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In order to learn more and understand the food we eat and the effect it has on our lifestyle and health I want to understand vegetarianism a little better. For this I interviewed a friend of mine Sophie Aaronson
. In my opinion she is closest person to an expert on the subject I know, and very kind for answering all my questions. Thanks Sophie!
First a little background. Sophie graduated from UCLA in 2007 with a bachelors degree in Psycology. From there she went into research in the field of health psychology, specifically dealing with cancer and how the body reacts and copes with ocular melanoma. Sophie then decided she wanted to take her career on a different path of one of research and earned her national certificate in fitness and nutrition from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. During this time Sophie was also completing over 400 hours of yoga instructor training.
Sophie got her start in raw food by spending 2 years working as a manger in a raw foods store and juice bar in the heart of Hollywood, CA. Here she specialized on creating holistic body cleanses and detoxes using nothing but raw organic foods and juices. Today Sophie considers herself a Holistic Health Coach. She has taken her experiences and created a company called Philosphie. Within this company she creates a private raw, vegan cleanse experiences for her clients that last 3-5 days to restart their digestive system and
body as a whole. She also utilizes her background in personal training and yoga to provide her clients with a case by case program based on what they need.
Ok, now you know about her background, on to the questions I had for her!
Thiscook- How long have you been vegan? what motivated you to adopt a vegan diet?
Sophie- I slowed down my consumption of red meat when I was 18, realizing that just like anything, I had a choice. I never used to love the taste of red meat, especially if it was rare... And once I learned I could eat other things or buy my own food (in college) things really started to change. I also was hyper aware of my father’s high cholesterol and decided early on that I had an option by choosing to eat less high cholesterol foods. I am not 100% vegan, vegetarian, raw or any one absolute way. I eat fish when I crave it but I don’t like rules and I’m not good at sticking to them. I make up my own. I think that people have framed this common conversation in absolutes. Either you are or you aren’t. My way of eating the past few years has been mostly raw/vegan by day (green vegetable juices, raw vegan smoothies, seeds, nuts, big salads) and then at night a cooked dinner (maybe brown rice, veggies and salmon) to calm down my body and mind for rest. Eating raw/vegan energizes my body and sometimes it’s hard to sleep if I eat that way all day and night. The word vegan does a disservice because there are a lot of people that care but maybe don’t car
e about the big picture. I’ve met people who are “vegans” yet eat nothing but processed tofu and junk food that is “animal free” but are getting less nutrients than a person that eats a healthy, balanced diet. I think try to be a more conscious, mindful eater and that’s more important than putting myself in a box of absolutes.
Do you not eat meat because you view that it's unfair to animals or it's bad for your health?
When I first moved to California, my knowledge and awareness about food and life in general increased rapidly. I think it was a combination of the receptive, open-minded age I was and the abundance of accessible information available. I began going to farmers markets, getting into political debates at school and with my family and forming my beliefs and opinions. I remember being really affected one day at a farmers market I went to in Hollywood. Someone was holding a sign up of a baby lamb and it said something to the effect of “the violent act of murder and pain I endured is contained in the dead meat you will eat from me later.” I sat on the curb listening to a reggae band beat the drums, sun beating on my shoulders, crying my eyes out.
I don’t think it’s fair to kill animals, but if we are going to eat meat I think it’s imperative to chose the healthiest, most environmentally sustaining options. Organic, free-range, kosher, locally purchased meats are by far the best options. And just being thankful for the food, and being aware of where it came from and how it landed on your plate is incredibly important. 
Have you inspired anyone else to go vegan or change their habits since they've gone vegan and what it was that they did to inspire them.
Pretty much anyone around me in my life, near or far, has been affected by my eating habits. All my friends eat less meat and are at least more conscious of their eating habits. At my wedding for example, at least 3 people who gave speeches (and made jokes) mentioning something about my healthy eating (raw juices, healthy food) and how they have changed their own habits because of it. We even had a “Vegan Duck” entrée served at the wedding. (along with Steak and Salmon)
Do you have friends who eat meat? Does their diet affect how you relate to them?
I don’t judge my friends and others that eat meat. Whatever makes others feel good is all that matters. I think everyone can work on being a little less judgmental of each other, in general. That’s a lot healthier and will make a larger impact than eating less meat!
Do you think yo
u get enough nutrition?
I do think I get enough nutrition. I think it’s all a balancing act, anyway. At some times in my life (when I’m more vegan/raw) I get an abundance of vitamins, minerals and super-foods in my diet. When I crave protein, I know it’s because my body needs it and I usually turn to Fish. Veganism has taught me to listen to my body and be more aware of what I need, and what I don’t.
If you were raising a child, would you raise him or her vegan? why or why not?
will teach my kids, just like with everything (religion, politics) what I believe and lead by my example. They live in the real world with many other people with wonderful, conflicting views and opinions, and I welcome those views. I will be sure to educate them so they have all the tools they need in their toolbox to decide on their own.
I’m actually pregnant right now with my first child, and I’m craving anything OTH
ER than my normal raw/vegan diet. The only thing that is curbing my nausea is white challah bread, eggs or sweet potato fries!!! It’s hilariously awful, and my husband gets the biggest kick out of it. I’m trying to be patient and listen to my body.
I certainly won’t give my kids processed food and I won’t be preparing steak. But as long as my children get adequate nutrition and don’t eat too much crap, they can decide on their own what they do and don’t want on their plate.
How has being vegan affected your social life with friends and do you find it difficult to be in social situations because of it?
I’ve never been super difficult with friends and in social situations. I’m not one of those people that wont eat a soup because it’s made with chicken broth or can’t sit at the table with someone eating steak. The first few years I was dating my husband, he thought he could never take me to a steak house because I’d be grossed out or unhappy. They serve other things at steak houses besides steak!
I’ve figured out how to travel or stay with friends now..bringing my own raw/vegan snacks and making sure a few of my meals consist of the things I love. But if it still poses a problem, I usually just go with the flow so I’m not too much of an inconvenience. It’s really not that important!
Is the concept of "being vegan" something that defines you as a person (i.e. "I am a vegan") or is it more of a lifestyle choice?
Throughout the past 8 years of this journey into veganism, I’ve learned a lot. Now my lifestyle choice has turned into my profession, mostly because my passion of healthy living has transformed into my job. I am a yoga teacher, personal trainer and raw food cleanse consultant, so this “way of being” is just my life. It definitely defines me in many ways: It surrounds me, but it’s flexible and always reshaping.
Well there it is! I hope anyone reading this got a little bit more insight to what a vegan lifestyle is like. Thanks again Sophie for the help and taking time out of your busy schedule! Best of luck with everything in the future, and congratulations on the baby!!
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