Megan Burke

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Megan is a sophomore at UMF and she is the president of the UMF Fooding Club.

1. How Long have you been eating plant-based? I was vegetarian since a freshman in high school and then I stopped for a while the first year of college. Over the summer I really started to research it again. I watched a lot of documentaries on Netflix including Forks over Knives, Food Inc, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and Cowspiracy and decided to go fully vegan 6 months ago.

2. What made you decide to go plant-based? I did it because of the animals. I think it makes no sense to save one animal yet kill other animals. There is no humane killing. It is still killing an animal. Also with all the research I did, I do it for the planet too. We have to start taking care of the planet or it won’t be here for us later on.

3. What are your go to foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner? For breakfast I usually eat oatmeal or sometimes a smoothie if it’s hot outside. If I am in a hurry to get to my first class then I might grab a cliff bar and an apple. For lunch I usually have a salad with balsamic vinegar and for dinner it is usually a stir-fry with whatever I have. You can throw any vegetable in and it is great. I sometimes use broccoli, carrots, potato, peas, cauliflower with rice and teriyaki sauce. I also love nutritional yeast and I put it on everything.

4. What did you find to be the biggest challenge to becoming plant-based? Going out to eat was the biggest challenge. I sometimes ask if they have a vegan menu if there are not a lot of options on the regular menu and more places are starting to have vegan menus so it’s getting better.

5. What are the benefits that going plant-based have done for you? I used to have a cup of coffee in my hands all the time. I drank 8 cups of coffee a day. Now I drink none! I have so much more energy now. I don’t need it, I am so awake! Also I have Lyme disease and I have notice since eating this way I have a lot less flare ups. It has definitely helped with that.

6. Do you have a favorite recipe, cookbook, tip or recipe to share? My favorite website is www.hotforfoodblog.com. They also have a great youtube channel. The other tip is eating frozen mango chunks. Take them out of the freezer for just a little bit to soften them and then enjoy!

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