WHY healthy eating is so important to me!

Alisia Schrieder has studied Nutritional Management and Dietetics (B.Sc) and completed her Master’s degree in Health Sciences in the autumn of 2022.

On her Instagram account, she regularly shares tips, recipes, and knowledge about nutrition and health topics. She would like to reach even more people here to provide solid knowledge to as many individuals as possible. Therefore, social media also plays a significant role, which is reflected in the topic of her master’s thesis: Social Media and Health Literacy.

Alisia Schrieder hails from the beautiful region of South Baden. As the sole vegan in her family, it can be challenging at times, but she’s always the go-to person for any nutrition-related questions. It’s a topic she’s been passionate about for years, and her thirst for knowledge in this area is never quenched.

Meatless Movement had the opportunity to chat with her recently.

Tell us more about yourself, please

I’m from Germany, living in the South-West close to Switzerland and France.

We now know that our diet needs to become more plant-based

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

A few years ago I struggled with some health issues. The biggest problem was the belly cramps, which made me unable to work and function in my daily life. Sometimes the only thing I could do was lay down.

For a long time, I didn’t know what caused it. Finally, after several doctors appointments, a milk allergy (among others) was diagnosed. I ditched it – and felt so much better!

But: I often relied on salads with meat or fish, because gluten and a lot of other food was diagnosed as allergies – wrongly, as I now know.

So I had very limited food choices. In the following time, nutrition became more and more a passion. That’s why I chose to study it at university, where I learned so much more – e.g. that those tests were not
as evidence-based as was told. I also came in touch with veganism for the first time.

With my new knowledge and experiences over time I decided to go vegan – mainly because I was sick of the taste of animal products and because I experienced a lot of improvement in my health the more I stick to plantbased foods. So here I am now, enjoying the colorful variety the vegan (or plantbased) nutrition offers. I’ve been vegan for over 4 years now.

The most interesting thing was getting to know my body better. I never read so many articles, scientific publications and books about veganism, health and nutrition before. It’s amazing to see what a body can tell you: While I looooved sweets and had such a big sweet tooth, I nowadays find most of it way too sweet.

Don’t get me wrong – I don’t want to say you should not eat any chocolate or ice-cream. I do this as well but with a completely different mindset. Actually, I eat chocolate every day – but now it’s: the darker the better and not a whole bar of it!. Also, my cravings are lower than ever and a small piece usually does the job.

My body’s cravings ask for all those veggies, fruits, legumes and complex carbs. Sometimes it’s even plain tofu! It’s funny, isn’t it, how this can change if you eat more mindfully.

In my first about two years, vegan options were very rare – at least where I live, in a more rural area. Going out to eat mainly consisted of salads, veggies with rice or falafel. But I grew more confident in simply asking: what could you offer me? And I got so many more options!

Also, over time, more and more vegetarian and vegan options were established, making it way easier – eating out as well as food shopping. Also, I found specific cuisines to be more appropriate: especially indian, thai or lebanese.

What are your thoughts and emotions regarding your vegan lifestyle?

There is a vegan or at least vegetarian product for almost every animal product.

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

So much better! I told you my health-story so I clearly live with so much less problems. I no longer feel sluggish, found sooo many new foods I never would have tried and my knowledge about nutrition is expanding continuously. Other aspects are – for sure – ethics and environment. The suffering of animals in factory farming is something I can’t bear with.

And it makes me feel good to not support this anymore, as well as doing my part for the climate and environment.

How would you encourage someone who hasn’t embraced a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle to give meatless cuisine a try?

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated!!

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

I would just offer it to him/her – without forcing. Always say “yes” if someone wants to try my food. I don’t want to tell anyone, but let them make their free choices. You cannot force anyone and you also shouldn’t, because it will only cause rejection.

Thank (me) for all the good food 🤍

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

My favorite dishes:

• Lentil Bolognese made by mom
• Roasted Veggies in any form
• Oatmeal, cause it’s always a winner
• Homemade Bliss Balls, cause I love a good snack (not full of sugar)
• Cake, especially cheesecake, sooo so creamy and delish!

My favorite places:

Blattwerk, Freiburg im Breisgau (GER) (100% vegan)
Awesome cuisine, making the most out of plantbased foods

Mamahe, Freiburg im Breisgau (GER)
Great Bowls and I love their homemade banana bread and grain bread!

Tibits, Basel (CH)
about 90% vegan buffet – brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert,…fresh & tasty with so many
flavors! They also focus on seasonal and regional produce which is awesome.

Enila, Basel (CH)
100% vegan Ice-Cream parlor with amazing flavors like apple crumble, mocha
almond fudge or salted caramel macadamia cookie

What are a few misunderstandings commonly associated with vegans?

You don’t die from protein deficiency. 😉

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

There are typical assumptions like: not enough protein, only salads and veggies, no fun with eating out, very restrictive and so on. What I often hear is: “Ahhh no – you’re not allowed to eat this!” Not allowed?

Ha! My reply: “Well, I am allowed – but I don’t want to eat that!” 😉

Lo and behold: I’ve started to eat more consciously. To feel what is good for me and what is not – both physically and mentally. And I finally ended up with the diet I have today.

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

So what else do I do? I’m not the one to be missionary about being vegan, trying to state that it’s the one and only, best way to eat. I try to just show the people around me how I do it.

Answer any questions in a non-offending, open way and always share my food. Also, I started my Instagram Account to educate about topics around nutrition and health, also bringing in veganism where adequate. I share recipes and food places to inspire people. But I never would tell anyone “you have to eat vegan!”.

What guidance would you offer to individuals who are just starting their journey into meatless eating?

I often see people who completely cluelessly switch to a vegan diet and thus run the risk of not eating a balanced diet and could even slip into malnutrition

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

Start slow. Make small steps. Don’t expect to do everything “right” from the start.

You don’t have to change all at once – unless you really want to! A lot of vegans started off by going vegetarian and slowly transformed to vegan – so did I.

No perfectionism! What’s perfect anyway, it’s so subjective.

Find inspiration, talk to others who already became vegan or are on the same journey; try out new foods, visit restaurants with vegan options. Try to interpret your favorite dishes in a vegan version.
Also important: Educate yourself! Don’t go into veganism without knowing anything about it.

Enjoy your journey and take the time you need. Find your own way!

Good food is a good mood, right?

---

Embrace Self-Care and Sustainability: Nourishing You, Nurturing Earth – Join the Meatless Movement!

---

Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱

| food – nutrition – health |
Leicht verständliches Wissen 💭 und Foodspo!
👩‍🎓 B.Sc. Ernährungsmanagement
👩‍🎓 M.A. Gesundheitsmanagement

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Link

all images courtesy of Alisia I vegan foodie 🌱