Emily Ewing

Hi! My name is Emily Ewing (pronounced “you”-ing) and I’m from and live in the very exciting and glamorous central valley of California, specifically in the town of Clovis.

What inspired you to go vegan?

EE:  My older brother showed me videos exposing the cruelty of factory farms. That was pretty much all it took for me to start making changes. I immediately went vegetarian and started slowly transitioning to vegan without really even realizing it. I learned more & more about the importance of veganism in other aspects of life along the way as I transitioned.

What are some of your favorite vegan restaurants?

EE:  Native Foods cafe (the San Diego location) was the first vegan restaurant I’d ever been to, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Another favorite is Souley Vegan in Oakland, CA. Try their BBQ tofu burger & mac n cheese if you ever get a chance!

What are your favorite vegan dishes to make?

What are common misconceptions about being vegan?

EE: Definitely that it is as difficult as society makes it out to be. It’s so simple and reasonable when you break it down, yet our society makes it seem so abnormal and complicated to just EAT PLANTS lol. Also, that all vegans are all the same. Even though we all have the same core message, there are so many different ways to go about the lifestyle/philosophy. I believe veganism is for everyone and that there will inevitably be varying perspectives to each specific aspect of it.

What do you find is the worst part about being vegan?

EE: Getting ignorant comments from The Haters. Or people overanalyzing your vitamin intake when you never asked them to.

What is the best part about being vegan?

EE: Being able to eat a feast of delicious food and feeling totally fine afterward!! But seriously, that I get to be a part of a movement that is doing generally amazing things for people, animals, & the environment and is only expanding!

What advice to you have for people who want to become vegan?

EE: DO. NOT. STRESS. Never think you need to be perfect. Be realistic. We’re all human and, sorry to quote the iconic Hannah Montana song but, nobody’s perfect. Be as vegan as you possibly can, but LEARN from your mistakes, don’t dwell on them.
Also, follow vegans on every social media you have for inspiration and motivation.

How has your life changed since you’ve become vegan?

EE: I started transitioning shortly after beginning high school, so I hadn’t formed my political, social, world, environmental, etc views much yet. I didn’t have much I wanted to fight for or spread to the world. Becoming vegan was just the beginning of it all for me. Coming to understand that the food I was eating was not at all what I thought it was lead me to question everything about my world. That’s a mindset I embrace and will have for the rest of my life. Woah, I just got really real.

What are the top 3 reasons to go vegan?

EE: To realize the animals in your homes and backyards are no more worthy of love and life than the animals in the food industry.
To eat food that nourishes and gives you energy instead of weighing you down.
To skip the environmentally-degrading “middle man” (in this case, animal ag.) and go straight to the plants for your food.

What are your favorite vegan blogs/instagram/youtube channels?

EE:  Some of my faves on every social media, but mainly on youtube are Laura Miller, Kicki Yang Zhang, Cam and Nina, Honest Vegan, Hot for food, the Edgy Veg, Liv’s Healthy Life, Infinite Waters.

Do you have a blog, instagram, or youtube channel?

EE: Yes, & I’m definitely trash on all of them. Once this semester’s over and I’m on winter break though, I will try to post more!
My youtube channel is “a chill vegan”
Instagram: @achillvegan
Tumblr:  tumblr.com/achillvegan
Thanks for reading! :~)