Ohmygosh, you guys, I can't even tell you how excited I am for this post. I first talked about Happy Herbivore in my post on my Favorite Food Blogs and today, blogger Lindsay Nixon, author of The Happy Herbivore Cookbook and Everyday Happy Herbviore is here answering some of the questions I had about her own plant-based diet as well as her new cookbook, Happy Herbivore Abroad! The interview is part of a blog tour she's doing as a way to promote the book (what a fabulous idea, btw) and there might even be a book in it for one of you lucky readers, too!
1) What are some common misconceptions people have about the (perceived) difficulty of switching to a plant based diet?
I find people thing eating a plant-based diet is expensive and it doesn't have to be. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are a bargain, frozen vegetables are cheap. Dry beans and grains (like brown rice) are very inexpensive.
2) Your elephant logo is so adorable! What made you choose that particular animal?
3) Christmas is coming up! As a holiday that usually includes a big family meal, it can be tricky as the only vegetarian in an omnivore family. Any suggestions for new non-meat-eaters?
4) Reading your blog I know you do a lot of traveling. Favorite place to visit?
5) Your new book is called "The Happy Herbivore Abroad." Any tips for veg*ans traveling to other countries?
Not in the book (that's just recipes) but I've written dozens of blog posts on traveling and eating out on happyherbivore.com's blog — use the search bar to find the posts, or click the "travel" label.
6) Favorite recipe from the new book?
Asking a chef to pick their favorite recipe is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child.
7) If you had to stick with one ethnic cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably America, only because a lot of "American" dishes are borrowed or inspired by other cultures, so it wouldn't feel limiting.
Being one of the hosts of the blog tour, I was provided with a copy of Happy Herbivore Abroad to review and holy cannoli is it fabulous. Even just flipping through the pages the first night I had it I knew this is a book even omnivores would dig. In the few weeks that I've had it I've been able to try the Cuban Black Bean soup, the Vegetarian Enchiladas, Homemade Enchilada Sauce, the Pasta E Fagoli is on the menu for this weekend and I cannot wait to try the curries!
As the title suggests, this cookbook is full of ethnic recipes from different cultures and countries. Lindsay loves to travel, so along with talking about her recipes she gives us a sneak peek into some of her travel history, including gorgeous personal pictures. Speaking of pictures, the recipe pictures are stunning, too. I don't know about you, but I have to have pictures in a cookbook. After all, we all tend to eat with our eyes first and in this respect, Happy Herbivore Abroad definitely delivers.
One thing I have always loved about her recipes is how easy they are. Plus they use simple, common ingredients. I think there is an unfair assumption that a veg*n diet require crazy, fancy (ie: expensive) ingredients and that's simply not true as Lindsay's recipes prove. There may be a small handful of things you would have to buy (like, say, non-dairy milk) but for the most part, the ingredients are things you probably have in your kitchen or already buy on a fairly regular basis.
Seriously, peeps. No matter your eating habits, you will love this cookbook. Which is why I'm so grateful that as part of the blog tour, a reader of mine has a chance to win a copy of Happy Herbivore Abroad!
Fine print: Open to US & Canadian residents only. At the completion of the giveaway, winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize. BenBella Books provided me with a free copy of Happy Herbivore Abroad to review as part of the HHA Blog Tour. All opinions are my own.
I love Thai food, that would probably be my choice!
I love Indian food, great options so I'd have to say that would be my choice.
I love Thai food! I make at least 2 dishes a week.
I loved Greek food before I became Vegan and I haven't had good luck making anything sub for it.
I would go with Indian. A bit of a cheat like American, because there's a lot of variety in the subcontinent!
I think Mexican, you really can't go wrong with rice and beans!
I would have to stick with Italian. All of my comfort foods are Italian.
Great interview! I love it! Oof, that's a thought question if you ask me! I am French and I love everything about it but if I was given the chance to step away and try something new, I would say Greek Cuisine. I have always been interested with its culture and I am dying to visit! I wonder how eating vegan in Greece would be… ?
Italian!!!! Simple tomato, basil, and garlic on anything is my comfort food.
I gotta go with Mexican (but maybe Tex-Mex style..).