Haley had always been interested in healthy eating and cooking, but after watching a documentary about the environmental and ethical impacts of animal agriculture, she decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle.
As she began experimenting with plant-based ingredients and recipes, she realized that there were not many resources available for vegan cooking. She decided to start a blog to share her vegan recipes and tips for living a vegan lifestyle.
Haley’s blog quickly gained popularity, and she began to build a following of readers who were also interested in veganism. She shared delicious, easy-to-make recipes that showed that vegan food could be just as tasty as non-vegan food. She also shared information about the environmental and ethical benefits of a vegan diet, as well as tips for transitioning to a vegan lifestyle.
Meatless Movement recently had a chat with her. Haley told us that through her blog, she is able to inspire and educate many people about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle, and she continues to do so to this day.
Please tell us more about yourself
My name is Haley-Jo Kenny. I’m 29 years old, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I’m a speech-language pathologist working in a New York City public school, but my real passion lies in plant-based baking, cooking, food photography and recipe creation.
Creative vegan recipes that are healthy for the body and the soul.
HALEY-JO KENNY
In my free time, I can be found baking and testing recipes for my blog, petitepurplepotato.com. I also love to stay active by running and lifting weights. Finally, although there’s no place like New York City, I love to travel around the world with my husband. In summer 2022, we quite literally traveled around the world from Israel to Thailand to Hawaii!
I initially went vegan in 2016 for my health. I grew up in a pretty health conscious household, so I was aware about the health risks of a high meat diet for a while. During the summer of 2016, I watched Earthlings and became aware of the horrors of factory farming, the fur industry and animal testing. Over time, I’ve become more exposed to the ethical side of veganism through watching similar documentaries, reading books and attending animal rights protests. Essentially, I went vegan for my health, but stayed vegan for the animals.
I like the sense of community that comes with being part of a movement that is focused on ethical and sustainable living
Haley-Jo
I am so grateful to live in NYC, because it’s truly a vegan haven with so many food and restaurant options. I’m also lucky to have friends who are open to trying out new vegan restaurants, even though they aren’t vegan themselves. For me, the biggest challenge in being vegan was dealing with family traditions surrounding the holidays. For example, my sister and I would always bake cookies together for Christmas.
I overcame these challenges by getting really good at vegan baking and cooking over the years! I can proudly say that I have successfully veganized some of our favorite Christmas cookies, among other nostalgic foods from my childhood!
I actually met my husband, Richard, a few months after going vegan! At the time, I was into powerlifting and was training for my first competition. We literally met in the squat rack at the gym when I asked him to spot me. Through conversation, I found out that he was also vegan. A good looking, vegan man who’s also into weight lifting?! I kind of suspected from the start that he would be my future husband. Six years later and here we are, married, traveling the world, and empowering each other to stick with this compassionate lifestyle. Rich is also an animal right’s activist and a Humane League Captain, so he inspires me everyday to continue being vegan. We are also both foodies and love checking out vegan restaurants and food festivals together!
I feel good about the positive impact that my dietary choices have on the environment and animals
Haley-Jo
I love this lifestyle so much and I feel very inspired to stick with it, thanks to the support of my husband and all I’ve learned over the years. Contrary to popular belief, veganism is not restrictive. In fact, being vegan has driven me to learn to cook and to be more creative in the kitchen than I ever was when I relied on animal products. Additionally, as a Christian, I feel strongly that a vegan lifestyle aligns with Jesus’ teachings about being as loving as possible to all creation. So yea, I’m sticking with it.
Some of my favorite vegan restaurants in NYC are Coletta for amazing vegan Italian dishes, Modern Love for fine dining and a fancy date night, Beyond Sushi for incredible vegan sushi, Spicy Moon for authentic vegan Szechuan cuisine, and Clementine Bakery for amazing baked goods. That’s just a few out of so many incredible options.
To be honest though, due to my love of cooking, I often prefer a night in or a homemade treat. Here are some savory and sweet highlights from my food blog for when you’re craving vegan comfort food. I’ve included links to recipes below the photo.
Impress your friends and family, vegan and non-vegan alike
Haley-Jo Kenny
Baked Rigatoni Bolognese
A unique twist on baked ziti, inspired by a dish from my favorite vegan Italian restaurant in NYC, Coletta. Hearty al dente rigatoni is layered with vegan ground meat, peas, vegan ricotta, and my homemade marinara sauce. We top it with vegan mozzarella cheese and bake it until the cheese is melty and the top layer of pasta is perfectly crisp. It’s also great for meal prep because the recipes makes a ton!
Vegan Air Fried Calamari
Another dish inspired by Willow, a favorite restaurant of mine in NYC, this air fried “calamari” is made from King Oyster mushrooms. Unlike rubbery squid, it is tender, juicy, perfectly crisp and bursting with flavor. Enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and my 20 minute marinara!
Orange Ricotta Cranberry Loaf
Cranberry and orange may be one of the most underrated winter flavor combinations! In this decadent loaf cake, tart, juicy cranberries are perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the fresh orange juice in the glaze and cake itself. Cinnamon, cardamom, and orange zest brighten up the flavor even more and add an extra zing to this loaf! And we cannot forget the ricotta! Similar to a class Italian lemon ricotta cake, the addition of the ricotta makes the loaf extra moist, soft and crumbly. It’s easy to prepare and bakes in an hour or less, so be sure to whip this loaf cake up to enjoy for a dessert (Or breakfast. I won’t judge you. I also eat it for breakfast)!
Italian Rainbow Cookies
Coming from a half-Italian family, Italian Rainbow Cookies have been a holiday cookie staple in my house for as long as I can remember. Every Christmas and Easter, my sister and I would make a batch together. It has taken me years, but I’ve finally perfected the vegan version of these cookies. You’re sure to fall in love with these little almond-flavored cakes, layered with apricot preserves and topped with bittersweet chocolate. Say hello to your new favorite cookie!
Tips for transitioning to a vegan lifestyle
Veganism is a personal and ongoing journey, be open to new experiences and be kind to yourself as you learn
HALEY-JO KENNY
My advice would be to start out gradually, slowly replacing animal products in your diet with a variety of whole plant-based foods and fun vegan substitutes (because balance is key)! Try not to load up on too many legumes and cruciferous veggies at once. Although these are incredible for you and should be a staple in every healthy diet, if you’re not used to eating these foods, they can cause a lot of bloating at first. Instead, incorporate them little by little. Be sure to eat balanced and include a protein source, some form of a green vegetable, and some form of a starch with every meal to ensure satiety. Some staple plant-based foods in my home are super firm tofu, chickpeas, purple and Japanese sweet potatoes, frozen berries, kale, nut butters, refried beans and pasta.
Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle can be challenging, as it requires a significant change in eating habits and lifestyle
Haley-Jo
People think vegans just eat grass and that it’s a super limiting diet. I love to expose these people to all of the amazing vegan restaurants, the food bloggers I follow, and even my own recipes to show them how veganism is the opposite of limiting! I also always tell people that being vegan has actually driven me to be more creative in the kitchen. I would never want to return to a dull meat-based diet!
If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about adopting a vegan lifestyle. Way to go! It is truly the best thing you can do for your health, the environment, and of course, the animals. I hope my story inspired you in some way to see that a vegan lifestyle can be fun, unrestrictive, and still full of delicious foods.
Being vegan has inspired me to pursue my dreams of food blogging and cooking. If you could take a moment to check out my blog, petitepurplepotato.com, you would be helping me to continue to chase after that dream. Thank you for your time!
Haley-Jo💜
Vegan food blogger. Lover of Biscoff, chocolate & purple sweet potatoes💜 Follow me on TikTok @thepetitepurplepotato & my blog, petitepurplepotato.com
all images courtesy of Haley-Jo💜