I’ve been vegan since 2019, and I’ve been a vegan cook for the past 17 years.

When I met my soon to be husband Naishadh in 2007, I didn’t even know how to pronounce “Vegan.” He had been a vegan for around a decade then, and I simply didn’t know what it meant. I researched the term and was at least happy to understand that he was a strict vegetarian but the concept of giving up dairy was still a bit foreign to me.

Over time, I learned to shop, cook, and dine with my vegan and strict Jain diet in mind. Together, we learned about the harms of leather and silk. We read shampoo bottles or cosmetic labels for animal testing and made the PETA “cruelty-free products” link our favorite bookmark. This made our bond stronger as we aligned our goals of minimizing the harm we cause. Being vegan is not just food and diet; it is a “Lifestyle” that we both believe in!

In 2019, we visited Farm Sanctuary in upstate NY, and I took a vow to be vegan for 50 days as a part of my Chaturmas vow and never looked back. Following a strict Jain and vegan diet added a “twist” to travel and restaurant experiences. These days, most waiters from New Jersey to Italy have heard of Jainism and veganism. Once we provide our list of root vegetables to avoid, the options get fewer, but our enjoyment in the meals grows. Dining out is often a fun adventure with creative discussions with the chef and planning our preferred venue well in advance. Being a foodie and dessert lover, it has been a fun journey whether I am baking or cooking at home vs going out! The satisfaction of finding the right place or recipe is worth the effort.

On a recent trip to India to observe a diksha, I had the opportunity to officially take the vow with my husband and renounce three Vigais in front of a Maharaj Saheb. Our children have learned so much by just watching us. They know you can be happy even when skipping a meal or be ecstatic when you find a flexible chef. When you eat with your values on your plate, every meal is wonderful.