I am fairly new to the plant based lifestyle and I absolutely love it!!
I’m Plant Based for my health and Vegan for the animals
@tenderluvinvegan
Hi there! I’m Martina Mitchell. I’m 36 years young and I’m from Portland, Maine. I live in Florida with my husband, and our 4 beautiful kitty cats. When I’m not in my kitchen having fun creating recipes you can find me meditating, practicing yoga, cuddling with my kitties, and enjoying time with my other half.
Please come join me on my journey to a healthy and happy life
I was what you call an on and off again Vegetarian for a number of years. I’ve always had a huge heart for all things furry. Growing up there were always some kind of animal in the household. Whether it was a cat, a dog, mice, tadpoles, guinea pigs, rabbits, you name it. In November of 2020 I was diagnosed with Endometriosis. I knew then and there I needed to make a change, and I knew exactly what I needed to do.
In May of 2021 I officially became a Plant Based Vegan. I’m coming up on my 2 year anniversary and there’s no turning back. What a better way to help save beautiful sentient beings along with my health. It’s for sure a win, win!!
They have feelings. They are living breathing sentient beings.
@tenderluvinvegan
My love for animals has increased 10 fold since becoming vegan. I feel more compassionate and connected to all beings. In fact, my husband and I have rescued a handful of stray cats, and gotten them adopted to loving forever homes. There were two kittens that were severely ill. With the help of our vet and some love and affection, we nursed them back to health. Almost 2 years later those two kittens, Suki and Nova, now live happily in our home, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
This year my husband and I started a new Thanksgiving tradition. We supported two rescued turkeys from Farm Sanctuary. A Turkey project that’s been around since 1986. We symbolically “adopted” Sandy and Roberto. After donating, the Sanctuary sent a digital adoption certificate with a photo of the turkeys we helped, their rescue story, and some facts about their background and personality. What a lovely way to honor these beautiful sentient birds. I discovered the advertisement on Facebook. Traditionally, in the United States Turkeys are eaten on this holiday. Not in this household.
They say… “You are what you eat” + I couldn’t agree more!!
Good mental + physical health starts in the kitchen, my friends. So does world peace
@tenderluvinvegan
I find it easier now than say 10 years ago to eat Plant Based Vegan. Usually, I know ahead of time where I’m going out to eat. What I like to do is check the menu beforehand to see what’s available. If there isn’t a vegan entree, you can always ask the waiter or cook to create a vegan plate for you. It’s always exciting to get a creation that is a surprise. Another thing that has worked well for me as a vegan is if there isn’t anything decent to eat I’ll suggest going to a different restaurant. Most people know about my lifestyle and don’t mind changing restaurants.
There’s a restaurant in the area that my husband and I enjoy going to. It’s called Chateau 13. They are European inspired and there aren’t many options on the menu for me to choose from. There’s a pear salad that’s amazing, but it comes with cheese and pancetta. Definitely not vegan, but I ask for the salad without cheese and pancetta and voila you have a vegan salad. Some dishes you can’t do that with. The best way to know is to ask. Businesses want their customer’s to be happy and are more than willing to create something vegan for you. I haven’t had an issue maintaining my vegan lifestyle when dining out. In fact it’s fun going to a non-vegan restaurant and getting creative with the menu and seeing what you can come up with. Creativity is the spice of life 🙂
The well-being of animals on this planet matters to me
💚Animals have no voice💚
@tenderluvinvegan
💚They can’t ask for help💚
💚They can’t ask for freedom💚
💚They can’t ask for protection💚
💚Humanity must be their voice💚
Let us come together + stand up for the voiceless 💪💪
I feel like going Vegan has been one of the best decisions in my life. I feel more connected to myself, to the animals, to others, and the planet. My heart feels full and bright, and I just want to share my journey with as many people as I can. Since I was a young lady, animals of all kinds have had a very special place in my heart. What better way to honor and respect these sentient beings by going vegan. I also feel much stronger and healthier since changing to a plant based vegan lifestyle.
For years I suffered from sinus infections. I was continually ill. Month after month. Year after year. I had been to many doctors, with no relief. I was determined to heal myself. It wasn’t until I went fully Plant Based that my health finally started to change and the sinus infections stopped. I feel beyond grateful to have come across the documentary Forks Over Knives. This documentary is what started me on my journey. I began to watch more documentaries on veganism and the plant based lifestyle and I finally feel like I’m on the right path.
I know in my heart that I’ve made the right choice, and there’s no turning back. I feel that veganism has saved my health, renewed my spirit, and brought me closer to all beings.
I grew up eating traditional German food thanks to my mom and her parents
Today I eat much differently, but I am still able to enjoy delicious German food, just Plant based instead of meat based
@tenderluvinvegan
If you are curious to explore the various types of vegetarian and vegan diets, I suggest that you check out vegan recipes on Instagram for inspiration. That is one of my favorite places I go to regularly. You are certainly welcome to check out my Instagram page (@tenderluvinvegan). For someone like myself who is a highly visual person, Instagram is a wonderful tool to use to search for videos, pictures, and recipes on vegan food. I would also suggest checking out Pinterest. There’s so much information available on either platform to really inspire a non-vegan or vegetarian.
Experimenting with different kinds of food from around the world is a wonderful way to try something new and many countries outside of the United States are vegan or vegetarian. Indian food, for example, has many incredible options. What I enjoy about Indian food is the layers of flavor and spices. Such beauty and warmth in their dishes. I would also recommend Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisine to try. These cultures have many options that are vegan and vegetarian friendly. I find learning about other cultures and what they eat so fascinating because in each country it is so different. Take a chance and try something new. You might be pleasantly surprised
What are you having for dinner tonight?
I love to cook. So, I am going to recommend some home-cooked meals. These are some of my favorites because they all bring up fond memories, and the flavors are out of this world.
One of my all time favorite dishes that my husband also loves and requests is Buffalo cauliflower. You can’t go wrong with this dish, and it is a big hit for non vegans too!
Mango Black Bean Salad has started to become a regular dish I love to make. I first had this dish at a Cuban restaurant in Miami, Florida. Every bite just kept getting better and better. Simple and yet so flavorful.
Thanksgiving has always been a very special time of year to be thankful to be alive, thankful for friends and family, and thankful for a roof over my head and food in my belly. Now that I’m vegan there’s another reason to be thankful, and that’s for my lifestyle and the well-being of all animals.
Here’s a dish that I have over and over again at one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Bradenton, Florida. Chang Kao Thai Cuisine has incredible food and Massaman curry is the dish I can’t get enough of. Ever! My first date with my husband was at a Thai restaurant. I fell in love twice. Once with my husband and second with Thai food.
The sooner the world gets on the meatless train the better off we will all be
I’ve followed a Plant based lifestyle for some time now and there’s no turning back
@tenderluvinvegan
Many people tend to interchangeably use the words vegan and vegetarian, but they are completely different. People who are vegetarian don’t eat meat. This would be beef, pork, poultry and fish. Anything with a face. Vegetarians do eat eggs and dairy. Vegans don’t eat anything that comes from an animal. Only food that has been grown. For example faux meats (tofu, tempeh, setian, jackfruit), legumes, rice and grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds. Vegans don’t eat dairy or eggs, but there are many alternatives. Such as nut based cheeses, oil based butters, nuts based yogurts, and soy or mung bean based eggs. Veganism goes beyond diet and is more of a lifestyle.
Vegans will not use any products that come from an animal. Some examples would be gelatin used in jello, any leather made items, make-up containing lanolin or collagen, and products that are tested on animals are a definite no, no. Both lifestyles support the well-being of all animals, and for me that’s why I’m vegan.
Animals have always been a huge part of my life
I couldn’t imagine my life without these beautiful creatures
@tenderluvinvegan
😍❤️💖🐈⬛🐕🐄🐩🦊🐷🦒🐀🦃🦔🐧🐦
If you are just beginning to go meatless, be kind to yourself and take things one step at a time. For me, it took me years to get to where I am today. I changed things slowly over time. I started by going Flexitarian. I’d do one or two meals a week without meat, and slowly increase the meat free meals until I became a complete Vegetarian. I became a Vegetarian for ethical reasons, but I was still sick all the time. I knew deep down I wanted a lifestyle that was cruelty free and was a benefit to my health. It wasn’t until November 2020 when I was diagnosed with Endometriosis, and that changed everything.
In May of 2021 I needed to have surgery due to the Endometriosis being so devastating to my female organs. I started to re-watch some of my favorite documentaries. One of them being Forks Over Knives, and in May 2021, I became a Plant Based vegan and I haven’t looked back since. What I am trying to say here is, don’t wait until you are too sick and are in need of surgery to make a healthy and conscious decision to go Vegan. The animals will thank you, your body will thank you, and the planet will be a better place for your decision.
I believe that good nutrition and a compassionate way of living and eating should be taught in all schools. I’m sure there must be some schools out there that educate about the harsh treatment of commercially farmed animals, and how and what you eat really affects your health. I believe there needs to be much more awareness on the subject and it needs to be taught as young as possible.
Being Plant Based Vegan has made me realize my life’s purpose. I know I am here to share, connect with, and educate others about this lifestyle. My whole life has changed for the better and I know it will only get better from here.
This may sound funny to some people, but I love to go grocery shopping. I love to spend a few hours going through all the aisles looking at all the varieties of produce and products on the shelves. This is where I get inspiration for new recipes to create. At the grocery store, I get so excited when I see any new products that are vegan and gluten free. The world is changing to a more compassionate one and seeing those changes firsthand just brings so much happiness to my heart.
🙏 I’m thankful to people who love animals and show they love animals by not eating them
I’m against animal cruelty
@tenderluvinvegan
The question is ARE YOU❓️❓️
We are all here existing together on planet earth. Whether people like to admit it or not we are all connected. I truly believe that becoming vegan has brought more compassion into my heart, made me feel more deeply for all living things, and has helped me connect to myself on a much deeper level. This way of life to me means everything. I am present. I am aware. I feel alive. I am on this plant based journey for myself, for the animals, and for the future of planet earth.