Who am I?
I am…
Vanessa.
In love with my husband.
A mother of 3 kids. (2011, 2013 & 2018)
A Starbucks addict. Venti iced coffee with soy milk, please!
Stuck in a home country identity crisis: German/American or American/German? Don’t ask!
A nomad of sorts: Lived in 10 different cities on 3 different continents in the last 7 years.
Obsessed with soft organic cotton baby clothing.
A haircut procrastinator.
Always in the mood for a glass of wine or good mimosa.
Clumsy.
A supporter of public breastfeeding.
Country music obsessed.
Constantly tired. Hence Starbucks…
Captivated by Disney movies.
Excited about great vegan family recipes.
How I became vegan?
My wonderful German hubby, Max, actually inspired my journey to becoming vegan. I had been vegetarian since the age of 15 and never considered being vegan. I imagined it to be very difficult and limiting. After my husband read Thrive, he was convinced that being vegan was something amazing and life changing. Knowing my husband and his junk food, diet soda, and “meaty” habits, I knew that if he really wanted to try being vegan he would need my support and cooking :)
We decided that we would do a trial month. Before starting I prepared by borrowing some vegan recipe books from a friend and stocking up on all sorts of vitamins. I figured with the vegan diet I would be destroying my already tiny iron levels, feel groggy and sick, and not be providing my 2 month old exclusively breastfed baby with enough nutrients.
All I can say is that I was wrong, and writing this I’m almost ashamed in how little faith I had in the vegan diet. After the first week, I had more energy than before and I was addicted. I didn’t even feel the need for the “cheat day” Max and I had decided on before starting. After a few weeks during a check up for Phillip, my pediatrician laughed and asked what I was feeding our son. He had gained over 3lbs in 4 weeks and was one “chunky monkey”. Gone were all my motherly worries of not providing nutritious milk for him.
My views towards which foods were healthy changed. I tried to eliminate all processed foods, sugars and only consume whole grains. I was completely hooked on being vegan. Max found it to be a bit more challenging and continues to eat “non vegan” several days a week. We both feel that we do not have the right to force our 2 yr old son to be vegan. Sometimes he just wants pepperoni on his pizza and that’s ok. I’m sure once he is older he will make wiser food decisions.
Update (6/17/15) My boys are now a bit older since starting my blog in 2013. Thankfully, they are healthy and happy :)
They also have turned out to be great taste testers. They’re strict and tell me exactly what doesn’t taste good.
Why do I blog?
Obviously having two small children will affect your life. I love my children more than anything but I felt defined by them. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom. It is the greatest and most rewarding task I do. However, after battling postpartum depression which turned into just depression, I realized I needed to do something for myself . Something that made me happy and proud of who I am.
I’ll admit that I sometimes felt jealous of career women. Sometimes, I felt ashamed to say “I’m a stay at home mom, just a stay at home mom”. Blogging didn’t necessarily make these thoughts magically disappear but it gave me an outlet where I could do what I enjoy. Cooking and photographing. I’ll be the first to admit that I am by no means perfect. I’m a self taught home cook. Sometimes I make mistakes, where I have to redo recipes numerous times or sometimes scratch them all together. I took several 35mm photography courses in high school but I’m definitely still learning how to use a digital SLR camera.
To cut it short: I blog to make myself happy. Which in turn makes my kids and husband happy. So if you look at it at a whole I’m blogging to share happiness and who can complain with that. :D
If you want to get in touch with me, please use the contact form!
If you want to check out some of my recipes, I encourage you to browse through my Recipe Index. If you are new, look through my popular recipes first.
I try to keep up as much as I can with social media. I’m most active on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Follow me on Instagram and make sure to use #VeganFamilyRecipes when you make one of my recipes.
Awesome! I think a lot of us moms can identify with what you are writing about yourself. It has already made me happy so please continue!
And ‘just a mom’, why do we feel like that? But a lot of us do. It should be the opposite.
Thanks,
Stina
Thanks Stina for your wonderful comment. You definitely just made my day :)
Oh and the “just a mom” phrase is something I really should stop using. No longer “just a mom” but “mom extraordinaire”. Now that’s more like it :)
your blog is absolutly wonderful:)
Im from germany ;) do you can speak also german?
I love your recipes and your thinking-really inspirering;) <3
Ja, Natürlich! Ich bin schon von klein auf ständig zwischen den USA und Deutschland gezogen. Freut mich dass jemand aus DE mein Blog gut findet :D
I am loving your blog! We have a lot in common, my husband and child aren’t strictly vegan either. Your recipes look amazing, I need to try some asap!
Thanks Brecklyn!
Thanks for sharing your recipes. I just pinned a bunch today and look forward to making them. I think it’s wonderful that you can stay at hone with your children. Many moms wpuld love to but can’t afford living on one income. Being a mom is the greatest career since yoi have such a positive influence on your kids. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks Liz. Always glad when people pin my recipes. I know I’m blessed to be able to stay home with my kids but sometimes I pray for Mary Poppins to magically appear and make them behave :)
Beautiful blog! You are not “just a stay at home mom” but a superwoman! It’s the most challenging job in the world…keep going ! :)
Thanks Manali :) You’re so sweet!
You should never be ashamed to be a “stay at home mom”. Bless you for staying at home and raising your gorgeous children! It is a HUGE job to raise kids and your kids will thank you for it. :) I think a lot of problems in our society come from letting other people raise our kids. If we consumed less material stuff and spent time with our family…we’d all be better off. :))
I commend you for being a stay at home mom and creating this beautiful blog and all of these awesome recipes. You’re keeping your family healthy. Good for you.
I’m also a huge supporter of breast feeding in public. We see breasts everywhere for crying out loud :) Why not see them being used for what they were intended for!
I admire you! Keep it up. Going to be trying your recipes. They look fantastic!!
Hi Lin,
Your comment just made me laugh. I agree 100% The reason women have breasts is for feeding their children and there is no reason a woman should ever be ashamed or have to hide from others just so she can feed her hungry baby. Heck, the reason why men are so captivated by them is basic biology that goes back to the beginning of mankind. They yearn for a woman who can bear many children and feed these. It not a necessity anymore and most men don’t think like that these days but it’s sad to see people think only of breasts as something extremely sexual and not for what their actual purpose is. I could keep ranting but I’ll spare you :)
Hope you enjoy the recipes :) Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Always means so much to me.
Love your website!! I will definitely try your recipes or get someone to try them for me. :)
Thanks Mary! I’m so glad you like it. Always put on a smile on my face to hear that :)
Just clicked over and I’m a new fan! Your candor and honesty about finding your identity as a mom and independent woman is really refreshing (oh, and your food looks amazing).
Hallo Vanessa, ich wollte hier auch eben Guten Tag sagen und dir zu den TOP 5 Pinners gratulieren!
Dein Blog ist wunderbar, und ich finde es sehr liebevoll, wie du dich und deine Familie hier beschreibst.
Meine Söhne sind nun schon 32 und 35, aber beide wurden voll gestillt als Babies (über 1 Jahr).
And in English: Vanessa just made it into the Top 5 Pinners of October: congratulations!
The Vegan Community Board http://www.pinterest.com/heidrunkarin/vegan-community/
Oh you are anything but just a mom! You are doing what you feel is best for you and your family and that is wonderful! It’s been nearly a year since I went back to work full time and I would love to say again that I am a stay at home mom! It is something to be proud of! Enjoy all the moments you have with your sweet boys.(I’m certain you do!)
Anyways, I stumbled upon your blog through pinterest and I am going to try the fabulous looking chocolate mint mousse! It could not look more delectable!
Thank you Amy, your words are so kind. Let me know when you make the mousse. It’s delicious :)
BEAUTIFUL blog, Vanessa! Thank you for sharing your *HAPPY* with the world.
And I concur with all your other supporters here. I think being a mom is the MOST important and challenging job in the entire world and you should be proud! I hope I can be “promoted” to mom someday soon too! XO
I am a 54 yo old grandmother, married for almost 37 yrs. I was a vegetarian in high school, because we grew up on a farm, and I couldnt handle butchering time. After school I gradually started eating about a serving of meat a week. Small amounts. Hubby has always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Recently I seen Fat Sick and nearly Dead 1 and 2, and Forks Over Knives. Thats when I decided to go vegan. Hubby is also on board if I can find foods he will eat. I recently made a vegan chili and steak hoagie that he liked real well. I have pinned several of your recipes. I have a feeling its going to be hard to please a guy used to good ol country cooking
Thanks so much Tammy, I know how difficult it can be to get your non veggie eating family members to like your cooking. I think it’s best in that case to try out lots of different recipes to find the ones that your hubby and you really like. If you only serve him salads and he was used to meat and potatoes then you’ll definitely find him hating it :) I found that recipes that are heavy in protein get the best feedback from meat eaters/lovers. Anything with lots of beans, tempeh, and lentils work well. Most also like mushrooms because it has a meaty texture. I wish you lots of success! I know it can seem hard at first. Please let me know if you make a recipe and like it :)
gracias vannesa por compartir tus hermosas ideas y conocimientos y tu hermosa familia,eres una bendicion
Ness you hot mama! This is so cool. Becca told me about this awhile ago but I never got the chance to check out your blog myself. I’m excited to try some of these recipes!!!
Thanks Bekah! Love and miss you :)
Hi Vanessa – greetings from Denmark:-)
Love your recipes… I’m not vegan or vegetarian but I do love to add these healthy dishes to my dinner table.
I want to acknowledge you for letting your boys get meat if they ask for it… I truly believe children ask for it when they/their body needs it….however, that does not go for loads of candy…lol
So happy I found your blog and for inspiring me with your lovely recipes…
All the best :-)
Lene
Thanks Lene,
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Denmark a dew years back. Beautiful country :) Thanks so much for your kind words. It’s what makes me want to keep blogging. Hope you enjoy the recipes :)
Hi from South Africa! First time finding your blog – beautiful pictures – still got to check out the food but looks yum! New to the vegan thingie too – but trying. I just want to share – you are amazing for staying at home with your kids – I LOVE mine but OH the rest at work on Monday is good for my soul!! Here in sunny South Africa its not strange/unusual for “breasts out and breastfeed in public” so I don’t understand the western worlds shame at it! Look so forward to going now to go check out your recipes – keep up the good blog and MOMMY work!!
Hi Kim, I’m so glad you like my blog. When we lived in Australia, they had the same mentality about breast feeding as in South Africa. So, it was really shocking going to the US to find people using massive covers to hide breastfeeding. I don’t think anyone should be ashamed or have to hide in the corner to feed their child. Truly bizarre to me :)
greetings from Suriname, The Netherlands, Ireland & Switzerland (talk about confusing identity :-)
Thank you so much Vanessa for the lovely recipes. I’m glad I found this blog (via one green planet).
I just need to like (Medjool) Dates. I find them too sweet, which is weird because generally I like sweet ( chocolate), but then again, I also find Honey too sweet…
Anyways, I want to include more Vegan recipes in my diet, for the greater good – of all.
I was wondering, since my husband and I start a family in less then a year from now, can you recommend some good books / recipes for pregnancy and beyond?
if not no worries,
Tanks anyways,
All the Best with your Blog :-)
Hi Monica, I’m so glad you came across my blog :) I was only vegetarian during my pregnancies so I can’t really recommend any vegan pregnancy books, that I’ve used firsthand. I think the most important thing during pregnancy and while nursing is to focus on your iron and calcium intake. With meat and dairy that’s simple enough but with a vegan or vegetarian diet it takes a little bit of planning and smart choices. Some of the best vegan iron sources are soybeans (think tofu, tempeh, etc.), spirulina, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, and white beans. Get dairy free calcium from leafy greens (kale, collard greens, turnip greens) and calcium-fortified plant milks. DHA is also really important for baby’s brain development. It’s usually always in fish oil though. Walnuts have DHA though too so bake with walnuts, sprinkle some on your cereal in the morning and you’ll be good to go :)
I hope I was able to help you out a little. It’s no book but a start :)
Wish you all the best with your soon to be growing family! I’m always here if you have any other questions :-)
Hi Vanessa, You’re so sweet to reply back.
And thank you for the tips :-)
Hugxx
Thank you for being YOU!!!
Your site has been a wonderful sprite in my day!
All the best and again, many thanks for putting your love on-line!
Renée
Hi Vanessa,
My husband and I now live in FL originally from the suburbs of Illinois. We had lunch with your dad here yesterday..
We exchanged the usual ( proud) parent talk.. About Our Kids and Our Grandkids and he gave me your website..:-).
Even living in warm South Fl.. I love to make soups and shared with our daughter Jamie McDonald-
A young mom and RN in Illinois who loves to cook and try new fast and easy recipes.
I will also share your website with others especially our son in Michigan… Scott Christ..
Also,check out HIS WEBSITE.. He is the proud owner of his Own growing company called “purefood “and sells his Two Plant -Based Protein Powder- smoothie products both Vanilla and cacao.. I gave your dad a package for your mom to try… Hope she will like it and maybe order.. ( Who doesn’t like a good healthy smoothie right)?
Scott like you-shares other things he cooks using his product..Hope you check it out read about him and his products and SHARE, and maybe even order a package..
Being his Mom and Biggest Fan,I LOVE his smoothie powder and I am on
his autho ship list:-).
Scott does ALL his own Healthy family cooking Daily at his home, and believes in a Clean diet… for himself and wife and 2 sweet boys.
Like you,He is fortunate to work hard from his home in Michigan.
I am not vegetarian or vegan but look forward to following and trying out some of your soups and other in book…
Thanks much.
Congratulations on your hard work.
Sincerely
(Judy) and Stan Christ