new world of dishes that may not only save your life, but offer a new way to boost energy and repel disease.

This week marks the launch of the annual VegFest in Fiji with food and farm events in Suva and Nadi celebrating the nutritional healing power of a pure vegan diet.

As a student of biochemistry and nutrition, I’ve read many books and studies on why doctors think modern civilisation has become so sick with the non-communicable disease, including Pacific Islanders.

Their answer is very simple – we’re eating the wrong foods and not moving enough.

The modern diet is full of junk food, ingredients with little nutritional value, less fresh produce and a sedentary lifestyle of lazing around compared to our ancestors.

Whereas once our nomadic ancestors would walk miles in search of food and wood for the fire, many 21st century humans sit at home glued to their smartphones.

Changing lifestyle and dietary habits is extremely difficult, but if you are serious about living a long life and want to break the deadly cycle of NCD’s that may have already affected your family, a plant-based diet should be a consideration.

Humans should be vegans

As a chef, I make a distinct difference between a vegetarian and a vegan customer in my restaurants. To me, a vegetarian is someone who also eats milk, cheese and eggs because these foods are not meats although they still come from the animal. A pure vegan eats no animal meat or animal by-products – mainly plant produce, rice, seeds and nuts. Proponents of plant-based diets have long claimed they are better for our health, the environment and stops the slaughter and enslaver of innocent animals. A well-known food documentary lends support to changing to a meatless diet called “Food Choices”, a film by Emmy-award winning, director Michal Siewierski. It is one of the most comprehensive and scientific looks at the modern human diet and its connection to disease, and will change the way you think about food. During this lockdown, I urge you to watch it. Siewierski claims to have lost more than 50 pounds (22 kgs) go shifting to a plantbased diet. The film maker’s goal was to discover the healthiest and most sustainable diet for the planet and humans, and after interviewing hundreds of doctors, scientists and nutritional specialists, his conclusion was compelling – humans should be vegans.

Not quite vegan diets

Becoming a full vegan may be a daunting challenge for many who enjoy that chunk of lovo pork, chicken or goat curry, lamb stir fry or roast duck, but a gradual change may ease you slowly into this healthier way of eating. There are many variations of vegetarian diets that may suit your lifestyle right now, so here’s a summary of the different types of vegetarian diets on your path to becoming a full vegan:

  •  Lacto-vegetarian excludes meat, fish, poultry and eggs, but allows milk, cheese, yoghurt and butter
  •  Ovo-vegetarian excludes meat, poultry, seafood and dairy products, but allows eggs.
  •  Lacto-Ovo vegetarian excludes meat, fish and poultry, but allow dairy products and eggs.
  •  Pescatarian is a vegan that also eats fish
  • Pollotarian is a vegan that eats poultry and eggs
  • Vegan is purely plant-based including roots, leaves, nuts, seeds and no animal or animal by-products
  • Raw Alkaline Vegan is an energy-packed and healing form of veganism that emphasis the use of high-energy, raw alkaline and organic produce that is designed to repair and boost energy

Next level veganism

The raw alkaline veganism in the above list is one of the newest forms of vegan diets I’ve encountered in Fiji and is all the more relevant for Fijians battling NCDs. This next-level vegan diet is not only animalfriendly, it is said to have heightened healing abilities to repair and repel disease. The principle is that if you eat more raw, living plant foods, they can help  recharge your body’s electrical system and thus boost its power of immunity. Just as acidic distilled water is much better for your car battery than tap water, high alkaline foods are said to strengthen our body’s internal immune and energy systems. If you are a vegan living in the West, then you probably already know nutritionist Cat Adora from Vegan Fiji. She describes herself as an alkaline, vegan and raw food nutritionist, whose foods are designed to heighten the body’s frequency through superior healing foods. And it should as no surprise that Fiji grows some of the best high vibrancy foods because of our organic farms and natural volcanic soil. What does this mean for vegans? It means there is a new level of veganism that can be enjoyed in Fiji  that is not only plant-based and animal-friendly but has potential to deliver more power and healing nutrients to the body than a conventional vegan diet. If you are lucky enough to attend the opening night of VegFest in Nadi next week at KANU restaurant, you will be able to experience Cat’s vegan desserts and speak to the nutritionist herself to learn more.

Not just rabbit food

I once worked for a resort owner in Australia who described vegan foods as for rabbits only. Vegetarian/vegan diets can get boring fast without a good repertoire of recipes and ideas on how to replace animal proteins with something just as substantial,
filling and nutritious. The good news is there is plenty of high nutritious vegetable proteins available at supermarkets to substitute for meats including the newly cultivated mushrooms growing mainly in Lautoka, quinoa (pronounced keen-wah),
tofu (packet or fresh from the markets), pulses (chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils) and seeds (chia and flax) to name a few. Combine these with fresh vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates (rice, wild rice, noodles, pastries, root crops) to create an endless
supply of meat-free dishes. Vegan dishes can take on the flavours of any cuisine, whether it’s Asian, Mexican, Italian, African or Mediterranean. Using simple ingredients and healthy vegetables you can create delicious vegetarian recipes that are sure to
please the entire family or impress your friends. Welcome to VegFest week. Go out and learn more. Go taste the vegan delights on show during this week-long festivities. It may just save and prolong your life – and save an animal’s life.

  • Chef Lance Seeto and Cat Adora will be hosting the Nadi VegFest opening night at KANU restaurant on Tuesday, December 1.
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