scvegan
scvegan
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Mar 8, 2008 (18 years) |
- | 0 | 1 |
- Forum role
- Member
- Member since
Mar 8, 2008 (18 years)
- Last activity
- -
- Topics created
- 0
- Replies created
- 1
Bio
I grew up in the SCV, played football at Saugus HS and COC. I have been vegan since about February of 2000, back before we had a Whole Foods market and when I didn't know any other vegans besides my brother outside of the L.A./Hollywood area.
I didn't have a lot of people to ask vegan related questions to, so I had to do all of the research myself. I remember it being hard for the first three days until I learned how to prepare vegan meals but I was still hesitant to eat at non-vegan restaurants. Being that there were no vegan restaurants in the SCV I did a lot of driving if I wanted to dine out. I didn't know how to talk to waiters or chefs and I wasn't sure what ingredients to watch out for.
I had to learn about new personal hygiene products like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant and the like. Buying shoes, belts, clothes and anything else involved lots of reading and research.
Having lived a vegan lifestyle for for over a decade now, I think one of the most important things I have learned is that it doesn't have to involve driving to Los Angeles every time I want to dine out. I don't have to spend a premium on specialty products like belts and shoes from vegan websites. Not that there is anything wrong with that if you have the means, but it's just not practical for everyone.
I have a short list of favorite local restaurants that cater to my specific dietary needs as well as others that you should probably avoid. I have favorite brands of shoes, toothpaste and the like that can be found right here in this great little valley of ours. I'm sure others of you have similar local favorite places and we can all share this information with each other. New vegans in the SCV will benefit from this knowledge, and hopefully have an easier time than I did when I first started out.
I know and have met lots of vegans outside the SCV, even a few famous ones. It's about time us <i>SCVegans</i> had a way for us to communicate other than the suggestion board at our local Whole Foods market. Speaking of the WFM suggestion board, I see lots of vegan related suggestions so there must be plenty of us out here.
If you have questions or if you would like to pass something along for me to add to the blog send me an e-mail: SCVegan@gmail.com
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