Turning Hurdles into Delicious Vegan Creations

Despite the initial challenges in her country, Анна gradually transitioned to a plant-based diet, experimenting with new ingredients and cooking methods. Her determination to make veganism accessible and enjoyable for everyone led her to create her own recipes suited to her climate zone.

Over the years, friends and family adjusted to Анна’s lifestyle choice, although some remained skeptical. Eventually, Анна decided to share her culinary adventures through a blog and possibly a cookbook in the future, focusing on vegan recipes that catered to those who couldn’t easily access specialized vegan products.

Анна’s approach to veganism emphasizes comfort, pleasure, and inclusivity. She believes that being vegan shouldn’t restrict one’s enjoyment of life and food. Her journey also led her to a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to various compassionate causes, from helping animals to environmental conservation.

Meatless Movement recently had a chat with her.

Анна continues to advocate for a vegan lifestyle while emphasizing the importance of balance and enjoyment in the process.

Please tell us more about yourself

It all started when I was 17 years old, I began to take interest in questions of ecology.

I came across the page of Paul Rosolie, an American, who was fiercely protecting the Amazon forest with all his might.

I started reading books and watching films about how people exploit animals and how it affects the world, the scale was impressive and I started tried to give up meat and other animal products gradually,
despite the family’s protests.

It wasn’t easy at all – in my country alternatives were nearly non-existent, had a high price and to get a block of tofu you had to travel to the other side of the city.

I did my best while trying to learn how to cook legumes and beans, different plant milk and bake without sugar, eggs and dairy. All this to the dismay of my mother, as she counted the cost of every ingredient I have used up, sometimes, to no avail. She persuaded me to give up my attempts at using brand new American cooking books with exotic ingredients and start my own path of trial and error, developing recipes suitable for our climate zone and affordable to common people.

I started learning to cook new things, use unusual ingredients and I made a lot of mistakes, but continued to try to make my own vegetarian, and then a vegan life full of hedonism and pleasure.

Friends eventually returned to their old habits, they said it was “It’s just such a period of experimentation.” My experiment is already ongoing ninth year.

Relatives got used to it over time (except for grandmother, she is still not completely realized, it seems) and my friends teased me, but on the whole they respected my position.

Everyone had only one question: “If you come to visit, what should you cook? What and how?

My mother’s life became especially complicated when I got a vegetarian husband: We began visiting more often, and eating three times more. (The husband eats for two). In general, it was time to create my own blog, and in the future, a culinary book.

All this was of course dedicated to vegan recipes for those who obviously won’t go to another end of town for specialized food for vegans and is not very friendly with deliveries. Like my mum.

I didn’t want to focus on a healthy lifestyle or get into a raw food diet – for me the most important thing is to feel comfortable and good, without frightening ingredients and complicated schemes.

So that veganism does not scare away, but attract, is not too intrusive. I’m not one of those people who primarily identify themselves through veganism, I am only a vegan, but also a scientist, a teacher and a cat lady, an Indologist and a gardening enthusiast.

I wouldn’t want people to see me primarily as a vegan! This opinion creates the feeling that we do not have a fulfilling life, but only are caught up in the pursuit of protein, iron and B vitamins.

As if vegans can’t enjoy life and food the same way, as others, and familiar dishes and recipes are somehow forbidden for them.

I promise – we can!

As a result, we came to a balance: a few tricky recipes and many, many different recipes – for every palate.
The microblog opened up for me a whole community of wonderful people who I missed so much in my youth and at the beginning of my journey: ideological guys who do not retreat from their ideas and move forward vegetarian projects in Russia.

Who help cats and dogs. Who help kittens and crows. Who are planting forest and release fish, which were in short supply, into rivers and lakes. They do incredible things!

For me it is a great joy – first of all to be part of this big kind family. To feel like I am doing a part in saving the nature I cherish and love so madly.

With hugs, the Cataka Kitchen <3