The long, wonderful days spent at the Main Street Vegan Academy are wearing me down, in a good way! Each morning I’m getting up oh-so-early so that I can do work for my “day job” – then I spend 10 – 11 hours in the academy. On the train ride home, and a couple of hours before bed, I’m back to work. I’m loving every minute of it.
The topics covered yesterday ranged from working with overweight and food addicted clients to vegan nutrition to helping clients shop for compassionate clothing. There are so many things worth sharing but, since I haven’t had time to work out this week, I feel compelled to share some nutrition tidbits for the vegan athlete. Marty Davey, RD, was our nutrition instructor and she shared the following on the needs of athlete clients:
- Gatorade is simply not necessary for workouts under 90 minutes.
- Eat a high-protein meal within an hour of an endurance workout (over 90 minutes), such as a tofu scramble or a bean burrito.
- Water, oranges and pretzels will give you all the electrolytes that you need. (If you have a child on a sports team jump up at a parent meeting and suggest that these foods be offered at the end of games or practices.)
Personally, I cannot stand drinks like Gatorade because, along with electrolytes, they are packed with sugar. I prefer plain old water for shorter workouts and, for longer workouts, I cut concentrated juice (100% real juice) with water, or opt for coconut water with lemon or lime. (It’s hot, hot, hot in metro-NY – and probably where many of you are – as I write this so regardless of your workout, do HYDRATE!)
In the afternoon we went on a field trip to Brooklyn (and back to the lower East side of Manhattan) to check out compassionate clothing options (part of being a vegan lifestyle coach is to educate clients on living a compassionate lifestyle – it’s not just about the food). While in Brooklyn we hit up Foodswings for what ended up being my dinner.
A $3 veggie slider, a $2.50 vegan drumstick with BBQ sauce, and
a $4 vegan vanilla milkshake.
Why don’t I live in Brooklyn?
I’m going to close with some advice that we have now heard from three instructors during the training. It’s about vegan perfection. Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, owner of Vaute Couture, which we visited in Brooklyn,
suggested that when we work with clients we focus on 90%. Many new vegans think they have to be perfect. If they spend 90% of their time eating vegan and making compassionate decisions for animals, it’s far better, in the long run, than someone who is “perfectly vegan” for a few months – and then becomes an ex-vegan. I have been surprised, and delighted, to hear this shared opinion from the range of academy instructors (nutrition, animal rights, and fashion). What do you think?
Catch up on my experience with the Main Street Vegan Academy!
- Recovering from the weekend and gearing up for a vegan academy
- Main Street Vegan Academy begins!
- Day 1: Main Street Vegan Academy
21 thoughts on “Day 2: Main Street Vegan Academy (Nutrition, Shopping + Vegan Junk Food)”
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I totally agree — my mantra is “it’s not about perfection, it’s about intention”… perfection is nearly impossible. I try to do my best within everything that I can have control over, but even then I end up with some flubbers every now and again. When it comes to folks who are still leaning in, I try and provide the best support I can, all the while offering cheerful tips and tricks to help make them make those last steps. Gah, I wish I could have taken this academy! (NEXT year!)
Emily, she will be offering the academy often! Check out her site! http://mainstreetvegan.net/academy/
Thanks for sharing your notes from the course. It is awesome to get an insider’s view.
Ah, Foodswings! Such a fun place to chow down. I would probably go there way too often if I lived in Brooklyn!
People have this all or nothing response to veganism and its not something that you can change overnight. I think it is so important to focus on the intention and be patient with yourself while making a life changing decision to live a vegan cruelty free life.
Yes!
I don’t think it is about perfection but rather consciously making compassionate choices and doing the best you can. Beating yourself up because you accidentally ingested something non vegan or used a non vegan cosmetic is not productive. For a new vegan, you need to accept that it is a journey, one whose path does not necessarily have an “end” destination. And for most, it does not happen overnight. Allowing yourself time to transition is reasonable and probably better in the long run. I don’ think any of us are perfect no matter how hard we strive to be, it is not possible in the world we live. I agree that, 90% or 80% or even 70% is better than 0%. My two cents.
The journey – yes, that’s really what they were talking about. We have to remember that, for most of us, before we were vegan, we were not.
Fun day!! I’m kicking myself that I did not go to Foodswings when I was in NY last!
This whole perfection thing is just not possible. We do the best we can do. I applaud anyone that goes 70% or whatever % of the way vegan because that does mean something, it means less animals are killed and they are opening their mind. Think of what the world would be like if 70% of the US went 70% vegan. We would live in a completely different world and factory farming could end. We will not make these kind of strides making people feel bad. Just be an example for others and spread the love.
90%, 80%, whatever people can do, I agree, it’s better than not trying at all. That said, I think people are capable of doing much more than just saying, “I’ll try.” For me it helps that I have food intolerances to many non-vegan foods (especially dairy), so I’m not really ever “tempted” to eat these foods (unless I’m pregnant when my cravings are out of control) because they make me sick!
Looks like you’re learning a lot & having fun, thanks for sharing.
Yuck, Gatorade is nasty. If I need something with electrolytes I’ll turn to coconut water before sports drinks. I totally agree that it’s better for someone to be 90% vegan than not vegan at all. Of course, I like to STRIVE for perfection, even knowing it’s impossible!
I don’t really think that it makes sense to be only part way vegan, it’s sort of a philosophy you apply to life or not. I think it’s easy to make excuses when it’s convenient and part of really being an advocate for animals is doing it when it’s not comfortable or convenient, for example packing food ahead if there’s no vegan options somewhere. But I understand not everyone is ready for that kind of commitment. In the end yes I’d rather have people go partway than not at all, but I think another term rather than a certain percent vegan should be used because veganism isn’t really about partway commitments. At least to me. But I realize my way of thinking is considered “old -fashioned” in veganism these days.
I clarified in the comments here and in today’s post. There point really is don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. If you screw up, you’re still vegan, you just made a mistake. Some people go all in – and then three months later they leave because they had a burger and think they aren’t vegan enough. Kindness on the journey may help people stay on the vegan path, bumps and all.
ok i get it. i was just sharing my answer to the “what do you think?” question. i’ve been a vegan a long time and seen people come and go. seems the people who stick with it are the most dedicated to the animals and tend to compromise less. the people who were more wishy-washy about it in the beginning just aren’t vegan anymore. as an overall trend i’ve noticed.
Totally agree. It seems that when I meet 5, 10, or more year vegans, they are almost all so for the animals.
Interesting topic. Recently I posted on how I don’t think fear of mistakes should stop people from going vegan (I think that can become an excuse). I meant to actually encourage people to take the vegan plunge, and not to fear the fact that challenges may come; I think a lot of folks thought I was promoting flexitarianism. I wasn’t; I was more saying, you wouldn’t not take a fantastic new job opportunity because you know one day you might make a mistake on the job. So why let that stop you when it comes to veganism?
Anyway, it got me thinking about the 90% thing. I think that, if that is the difference between someone trying to be vegan and not, sure: suggest 90%. If it’s not the difference, though–if you think someone can be ready for the plunge with a little encouragement–I think that it’s good to encourage a more wholesale approach. As Bitt says, veganism is a world view in some ways. So start where you can, but don’t preemptively limit people when you know they might go all the way.
:
I think I shouldn’t have used the 90% number. That really wasn’t the intent of the message. I have clarified in these comments and on today’s post. It’s about giving people room for mistakes, just as you say. Militancy won’t win hearts and minds. Forgiveness and encouragement will.
I have loved these comments! Keep ’em coming!
No one was suggesting that we sit down with clients with some type of 50, 80 or 90% vegan “plan”. Rather, they encouraged us to be gentle and kind to people who are one the journey. When a client says “ugh, it turns out that veggie burger at the restaurant had egg in it, I guess I’m not vegan now” Sure you are. These things happen. Or when a client says “I can’t be vegan because I want Mom’s turkey at Thanksgiving” to suggest that that’s not a reason to avoid going vegan and if they have that turkey, that one day, it doesn’t erase all the good they have done and, just maybe, next year they will bring a Tofurky to the family dinner. This is a journey and we want to encourage them wherever they are on it.
Just a thought-a lot of people might not be ready to jump in to Veganism. But they might want to take on commitments one at a time over many years. Like some people start by not eating red meat (yes, I know how ridiculous this is, but at least there is some awareness). Other people read The China Study and eliminate dairy but not flesh. Then later on they may be ready to eliminate eggs or something. Anyway, my point is that sometimes it takes people a long time to “become Vegan.” But we should encourage that behavior. There are many different personality types in this world and only some will take on a commitment like Veganism 100%.
On another personal note, I will occasionally have mainstream baked goods that I know have eggs or butter in them. I’m not ready for the level of commitment that does not allow for that indulgence every so often at a social event (not because it tastes better–less processed, vegan baked goods do taste better to me). For that reason, I hesitate to even call myself a Vegan.
I so wish Chicago had something like this!! I’m completely intrigued that one of the topics covered was on food addictions….I’m a Grad student in Addiction studies and I would like to work more with food addictions…also…implementing plant based diets as part of treatment. I haven’t found much literature on this and I was wondering if possible if you could give more information on what they gave with food addictions!
Hi Rebecca. Since we were not trained as nutritionists or health “counselors” it was really a primer on food addictions and behaviors so that we might understand our client’s perspective. Any help a client would need for the food addiction would come from a trained professional.