What can you tell us about your new book Oh She Glows Every Day?
Oh She Glows Every Day features a mix of easy to prepare weekday recipes and special occasion recipes. As a business owner and mom of two, I need recipes that come together fast, but I also love entertaining and "special occasion" recipes that are worth a bit of extra work. I also really tried to create recipes that many different people could enjoy: the book is packed with allergy- and kid-friendly recipes and options. Below the title of each recipe is a convenient allergy info line that tells you whether the recipe is, or can be, made gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, oil-free, grain-free, or kid-friendly. And of course, as with my first cookbook and the recipes I share on my blog, I strived to create crowd-pleasing dishes that would satisfy and be enjoyed by all...including even the most die-hard of meat eaters! All said and done, Oh She Glows Every Day features over 100 of my favourite go-to plant-based recipes that are delicious, wholesome, and accessible.
Angela Liddon
What is your favourite recipe from the book and why?
It's so difficult to choose a favourite recipe from the new book-it changes day to day! But some of the standouts include my Protein Power Rainbow Quinoa Salad, Salted Chocolate Hemp Shake, Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Creamy Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup, Fusilli Lentil-Mushroom Bolognese (which my recipe testers also went wild for!), Oh Em Gee Veggie Burgers, and The Ultimate Flourless Brownies.
What made you want to start a blog in the first place?
Back in 2008-a time when I was unhappy with my career as a researcher and needed a fun, creative outlet to distract myself-I started my blog, Oh She Glows. I quickly fell head over heels in love with it, and discovered a passion for recipe creation and food photography that, to be honest, I never really expected to find. Eventually, blogging became my full-time job; I'm beyond grateful every day that I decided to take that leap. It's been an amazing journey and I'm so excited for what's to come in the future.
You struggled with a ten year eating disorder before switching to a plant based diet, so can you tell us a bit more about this?
During my mid-twenties I set out to heal my relationship with food: I'd struggled with an eating disorder for 10 years and was sick of feeling miserable and tired all the time. Having heard a lot about the benefits of a plant-based diet, I started to experiment with real, whole foods instead of the processed, low-calorie diet foods I had been living off of. Completely transitioning to a plant-based diet wasn't something that I planned to do, but I felt so amazing eating this way-with boosted and consistent energy levels, a sense of calmness, and overall positive outlook-that I just kept moving forward and never really looked back. The journey wasn't always easy, of course. Back in the day, I barely knew how to cook a potato! But, wholly in love with my new approach to food, I was driven and motivated to learn.
How quickly did you start to feel the benefit?
It didn't take long at all. I soon discovered that when I ate healthy, plant-based meals I felt on top of the world! It was a total 180 from the lethargy, moodiness, and anxiety I'd felt when eating too much sugar or processed foods. Don't get me wrong, my diet isn't perfect and there are still-even now!-days when I eat poorly, but I strive to eat wholesome foods as much as I can because I know what a difference it makes in how I feel.
Did you ever imagine that Oh She Glows would attract so many people?
Not in my wildest dreams! When I began blogging, I wasn't even sure if it was something I'd stick with for more than a couple weeks. But, as I wrote about my journey to health, I found myself connecting with so many men and women all over the world who shared my struggles, and who wrote me to say that my story had helped them get through a tough time. This motivated me to keep going, and as my blog took off, I knew that I had tapped into a hidden passion. There was no looking back!
Your blog is award winning, so how did it feel to receive this accolade for your work?
It's a very surreal experience, one that I'm very humbled by!
What are your top tips for switching to a plant based diet?
Take the transition to a plant-based diet slow and steady. It'll feel a lot less intimidating! And don't strive for perfection-I think when you take the pressure off of it and focus on having fun, the process is more enjoyable and it's easier to do it long-term. I'd also emphasize that it's possible to create flavourful and delicious plant-based meals using easy-to-find, everyday ingredients. You don't have to fill your cart with strange, processed imitation foods; my recipes celebrate real, whole foods as nature intended.
Why do you think veganism has gained so much popularity in the last few years?
I honestly feel like food blogging has done a lot to shine a positive spotlight on it and contribute to its popularity. There are so many wonderful vegan/plant-based recipe blogs celebrating healthy, whole foods, and I think they are really helping people realize how approachable and delicious plant-based meals can be.
What is next for you?
I'm really looking forward to growing the Oh She Glows Recipe App. I'm thrilled to say that we'll be launching an Android version of the app (originally available on iOS only) in late December or early January. We also have plans for a blog redesign, and hope to soon expand our small (but fierce!) team.
