Ivelina V's interview
Interview by LauraWe interviewed Ivelina V!
Visit the blog: Mother Nature Loves You.
"My secret weapon in the kitchen is love. It starts with the simple love for food, that everyone has, then it's the love for the ones I make the food for. Then it is the love of life in general, and expressing it with all the amazing ingredients."
Hello Ivelina V, so tell us...
When did you start your blog? What inspired you?
I started the blog in November 2010. I felt inspired by the connection between food and our wellbeing. I do a lot of research on food, where it comes from and how affects us.
Why did you decide to become a vegan? How has it changed your lifestyle and cooking? (Would also love to hear about your three-week raw food detox)
Food is our most intimate connection with nature. I started to look into food and mainly started to research where it comes from. I also realized that humans are not natural meat/dairy eaters. It makes no sense to me to eat any animal products if a living being had to suffer for it. Being vegan is in tune with my values of compassion and love towards life, and the appreciation that animals are here with us, not for us.
I have always loved cooking and been cooking now for almost 10 years. Going vegan changed my life and my cooking habits as it opened an abundant possibility of creating new dishes.
I did a three-week raw food detox, which really helped me feel even better. I am a great fan of salad meals and smoothies. The whole experience made me realize, that humans are made to thrive on whole plant-based foods.
How active are you in the blogging community? Have you met any interesting people through your blog or has it brought you to new places?
Blogging is one of the best ways to connect with like-minded people and also express yourself. Through blogging, I have met some wonderful bloggers and I would like to think I have a very supportive crowd.
I am normally quite active, but nowadays everything that you share on social media is a form of "blogging" - it's about starting the conversation and learning.
What is your secret weapon in the kitchen?
My secret weapon in the kitchen is love. It starts with the simple love for food, that everyone has, then it's the love for the ones I make the food for. Then it is the love of life in general, and expressing it with all the amazing ingredients.
What dish or menu could you not live without?
There are a few dishes I would be lost without. One of them is hummus - it is the most versatile dip and you can add any spice to for extra variety. The food, that I cook and enjoy is mainly Mediterranean, so I will also find it almost impossible to be without olive oil, tomatoes, peppers and any kind of beans.
What is your earliest memory involving food?
My earliest memory involving food is being around the table with my extended family and enjoying the variety of dishes, that my granny had made. She still grows almost all of her food and I have learned a lot of my dishes from her. I also used to bake with my mother - breads, cakes, cookies and a lot of my recipes are influenced by the simple ingredients, that we used to use all the time.
What chefs do you admire most and why?
To be honest, going vegan has changed my prospective on chefs.I believe, that everyone who has a food blog is inspired by the simple love for food and a desire to share it with others. There are a of course a few names of vegan chefs, that come to mind.
The one, that I want to share is Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, who has been my inspiration from the start. I admire her work and her website and podcasts bring outstanding value not just to the vegan community.
If you could be a contestant or guest on any cooking show, what show would you choose?
This would be a dream come true for me. I would be a guest for any cooking show, where vegan cooking is welcome!
Any last words or message for our readers?
I would like to invite everyone to really look into their food -where does it come from? Also after eating a meal how do you really feel? Your body is a real indication of what food you feel best from. Listen to it.
Thank you Ivelina V for answering our questions and see you soon!
Published by Laura - 18/02/2014
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