Heal

#HEALTH: Planting the seeds of veganism

HEADS turn as Davina Goh enters the restaurant. Dressed in a kimono top with her short cropped hair dyed blonde, she stands out from the lunch-hour office crowd.

But it's her skin I notice as she greets me and slides into her seat. It's blemish-free and glowing.

It must be all the vegetables she's eating, I think to myself as Goh opens up about her journey into veganism.

She was about 11, when the idea of not eating meat first struck her.

The family were at her grandmother's house for a festive celebration and little Davina saw a chicken tethered in the backyard. An animal lover, she made friends with it.

"A few days later, we were served steamed chicken for our meal. I felt very conflicted. It didn't make sense to me. As children, we are encouraged to love animals, but then we eat them too?"

Despite this early awakening to animal rights, her transition to veganism was gradual.

She started reducing her meat intake in college and eventually became a pescatarian before turning fully vegetarian in 2012.

"At each stage I thought I was done, but I wasn't," says Goh, a plant-based lifestyle advocate, president of the Vegan Society Malaysia and a performer.

When she heard about veganism, she realised how the vegan lifestyle aligned with her own values.

Vegans don't just avoid meat or seafood but also all animal byproducts.

Goh embraced the shift to consuming fully plant-based, unprocessed foods and living a lifestyle that did not fund the cruelty of factory farming. She became fully vegan in 2016.

WHAT'S VEGAN?

There is a lot of misinformation about veganism, she adds. People tend to assume it's very restrictive and lacking in nutrients.

It doesn't help that sensational reports of veganism gone wrong often make the news, fuelling misconceptions about the lifestyle.

"These people are doing it wrong, but they only represent a very tiny percentage of vegans. The bulk of us are healthy and thriving."

Veganism is not a fad diet or a Western concept, it's a way of living that respects health, animals and the environment, she says.

She started noticing changes in her health even when she became vegetarian.

She stopped falling sick at work, her menstrual cycle became regular and she didn't experience that post-lunch drowsiness anymore.

Her energy levels also got better and she could even participate in endurance sports.

She has learnt a lot more about fruits and vegetables, and ways of preparing them and their nutritional benefits.

"The biggest problem is not the diet, but the people around you. Veganism is actually easy, but transiting can be a challenge for some because support is not there."

When making the transition to any new diet, it's always good to take small steps and slip into the process gradually, she adds.

Reducing meat intake on a daily basis and incorporating more plant-based foods is a good way to start.

She says at each stage of life, our nutritional needs are also different. Ultimately, it's important to do your homework before adopting any diet, she adds.

Don't jump into it without understanding. Being knowledgeable means we can sustain a healthy practice in the long run and reap the benefits for our body.

Tips For Switching To A Plant-Based Diet

Do your homework

Educate yourself not just on the plant-based diet, but also what your personal nutrient needs are. What's important is finding out how to make it work for you.

Find your purpose

There are many amazing motivations behind going vegan.

Establishing personal reasons will help bring fortitude and clarity during challenging moments. Your purpose can shift as you grow and evolve on your food journey.

Hack your social media algorithm

If you use social media, search for hashtags like #vegankl, #plantbased, #budgetvegan and #veganrecipes. Tap the 'Like' button and leave comments on these posts.

The more you do this, the more your algorithm will feed you with related posts, like doable at-home food tips or content about local businesses offering plant-based meals, products and services. This makes the lifestyle feel much more accessible.

Meet the community

Vegan Society Malaysia organises and collaborates on fun plant-based events that bring people together from all walks of life.

As long as one is curious about veganism in Malaysia, people of all diets are welcome.

Meet yourself where you are

The plant-based transition should be joyous and nourishing.

You don't need to go out, and buy expensive condiments and plant-based meat alternatives.

If all you can afford are canned beans, or you only know how to make a sandwich, start there. Build up the lifestyle as you go along.

Source: Davina Goh

VEGANUARY

LE Cordon Bleu Malaysia is starting 2025 on a charitable note in collaboration with Veganuary Malaysia to raise funds for Kundang-based animal sanctuary Furry Friends Farm.

The academy's technical director and executive cuisine chef instructor, Chef Stephane Frelon, will present "Plant-Based Treasures For Charity", a fully plant-based live food demonstration and non-alcoholic cocktail experience at Sunway Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts on Jan 11.

This event is co-organised by the Vegan Society Malaysia.

For information, go to @vegans.my or email: vegans.my@gmail.com

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories