The cognitive dissonance between being an animal lover and eating them is impossible for me to understand.

Let’s Meet: Esen Boyacıgiller

My journey into veganism started with a silly, popular book called Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. Apparently, Victoria Beckham read it and loved it. What was great about that book was that it wasn’t a ‘vegan book’ but was actually a diet book (I’m a dietitian and read a lot of diet books) with a secret vegan propaganda. It had a chapter about how disgusting the dairy industry is; after reading that I went vegan overnight. I remember my first vegan meal: a slice of toast with tomatoes, olive oil, and salt. Still a favorite!

London has so many beautiful parks; they add so much joy to my life. Here I am at Regent’s Park in July.

People go vegan for all sorts of reasons, but I’ve noticed that if your reason isn’t paramount to who you are, it’s easy to become un-vegan. All these plant-based influencers who go un-vegan, or people like Lizzo were never really vegan. Veganism at its core is about recognizing that animals should not be used for our consumption or believing in not pillaging the earth and its resources. I’m an ethical vegan. I don’t condone using animals as human food supply. I don’t see any difference between eating dogs, pigs, cats, or cows. The cognitive dissonance between being an animal lover and eating them is impossible for me to understand. Once you see the cruelty involved in factory farms, it’s hard to ignore.

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The one myth about veganism that probably bothers me the most is that humans are meant to eat animals; that it’s just the way it has always been. There are so many things we used to do that we don’t do anymore. Times change, humans evolve. I love what Maya Angelou says: ‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.’

As a registered dietitian, I love that a vegan diet can be very health-promoting. My philosophy as a dietitian has always been ‘add don’t subtract’. It’s called the ‘crowding out’ method. We add legumes, fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and grains. Americans are obsessed with protein, which is super important, but we're already getting enough of it. Actually, studies suggest that 90% of Americans do not get enough fiber, which is my favorite nutrient. Fiber is found only in plant foods (not in animal products); it keeps you full, helps you have normal bowel movements, is great for your gut microbiome, and so much more. 

Twenty years ago, veganism was naturally a super-healthy diet because vegan cheese, meat, dessert, and butter substitutes didn’t exist. The joke is that veganism was mostly beans and rice. That’s why today I don’t necessarily propose a vegan diet is a healthy one unless it’s consumed consciously. The proliferation of vegan products has made it possible for a vegan diet to be just as unhealthy as an omnivorous one if it consists mostly of processed foods. There is so much misinformation out there—it drives me crazy. Seed oils! Lectins! Etc. When it comes down to it, all sensible dietitians will agree on one thing: whether you are an omnivore, vegan, pescatarian, make sure your plate is mostly whole unprocessed foods: vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and seeds.

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I LOVE the fact that they exist, the alternatives to meat, milk, and eggs.

I’d like to address people who say, ‘Oh, why are you trying to make vegan foods that look like animal foods?’ We didn’t stop eating meat because we didn’t like the taste; we stopped due to the cruelty. I LOVE the fact that alternatives to meat, milk, and eggs exist. I call these ‘transition foods.’ They make life easier for people who want to go vegan. Don’t misunderstand—these are not healthy foods, but they are better for the animal welfare. If these foods help you realize that vegan foods can be super tasty, that’s wonderful for the cause. Do you know how many people can’t tell the difference between a cow burger and an ‘Impossible Burger’ when it's sandwiched between a bun with cheese, tomato, and pickle? That’s pretty cool if you ask me.

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As a former cheese-aholic, the improvements in vegan cheese have brought me a lot of joy.

I have been mostly vegan for 13 years but have gone through periods of eating cheese on and off. Vegan cheese used to be awful—plasticky, tasteless, and made with bad ingredients. Today, we have Miyoko’s cheeses (the queen of vegan cheese), Kite Hill (non-dairy cream cheese), La Fauxmagerie in London, to name a few that I like. These are mostly made from natural ingredients like nuts. They are health-promoting AND delicious. Being able to go into a bagel shop in NYC and get delicious vegan cream cheese is awesome. I believe veganism is the most ethical way to live, but I want people to know that even being 90% vegan is better than not being vegan at all. Start by eating vegan one day a week, then do two. See how you feel. Educate yourself, and you may never want to go back. We have to have empathy because change is hard.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that if you choose to adopt a vegan diet, you need to do a little research. I hear about people who eat only fries, pasta and Oreos and feel terrible. Make sure to get enough plant protein and you must supplement with B12, which is an essential vitamin and not found easily in a vegan diet. 

Discover more of Esen’s journey here.

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