In 2015, Astig Vegan has received wonderful feedback and questions about vegan Filipino food and vegan lifestyle in general. Below are recent questions sent via the contact link, email, and social media. I’d like to share with you what I’ve answered to them, in case you have the same question or in case you have your own answer you’d like to share with us:
Ask Astig Vegan:
A: Hi! No problem. There are non-dairy milk out there that are both vegan and nut-free. You could try soy milk or rice milk. Hope that helps! Here’s the recipe: https://www.astigvegan.com/vegan-bibingka-recipe/
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Q: Hey RG!
Wow, it’s so nice to get a reply from you! I’ll definitely need your help to convince my hearty meat-loving family to eat more vegan friendly food!
I was wondering: do you cook vegan Filipino meals for other Filipinos, like family members or even just a friendship group? And if you do, what was their feedback on it?
I ask because I want to make a vegan or vegetarian Filipino dish for our Christmas gathering and at my family’s Noche Buena, but I’m a little scared about their criticism since they are so used to having meat in everything.
Can’t wait to hear back from you!
All the best,
Gless
A: Hi Gless!
Nice to hear from you.
Yes I do cook for family and friends. I realize that the eyes eat first so if you make your dish look good, they will at least be curious to try it. But if they are very hesitant, I suggest trying traditionally vegan Filipino food first or veganizing “almost vegan” Filipino dishes. This way, they won’t feel weirded out because it’s the stuff they’ve been eating anyway.
Dishes like:
There’s also Turon and Pichi-pichi. Hope that helps!
Keep in touch,
RG
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Another one from Gless:
Hey RG!
I hope you’re having a great time during this holiday season and that your Christmas was full of joy, laughter and super yummy food!!
My holidays are ending soon since I have to go back to university to do a lot of studying before the new term/semester starts. This means I have to start buying groceries for myself again!
I was wondering, what produce would you say is essential to buy for a beginner vegan? What’s on your grocery shopping list?
All the best,
Gless Fuentebella
Hi Gless!
It’s nice to hear from you! I hope you also had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones. Were you able to have vegan food during the occasion? I had to cook a lot but I didn’t mind at all 🙂
For me, I’m based here in San Francisco Bay Area so I’m a little lucky that I’m surrounded by grocery stores that have vegan options. But if you don’t have too many vegan options where you live, I suggest going with produce that are in season, as well as all kinds of mushrooms, beans, nuts, seeds, and seaweed.
I’ve actually filmed a video of what I get at the grocery store. Feel free to watch and scroll down the comments where people chimed in their own vegan tips: http://youtu.be/LoVhk2gg5po -or see video below.
I hope that helps! Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have more questions. I would love to hear all about your vegan journey.
Thanks and take care,
RG
Many thanks to everyone who reached out, said hello, and sent their feedback. Hearing from you and learning about your story always make my day. Your feedback reminds me of the global community I’m part of and the connection we share through the recipes and the vegan lifestyle. Please keep sending feedback my way. I’m here to answer them! Happy 2016 everyone! Cheers to a fruitful new year!