Going Vegan: The First Month

Tanzanian-born cook at Sanctuary Bistro, Peter, has been vegan since he began working with us. I asked him if he'd share his journey with us and you and here is his story:

My Vegan JourneyBy Peter Mhina

 

I have worked in the restaurant business/food industry for almost three years in a variety of cuisines from American to German and Mediterranean, all of which consist of meat. I always thought a person who doesn't eat is missing out on this amazing taste. Having tried vegetarian menus before , I found them to be lacking in taste until I first tried Chef Barry's food. This was all new to me. We were doing a sample tasting and everything was delicious. It is as if the food tricks your mind to think there's meat but it's all organic vegetables.

I have worked at Sanctuary Bistro since opening day last month and I can say, I haven't laid my hands on meat since. Now people who ask, "Why? Whats the reason?" What I eat from work, is healthy and delicious and you feel different after a week of eating strictly vegan food. I feel healthy and no longer suffer from insomnia. I feel more energetic and haven't called in sick - I am always sick. "Knock on wood."

It's shifted my mindset on having to have meat with every meal.

Working in the kitchen with Chef Barry is like working with your friend or brother. He is very hard working which motivates me to keep up with him. Unlike others I have worked with, he is a hands-on chef.

People might become vegan for their health or for the lifestyle and out of compassion for animals. Eating organically grown is healthier for the body and the mind than slaughtering helpless animals. I might be biased but I love all the food at Sanctuary Bistro. I was never a fan of tofu but now whenever I would get a chance to munch on it, "I will be munching."  The homemade cashew cheese is one of my favorites and I think you can eat it with anything.

I am not a vegan but I see myself heading there. Working in and with people that are, you get a different perspective on the whole eating meat and how its not good for your health. I would like to thank Chef Barry and his wife Jennifer Horton for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the team and for showing me that being a vegan is awesome. I am proud to call this place home and workplace.

If you have suggestions or questions to make the vegan transition easier... leave them in the comments below.  Thank you!