Robin and Jules first met in Surry, Maine on a sprawling, lupine-lined, coastal campus. They had both enrolled in a Masters in Humane Education program, and after instantly clicking, it’s no surprise they eventually joined forces to start Plant-Based Point: to provide simple and fun plant-based resources -and a meeting place- with a point.
Meatless Movement recently had the opportunity to chat with them. They told us plant-based living can be made simple, fun and affordable.
Everyone welcomes our vegan dishes with open arms
Plant-Based Point
Please tell us more about yourselves
We (Robin and Jules) started Plant-Based Point in 2020 as a fun, non-judgmental meeting place and resource for anyone interested in exploring plant-based living. Our passion for creating easy, affordable meals, and our background in humane education, allows us to offer all kinds of tools and educational materials from our cookbook, courses, coaching, downloadable menus, blog, events, presentations, and YouTube channel.
We both consider ourselves U.S. east coasters, from New Jersey and Maryland, though Robin now lives in Iowa (midwest) and Jules lives in Oregon (west coast). No matter where we’ve lived, we’ve always managed to find vegan gems and have found that everyone welcomes our vegan dishes with open arms when we offer to bring them [to dinner parties, school gatherings, holidays, etc.]!
Robin crushes a 50k in Iowa powered by plants! Jules summits South Sister in central Oregon fueled with vegan eats!
Robin was a vegetarian and incredibly moved when learning about the powerful health advantages to plant-based living. She has raised her two children (3 and 7) plant-based, and her husband’s health has transformed with a plant-based diet!
Jules went vegan overnight in 2016 after watching the documentary, “Forks Over Knives.” She suddenly connected the dots between what’s on our plates and what’s happening to our planet and couldn’t help but immediately transform her lifestyle. Her only regret? That she didn’t do it sooner!
Tips for Eating Out as a Vegan
Jules likes to joke that every restaurant has wine and french fries (her favorite food), so she’s never suffering!
A little pre-planning can work wonders, too – check out the restaurant’s website, search ‘vegan’ on Yelp, and don’t be shy about being the one to pick the restaurant. Most people prefer to go out to a place where everyone can enjoy something. And also don’t be shy about asking the restaurant if they can pull something together for you, even if you don’t see a vegan option. Most places carry potatoes, avocado, beans, grains, bread, and salads that can easily be turned into a scrumptious and filling vegan meal!
Consuming a cruelty-free diet just FEELS good
It’s a very “fruitful” experience (we love puns around here)! It seems that most people experience a sudden ‘lightening’ when eating plant-based – not just physically, but spiritually. For us personally, it aligns with our values and has deepened our connection to our environment and all living beings.
We can show people the benefits of plant-based living by focusing on the POSITIVES
Plant-Based Point
We love to use the power of inquiry before making any suggestions. We ask people what they eat now, what their favorite non-vegan food is, what vegan products they’ve already tried, and how they feel about meat/dairy substitutes. Many people lean towards natural whole foods like fresh produce, nuts, and seeds versus, for example, a beef substitute. This allows us to suggest tailored recipes and products that the person is more likely to try and enjoy.
We also remind people that they likely already love a lot of accidentally vegan food. From pasta to french fries to guacamole to peanut butter and jelly, most of us grew up eating plenty of “vegan” food!
We also like to remind people that they don’t have to treat veganism as “all or nothing.” Every change helps. Jules’s sister now uses plant-based coffee creamer, mayo, and butter regularly – those are easy, everyday swaps that make a BIG difference!
The juiciest cookbook you have ever laid eyes on
Plant-Based Point
In our cookbook, “BEEFLESS CAKES: Easy Plant-Based Recipes featuring Beefless Cakes,” we tried to capture our favorite, simple, go-to recipes, like one pot garlicky pasta and Thai curry. We love dishes with tons of flavor, but that aren’t too laborious or expensive to prepare.
We both live in places with delicious vegan food trucks and adore cuisine from around the globe, which is often “accidentally vegan.”
After all, being vegan is about loving life -all life
Raising two boys, ages 3 and 7, Robin has had some excellent teachable moments. When it comes to birthday parties and holidays like Halloween, Robin always reminds her kids that it’s not about the food – it’s about having fun with our friends and loved ones. And she makes sure they always have a vegan option so they’re never left out! For ice cream day at school, she’ll send vegan ice cream sandwiches, and for Halloween, she takes her kids to a vegan “trunk or treat” event hosted by VegLife Des Moines.
We can’t tell you how many non-vegan friends and family members text us to proudly share photos of their vegan creations!
Most people are incredibly curious and open about veganism, and usually respond with, “I’d be vegan, but…” This is a prime opportunity to use the power of inquiry tactics!
Keeping things light and positive works wonders and creates a safe space for people to continue to ask questions and experiment.
After all, being vegan is about loving life -all life- and we believe that means modeling compassion at every turn.
plantbasedpoint
Plant-Based Point
Plant-Based Living Made Simple, Fun & Affordable with Robin & Jules 🌿 JOIN OUR 11/12 AUTHOR EVENT 5-6PM PST 📚 ⬇️
all images courtesy of plantbasedpoint