Name: Tasha
Age: 23
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Occupation: Student
Website: The Sweetest Vegan
How long have you been vegan? And what inspired your journey?
I started my vegan journey in the Summer of 2009. Determined to stop gaining weight and live healthier, I [read] the book Skinny Bitch and that started it all.
Has veganism enhanced your health? Why or why not?
It has enhanced my health. I can maintain a healthy weight. I am aware of [the ingredients] in the foods I eat. And, I have avoided the return of high cholesterol, [which] I had as a child.
In retrospect, how do you feel about meat? Or do you have any thoughts on America’s meat industry?
I think that the problem with meat in America is factory farming. When people had their own animals, they cared for them and they [weren’t forced] into physical activity, unlike today.
Was there a community of black women that helped you along your meatless journey? And if not, what are you doing to change this for others?
There was not a community of black women that helped me, though after reading By Any Greens Necessary, I felt a lot more connected. To change this, I host a youtube baking show centered around pop culture, so that people know, Vegans are people too. I also try to answer people’s questions, comments, and concerns about the vegan lifestyle.
Are you a vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian? Email arielle@frugivoremag.com if you’d like to be featured in the Black Female Vegetarian Series. Check back every Tuesday and Friday for a new profile! Click to read past profiles here.
Hey, thanks for posting this. I really appreciate it.