Vantastic Vegan Spotlight

This week's post is a little different and I am so excited to shine the spotlight on one of my lovely readers and her vegan journey, which also includes parenting in a vegan lifestyle as well.

My very first Vantastic Vegan Spotlight goes to Mrs.Shamonti Rizer! A wife, mother, vegan inspirationalist, entrepreneur and much more. She is the owner of Pears Herbal Bouteaque where she sells herbal teas and products made with organically sourced herbs such as herbal bath tea/soaks. She stated that “Herbs and spices are the most nutritious plant based foods there are so even if you don't like herbal tea, if you have an herbal bath, you're still absorbing the minerals through your skin. I just want to encourage people to be a little bit more healthy even if they don't want to be vegan or vegetarian.” And it doesn’t end there, she also offers services as a vegan nutritional coaching! How amazing is this woman?! When asked how she balances her lifestyle her response was “As far as balancing work, family and being an entrepreneur on a vegan lifestyle, I have the same struggles as every other woman who is working, taking care of home and managing a small business. We all know it can be a lot sometimes, but I remember why I do it. It’s not just for me and my family, but for my community, and you just never know who will be inspired or encouraged by your story. My business is fairly new and it can be time consuming when I have lots of orders, but I pray about it and I manage to make it work. It has to be grace, because I’m not always sure of how I’m managing my life, Lol. To whom much is given, much is required and I truly believe that. If I can inspire just 1 person to do better, I’ve done well.”

Continue reading for interview questions……

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

“I'm a post secondary educator in Valdosta, a budding herbalist and owner of Pears Herbal Bouteaque, an online health and wellness store that specializes in herbal teas. I've also just been certified as a vegan nutrition coach.

2. How long have you been vegan and what was your why? What did the transition into a vegan lifestyle look like for you, did you instantly make the switch or eased your way in?

“I've been a vegan for almost 6 years. I met a holistic doctor and he gave me a book about veganism and how plant based diets were healing so I decided to try it because I was dealing with female issues that we normally think are normal..heavy periods, fibroids, and anemia. For me, it was just giving up the meat and being more conscious about what I was putting in and on my body. I tried to go vegetarian back in 2010 and it lasted about 9 months. I believe it was because I did it "cold turkey" and I looked at it more as a "fad diet." When I came back around to it a few years later, I just set small goals and gave up 1 or 2 things at a time.”

3. How accommodating are your friends and family to your vegan lifestyle?

“I’ve been vegan a little while now, so family and friends and even my coworkers are very accommodating. If we’re having food, they always choose a place where I can get vegan food. Most of the time I do pack a lunch, but they will accommodate me if I need it.

4. Are you more of a home cooked meal vegan or a fast food vegan? What do you think are the pros and cons to either of them?

“I'm more of a home cooked vegan. It's not a lot out there in fast food that is vegan, tasty and healthy. Fast food isn't healthy, so I try not to eat a lot of vegan junk and that is the con to eating vegan fast food, it's mostly processed and "junk" food.”

5. What made you choose the vegan lifestyle for your baby?

“It was just easy since I am and because he's allergic to dairy, beef, shellfish and nuts. I would have a baby who's allergic to meat and cheese. LOL”

6. Do you feel that your baby benefits from the vegan lifestyle?

“Yes, of course. He doesn't have eczema and he's never sick.”

7. How do you prepare his food when he attends daycare and when you are on the go?

“He doesn't attend daycare yet. He goes to his auntie's house so it's been easy to have him stay plant-based because he's with family, but I plan on preparing his meals when the time comes.”

8. What are some quick and easy kid friendly meals you love to prepare for him?

“He is going through the normal picky eater phase like some toddlers do, so he kind of knows what he wants and what he doesn't. He loves lentil soup and I add some pureed tomatoes and finely chopped onions and bell peppers. Another meal is chickpea nuggets and sweet potato fries. Breakfast is usually oats with sea moss and hemp seeds for a little extra protein and minerals.”

9. What are some key lessons you have learned while being on this journey that you would like to share?

“I've learned to connect with nature more, and just be conscious of everything I consume and subscribe to, not just food.”

Thank you to my wonderful readers for stopping by today! I hope you all enjoyed today’s spotlight as much as I did, if not more! Please stop by Shamonti’s website http://www.phbouteaque.com and if you are interested in her vegan nutritional coaching you can contact her via email at pearsfmh@gmail.com.

“The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively” - Bob Marley