Alina’s journey from a Classics and Archaeology major to running a successful vegan Instagram page is truly fascinating. A resident of the vibrant city of Melbourne, Australia, Alina’s heritage is deeply rooted in Romanian culture, as both of her parents come from this beautiful country. Growing up in a multicultural household has provided Alina with a unique perspective on life and a love for exploring different cultures.
Her passion for replicating recipes sent in by her followers is admirable, and her willingness to take on even the most complex dishes shows her dedication to her craft.
Meatless Movement recently had a chat with her.
Alina’s motivation to start @plantbaste_ came from a desire to improve her own cooking skills and provide inspiration for others looking to adopt a vegan lifestyle.
Please tell us more about yourself
My name is Alina and I live in Melbourne, Australia. Both of my parents are Romanian. My first language was actually Romanian and I am still able to speak it to this day, but with an Aussie accent, of course. I have a double major in Classics and Archaeology and Anthropology, but instead of pursuing either as a career, I decided to start my first business as soon as I finished University (which was a very long time ago).
I currently have a vegan Instagram page called @plantbaste_ where I try to replicate recipes sent in by my followers, I really do set myself up for failure at times especially when people send in really fancy dishes, I do my best to make it look as nice as theirs…but often fall short.
I started this page initially as an attempt to become a better cook, especially with my son choosing to also go vegan, I really had to step my food game up, I knew that I couldn’t just give him a carrot for dinner!! I also realised that one of the biggest deterrents for people making the switch to a vegan lifestyle, is not knowing what they can eat as a vegan.
I believe that people initially think we eat salads all day, maybe some people do, but I most definitely do not do that, unless it’s a salad bowl full of fries. I would love for more people out there to see that whatever they like eating as a meat eater, they will most likely find a vegan substitute or a way to veganise it.
I really enjoy the community my page is building and love to show people how easy and delicious it is to go vegan, if I can manage to cook something delicious using simple recipes, I know that everyone following my page can too. In the very near future I also plan to start making and selling my own biodegradable products where proceeds will go towards organisations that help rescue and rehabilitate animals.
My journey towards veganism began like many before me. I started out by going vegetarian 10 years prior to going vegan, but I have been vegan now for over 6 years. My main driving force to becoming vegan was my unwavering love for all animals, there is no greater or more important reason than that, however, a desire to live a healthier lifestyle also played a small part in my decision.
When I was in my very early 20s, I opened a hip hop music/clothing store. There was a lot of work and travel involved, which obviously meant that not much time was left over for myself, let alone to fit in a healthy diet. Back then, I just ate a lot of chicken! I was one of those people that believed eating chicken was ‘healthy’.
Well, for me, eating that much poultry was the cause of my kidney stones. Oh man, they are NOT fun! I had them many times and eventually I became an expert at getting rid of them fast. When I finally realised that my diet was the cause of my kidney stones, I had no choice but to acknowledge that I had to change what I was eating. Even though my kidney stones didn’t stop me from eating meat right away, it definitely planted an important seed (or stone, whatever works).
However, it was the sight of a truck full of cows going on their way to the slaughterhouse that changed everything for me, and even though I saw this on a daily basis where I lived, on this day I just felt a heaviness inside, I could see how frightened they were as they poked their heads through the rails and I could hear the terror in their cries, it honestly broke me, I couldn’t ignore the suffering I was causing anymore. I really wanted to take them all off those trucks.
That night I thought about them and I knew that while I was thinking about them, they were either already killed, or mere moments away from having their lives taken away from them because of my choices. I just knew at that point that I was never going to eat meat again, so I became vegetarian. Animals were far more valuable to me and this planet than my appetite, they deserve to live their lives free and without suffering and I was no longer going to be the cause of this suffering.
It took a few more years for me to actually become vegan because I really loved eating cakes, chocolate and lollies, after all, one of my favourite movies is Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (obviously my vice is sugar, oh I wish it wasn’t the case). But upon learning more about the dairy industry and egg industry, I could no longer support them.
Back then, it wasn’t as easy to find all these vegan ice creams, cakes, donuts and everything else, so I basically stopped eating them, unless I went to the health food shop and bought a $12 vegan chocolate bar (worth it, of course). Now though, I feel like I not only have to make up for the time that I didn’t have many options, but I’ve also taken it upon myself to buy every new vegan product that comes out, especially if it’s a new ice cream or chocolate.
I do it for the greater good of the world because people need to know whether it tastes good or not…right? In saying that, I do balance my sweet tooth out with healthy meals, if I cook at home, I like making anything with lots of veggies. When I eat out, my favourite take away is Japanese Tofu Curry from Rice Workshop (they use all vegan curries), and if I want to go somewhere nice for some vegan dishes, I love Rice Paper Scissors.
This is definitely the best time to be vegan, I’ve never seen so many vegan options in my life, so for anyone even tinkering with the idea of making the switch, you will be shocked at how much is actually out there.
Like many out there, I value and respect the lives of all living things, from ants to cows. I don’t believe they were put on this earth to be tortured and abused by us and used as mere commodities, that was never their purpose. So I decided to embrace every facet of veganism, ditching leather (pleather is everything), products that are tested on animals or have ingredients derived from animals/insects.
It was the best decision I had ever made, I am fitter and healthier than I was even as a teenager, and I definitely haven’t had kidney stones since quitting meat. I even managed to complete a marathon for the Heart Foundation where I ran 50kms in one day (I’m way too competitive) instead of doing it over the course of a month.
I’m not someone that is a runner and I never do marathons, but I guess a vegan lifestyle has had a positive impact on my health and fitness to allow me to achieve goals that I thought were completely unattainable. I should probably consider signing up for a new one because I ate a lot of vegan burgers and fries on my last holiday.
Although some people believe that they can’t make a difference, I can already see the positive impact people living a vegan lifestyle are having. Mainstream brands such as Nike and Adidas now create vegan shoes, and top designers are rejecting fur, which indicates that we’re causing a significant shift. This is a remarkable achievement for the welfare of animals, and although we still have a long way to go, we’re on the right track.
In my opinion, every individual’s efforts towards a plant-based or vegan lifestyle, no matter how small, are admirable. It should never be a competition to be the “best” vegan, but rather, we should strive to improve our own health, create a safer planet for animals, and foster a sustainable future for our planet. Every little contribution counts!
I strongly believe that standing up for something you believe in is more fulfilling than not taking a stand at all in life.
Al
Kitchen/cooking
Melbourne, Aus.🌱Vegan for the animals.I’m a salad dodger but will never refuse fries.My cooking is AWFUL but I’ll try replicate any recipe sent my way
all images courtesy of Alina