I accidentally became a vegan. It all started two and a half years ago in an attempt to live a healthier lifestyle. While self-improvement initially drove my consumption changes, as I began to be more conscious about how I ate, my preferences gradually changed (Babin/Harris 91). I wanted to eat food that tasted delicious but I wanted to feel healthy as well. Everyone who is vegan or plant-based has different motivations, or inner drives that dictate their lifestyle (Babin/Harris 90). It might be ethical, environmental, political, or health concerns driving motivations. Personally, I fit under all of these categories to some extent.
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My look-alike mom and I enjoying vegan pizza.
Through social power, I often get my family to
eat vegan when they are with me (Babin/Harris 159)
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| Go coconuts: My big bro and I *seriously* sipping on some fresh coconut |
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| Classic Madison: eating a gigantic salad with a side of toast |
Hear me out, guys...Vegan food is often really delicious. No, I’m not talking about bland tofu with some steamed broccoli. There is amazing, flavorful vegan food in our beloved Ann Arbor - you just have to know where to find it.
Even if you’re not vegan or plant-based, it is beneficial for anyone to know where to find vegan meals. They are often less expensive than meat options and they are generally healthier, as they are usually whole-food based and will leave you feelings lighter and more energized.
Breakfast
If you're looking for a filling vegan breakfast in Ann Arbor, I have plenty of recommendations. Amer's Deli is very accessible with two locations. Their acai bowls get plenty of praise for their taste and visual aesthetic. It's convenient to meet friends at Amer's before class and fill up for the rest of the day. Juicy Kitchen has a cute, quaint atmosphere and a wide selection of vegan options. I love coming here on the weekends when I have time to get off campus. I ask for the Good Morning Sunshine without greek yogurt, which includes banana bread, fresh fruit, and natural peanut butter. Peanut butter and banana is an irresistible combination, in my opinion.
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From Left. Good Morning Sunshine with crackly banana bread at Juicy Kitchen. Photo Courtesy of @spoon_michigan. Acai Bowl from Amer's Deli. Overflowing, per usual. Photo courtesy of @umicheats.
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Snacks and Beverage
I understand that many college students are productivity oriented, trying to be the most productive they can during the day, and want a quick pick-me-up rather than a full meal (Babin/Harris 117). I think cafes are the ideal place to do this. Fortunately, almost all coffee shops and cafes have vegan beverage options, like almond and coconut milk. Comet Coffee, Espresso Royale, and Lab Cafe all have tea and coffee plus at least one vegan snack or pastry. I've gotten many friends hooked on the peanut butter cookie from Comet Coffee because it tastes even better than the "real thing". RoosRoast and Crazy Wisdom Tea Room also have light vegan meals like soup and toast for an easy an inexpensive bite to eat and excellent places to study.
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Vegan Peanut Butter Cookie and Tea at Comet Coffee.
This snack is a weekly tradition for me and my co-workers. |
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Raw Date and Cocoa Balls from RoosRoast. Perfect for a productive day.
Photo courtesy of @RoosRoast |
Lunch
I am always on the hunt for delicious, vegan lunch spots. Between school and work, like many college students, I often need to stay on campus and do not have the time to go home. One of my favorite lunch spots on a sunny day is Ginger Deli. They have menu items like veggie summer roles and bánh mì. They only offer outdoor seating so it's great for people watching. The Lunch Room is an all vegan restaurant that is incredibly popular, so you know it's tasty. They are far from stingy with their portions so you will often leave with take-out, which is perfect for a college student who is value conscious (Babin/Harris 115). Fred's offers plenty of vegan options from soups, salads, acai bowls, and grain bowls. The space is fresh and modern, and a perfect spot to either socialize or camp out and do some school work.
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Fresh Salad from Ginger Deli. Perfect light
lunch on a warm day. |
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The Lumberjack Salad from the Lunch Room.
I was not kidding about the portion size.
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Dinner
Eating out in the evening is one of the best parts about living in Ann Arbor. It is a fun experience for any college student to go out with friends after a long week. It's also nice to get a break from cooking and doing the dishes. Sava's Hippie Bowl is their only vegan option but it's one of my favorites and many of my non-vegan friends crave it as well. It's as healthy as a typical salad but way more satisfying. Aventura is known for their unique tapas, many of which are vegan like the fried cauliflower and roasted brussels sprouts. They also serve a vegan paella which I have convinced many "meat-eaters" to share with me and they were impressed. Miss Kim is a relatively new Korean restaurant from the Zingerman's company, which I was initially intrigued by due to the knowledge function of my attitude (Babin/Harris 130). I figured that it would have a similar atmosphere and quality to Zingerman's and I was not disappointed. Miss Kim has wide selection of vegan options that are clearly labeled on the menu. I'm obsessed with the soft fried tofu, which is a great alternative to fried chicken.
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The Hippie Bowl from Sava's. A rice bowl
with tons of roasted veggies and savory grilled tempeh.
Plus, the irresistible dressing. |
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| Vegan Paella from Aventura. Cooked saffron rice, layered with peppers, artichokes, fava beans and cauliflower. Perfect for a group of friends. |
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Soft Fried Tofu from Miss Kim with chili glaze.
I day-dream about it. |
Sources(s)
Babin, J.B., Harris, E.G. C.B, 6th edition
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your vegan blog and learning more about the options available in Ann Arbor. I have recently watched a documentary that is generating a lot of buzz called "What the Health." Though I am not a full vegetarian or vegan I have recently been making a greater effort to cut down on the animal products in my diet so I really appreciated the recommendations. I want to try that Fresh Salad from Ginger Deli, it looks delicious. I also really love the polaroid edit of the pictures you put in. In terms of consumer behavior I really liked how you differentiated why you like different foods, for example the knowledge function that pushed you to try a new Korean place (Babin/Harris 130). I think an interesting idea for a future blog would be some of your favorite vegan meals to satisfy a craving for a traditional animal product dish such as pizza. I think it would be a cool way to look at the hedonic pleasure food gives us and how you are still able to derive that pleasure while being vegan (Babin et al., 2016). Overall great read!
Hey Madison, your blog is extremely well put together!!! A lot of my good friends practice the vegan diet. I, on the other hand, could not live without chicken nuggets. I am honestly so inspired by the strength of vegans to stay self-disciplined, whether it is for personal health or ethical reasons. I believe it adds to self-concept, or the totality of thoughts and feelings that an individual has about himself, and the way that a person gives meaning to his identity (Babin & Harris, 2016, p. 90). Because veganism is such a huge part of who you are! If someone were to ask me about myself, I would say I am 20, go to U of M, and am Indian-American…but I wouldn’t say “I am not a vegetarian.” It is not unique or something I really identify myself with – but I feel veganism is. Food preferences and diets creates a way to self-express, other than music, art, or fashion (Angell, 09/27/2017).
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I love how the title “Vegan Wolverine” rhymes, and the layout with leaves behind the title works great with the aesthetic. Our generation associates vegans with “hipsters” or “hippies,” and the cool Polaroid picture layout you used might have unconsciously played into this too! I’m excited to hear more about your vegan adventures.
Sources:
Angell, A. (2017, September 27). CB Chapter 6: Personality, Lifestyles, and Self-Concept. Lecture presented in University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Babin, B. J., & Harris, E. G. (2016). Value and the Consumer Behavior Value
Framework. In Consumer Behavior (7th ed., p. 90). Boston, MA: Cengage
Learning.
I want to start by saying your blog's visual is amazing! I loved how you talked about your motivation for becoming a vegan, it was interesting to learn about your internal influence (Babin 90). I thought it was awesome how becoming a vegan was a very organic process for you or as you say "accidentally becoming a vegan." I honestly had no idea that Ann Arbor has such a variety of places for vegans to choose from. I think that it is great that you have found what type of food you value and have been able to find places with great food (Babin 115). I loved how you posted pictures of the food at most of the restaurants you mentioned. While reading through your blog and looking at your pictures I realized that I actually order most of these meals when out to eat. My two personal favorited that you mentioned were Sava's Hippie Bowl and Aventura's Vegan Paella. I'm super excited to read your next blog!
ReplyDeleteBabin, J.B., Harris, E.G. CB, 6th edition