Nicole Just: "Smoked tofu helps against Currywurst Jieper"
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde: Ms. Just, you've been vegan for four years. Why? Nicole Just: I grew up in the country, my grandfather was a butcher. For me it was always natural that animals and their flesh are valued. When I moved to the city later, I noticed how cheap meat is in the supermarket. At first, I did not want to know what that might be like, but then I started reading a lot about food production, watching videos on the Internet - and was shocked. I love animals. For me it was clear: I can not agree with my conscience.
Have you stopped eating animal foods from one day to the next? I ate vegan for a week or two. I had all these prejudices, I could get nutrient deficiencies or not eat any more of what I like. But it was not like that: I had more strength, more energy, was not so tired after eating. And I've seen how many new products there are to discover.
Which vegan foods should non-vegans try? My personal discovery is Tempeh, a traditional Indonesian food made from fermented soybeans. You should also try natural milk and cream substitutes, such as nut milk from cashew nuts or almond paste. Nobody misses the cow cream!
And if the Jieper strikes Currywurst? At the beginning smoked tofu helped a lot, it tastes nice and hearty. Because of course, I also had a taste for Currywurst. But fortunately, all of these products are also vegan. Does a vegan currywurst really make you happy? Surely it does not taste as good as a real ... For vegan products worth trying it, because there are great differences in taste. Of the many varieties, everyone will surely find one that tastes good. And vegan sausages you can even make yourself - then you know exactly what's in it.
Keyword Do it yourself: Which kitchen appliance do you not want to do without? I fell in love with my blender: What you can do with it! Sure, the high-performance equipment is expensive, but a good blender is enough to start with. You also need a sharp big and a sharp little knife.
Do you cook every day? I cook as often as possible. At the weekend I put on supplies: spreads can be super freeze for example, vegetables can schnippeln vegetables and canned in the refrigerator.
Eating out is probably not always easy as a vegan. Oh, it has become much easier! In many cities, there are now vegan restaurants and snacks, you can find them for example on the Internet about "HappyCow". Otherwise you can go well Thai or Vietnamese food, you just have to ask that the food is not made with fish sauce. And the Indian has vegan curries with coconut milk.
In the countryside, the selection should be smaller. In country inns, I ask very friendly, if I can do anything. You learn to be frugal.
That probably also applies to shopping in the countryside. Soy milk is now even in the discounter. And much can be ordered today on the Internet. Nevertheless, the selection in the countryside is of course limited. Luckily we vegans are not just dependent on replacement products. Vegan cooking is also about creatively processing seasonal vegetables, fruits and nuts.
That sounds so easy. Are there moments when you find it difficult to live vegan? The food is not the problem. But I do not feel like explaining myself every day. Within five minutes it's table talk that I eat vegan. That sometimes annoys.
How do you react to that? My credo: stay friendly and be careful, do not proselytize. Everyone should eat what they want. But you should grant that to me, too.
What do your friends say about your vegan lifestyle? In the beginning I already had the feeling that some were uncertain: What changes when we go out to eat? Or that they felt guilty about eating meat in my presence. In the meantime, however, this is no longer a big topic for us and many of my friends naturally integrated vegan recipes into their own cooking routine.
Although they actually eat meat? Exactly. And also in my cooking classes come many meat eaters. I show them: vegan life is not about prohibition and renunciation. It's about having good food, having fun, getting to know new products and delicious recipes. If everyone would eat a little less meat, much would have been gained.
"Just vegan" - the vegan video cooking school with Nicole Just
In our video cooking school "Just Vegan" shows vegan professional Nicole Just, how diverse the vegan cuisine is.Even for gravy and mayonnaise, she has a vegan recipe ready! There are also delicious vegetable dishes, ideas for tofu, vegan baking recipes and tips for vegan shopping in the supermarket. Just Vegan: All videos at a glance
