I take sooo many pictures of my vegan meals/snacks/drinks etc., so I figured why not post them?

Aaliyah is a 20-year-old vegan from New Jersey, stands as a testament to the power of conscious living. Graduating recently from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Environmental Science, she now finds herself contributing her expertise as an Environmental Scientist in a sustainable consulting and engineering firm.

Aaliyah’s dedication to her principles extends beyond her professional realm – she has also embarked on a captivating journey via her Instagram account, @liveveganlee. Here, she generously shares an array of vegan recipes and insights into plant-based dining establishments.

Meatless Movement had the opportunity to chat with her recently.

Please tell us more about yourself

My name is Aaliyah, and I’m a vegan 20-year-old from New Jersey. I recently graduated from the University of Arizona with my B.S. in Environmental Science, & I am now working for a sustainable consulting/engineering firm as an Environmental Scientist. I also recently started an instagram account @liveveganlee where I share vegan recipes & restaurants.

I have been vegan for almost 3 years now, and vegetarian for about 3 years before that. I was diagnosed with acid reflux during my sophomore year of high school, and after trying multiple medications with no success, I finally tried to control my reflux by altering my diet, so I went pescatarian, then eventually vegetarian.

After doing a lot of research on the health benefits & environmental impacts of a vegan diet, I decided to fully make the switch in September of 2020 when I moved to Arizona for college.

By the time I went vegan my entire household was already vegetarian, and I was never a big fan of dairy products, so I didn’t necessarily struggle to give up non-vegan foods (besides a few snacks that I still miss).

The number one struggle I faced (and still face) once I went vegan was going out to eat with non-vegan friends/family to restaurants that aren’t 100% vegan.

PHOTO

The best solution I’ve found is suggesting a restaurant that I know has a vegan option for me, and in cases where this isn’t possible, I look at the menu ahead of time and am sure to communicate my dietary restrictions to the host or restaurant staff.

The restaurant industry is overall lacking in terms of vegan options, but more people eating vegan will lead to more vegan options being accessible!

I love being vegan, I feel like my healthiest and happiest self. My acid reflux is gone, I no longer feel sick or sluggish after eating, I have more energy, and my acne has cleared significantly.

I have plenty of friends & family members in my life who aren’t vegan, and oftentimes I will just suggest we go out to try a vegan restaurant. I’ve never had someone turn down a vegan restaurant, and they’ve always enjoyed their vegan meal! This is a great way to introduce others to vegan food!

Food/drinks while traveling as a vegan can be difficult to come by, so I love seeing more vegan options become available
Aaliyah

In my near 3 years of being vegan, I’ve had the opportunity to try a lot of different vegan restaurants and recipes. In terms of restaurants Monster Vegan, Dottie’s Donuts, Cheezy Vegan, Daily Veg, and Gentle Giant Cafe are some of my absolute favorites (these are all located within the NJ-PA-DE tri-state area). Homemade tofu nuggets, vegan calamari, & baked oats are some of my favorite meals to make, and the recipes can all be found on my Instagram!

Tempeh Bacon, Tofu Egg, & Pepper Jack Cheeze Breakfast Sammie from Gentle Giant Cafe

General Tso’s Seitan Wings, Truffle Parmesan Fries, & Bruschetta from Monster Vegan

Cowboy Cheeseburger, Fries, Mac & Cheese, No-Mozz Sticks, Kids Cheeseburger, & Chocolate Milkshake from Daily Veg

What are some misunderstandings regarding vegans or vegetarians?

I think a common misconception about veganism is that vegans are judgmental or extremists. This is not the case. I’m sure there are some vegans like that out there, but most vegans are not going to judge you for not being vegan or scold you for eating cheese in front of them. I try my best to disprove this misconception about “judgy vegans”.

If someone asks why I’m vegan, I tell them. If someone asks to try my vegan food, I offer some to them. But what I will never do is force veganism onto anyone or judge people for not being vegan, and I think a majority of vegans feel the same way.

The future is vegan!

If you are just starting out their vegan or vegetarian journey, understand that everyone’s path is different. You don’t have to become the “perfect” vegan/vegetarian overnight. Cutting out non-vegan or non-vegetarian foods where you can is the best way to start!

Since going vegan, my mom & grandmother have also followed in my footsteps! I hope to inspire more people in my life to go vegan.

Embrace Change with Meatless Movement: Eco-Friendly Choices