VEGAN OF THE MONTH: NOVEMBER

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Justine Hourdeau

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Hey, I’m Justine, I’m from and live in Paris!

What inspired you to go vegan?

JH:  I was living in London at the time and got really into Instagram, mainly as a way to procrastinate my degree project (I know..don’t judge me ;-))

I was mostly looking for vegetarian food inspo back then and kept shifting from one page to another when I started noticing quite a lot of vegan accounts popping back onto my feed, so that’s basically how I first got interested in this lifestyle. I started having a lot of fun playing around with vegan recipes, all while realising how much more passionate I was becoming about the whole ethical side of it, and how much I agreed with the vegan message.

What are some of your favorite vegan restaurants?

JH:  In Paris, my favorites are Le Tricycle, Brasserie 2eme Art, Soya, Oatmeal for cakes and coffee and the must try (non vegan) ice cream chain Amorino’s vegan pistachio sorbet!

Vegan places keep popping up all over Paris these days, and I’m really excited for Season Square, VG Patisserie, and my friends Maylis Parisot and Colas Garnier’s restaurant to open next year!
In London, I’d recommend checking out Cook Daily, Cookies and Scream bakery, Yorica, Mildred’s and Redemption Bar.

What are your favorite vegan dishes to make?

JH: I absolutely love Asian food so my go to dishes often include soba noodles, some type of sate dressing, loads of ginger and roasted veggies with miso..! Pizza is also one of my favourite. I always try to stick to seasonal produce in my cooking, so lately I’ve been all about homemade cinnamon rolls and pumpkin everything, obviously..!

What are common misconceptions about being vegan?

JH:  That all vegans eat a super healthy, boring diet. Really often, I’ve seen people get vegan and ‘gluten free’ confused too..! Sure, you tend to eat healthier when you start cutting out processed meat and cheese and start adding more whole foods such as beans and vegetables into your diet, but this doesn’t mean you should eat lettuce and quinoa at every meal. I enjoy cooking with veggies, but I also love my fair share of pizza, chocolate and vegan cheese (with baguette and wine, of course, for the extra French cliche!)

People often forget that there is a looooot of vegan junk food out there..! I mean, Oreos are vegans aren’t they?

What do you find is the worst part about being vegan?

JH: Sometimes it is all that people can define you as. Everyone has heard the joke “how do you know if someone is vegan, don’t worry they’ll tell you”… and seeing how going out with friends often involves some kind of eating or drinking, it does usually comes up pretty quickly. I don’t mind answering a few questions about veganism when people are actually interested in the subject, but I do have other interests I’d also like to talk about..!

What is the best part about being vegan?

JH: Knowing that no living creature needs to be harmed for me to enjoy my food.

I also really enjoy ‘veganizing’ traditional recipes! When you go vegan, you have to come up with a really creative way of cooking, and learn how to substitute the meat, eggs or dairy in recipes to make them suitable for your lifestyle, yet still super tasty! Sometimes, it’s a really fun challenge.

What advice to you have for people who want to become vegan?

JH: Do it! Start small, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You’ll end up eating eggs or dairy without even knowing it sometimes for sure, but don’t let it get to you. Think about the bigger picture, and make sure you learn how to make your favorite comfort food vegan, so you always have a go to dish that feels safe and satisfying. And don’t stop socialising, even if you end up being that weirdo ordering only a side salad and some fries at the restaurant, don’t let your ethics isolate you from your friends. I always make sure I bring a plate of vegan cookies or some snacks when I’m invited to a party, it’s a great way to make sure you wont be missing out, while sharing delicious vegan food with everyone! (Seriously tho, who doesn’t love cookies?)

How has your life changed since you’ve become vegan?

JH: It does take a little bit of practice, making sure you triple check ingredients for hidden dairy or eggs in food, clothing items for whool or leather, or even make sure your make up wasn’t tested on any animals, or doesn’t contain any wax or carmine…! I’m definitely a little bit on the paranoid side sometimes haha, but I find it all worth it. It feels good to know that I am doing the most I can to live my life accordingly to what I think is right.

What are the top 3 reasons to go vegan?

JH: The animals. The environment. Your health.

Don’t be a hypocrite: no, you can’t say you love animals and still be eating them.

What are your favorite vegan blogs/instagram/youtube channels?

JH:  A few of my favorite bloggers/instagramers: Minimalist baker, Mississippi Vegan, Kraut Kopf, Willfrolicforfood, Jenny Mustard, Erin Ireland, Oh Lady Cake, Isa Chandra, Togroak… (and of course my friends Charlotteplants, Maylismay and The_veganizer!)

I don’t watch a lot of Youtube channels but I do enjoy watching Kristen Leo, Mssupremebanana and Henya Mania’s videos from time to time!

Do you have a blog, instagram, or youtube channel?

JH: My instagram is @green_mornings, and my blog www.green-mornings.com !

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