Jessica Nadel is known for her blog Cupcakes and Kale, as well as her special order vegan bakery Oh My Bakeshop. She is also the author of the new cookbook Greens 24/7: More Than 100 Quick, Easy, and Delicious Recipes for Eating Leafy Greens and Other Green Vegetables at Every Meal, Every Day.
I recently had the chance to chat with Jessica, and we talked about veganism, cooking, and starting your own business.
Chic Vegan: What motivated you to become vegan? Was it an overnight switch or more gradual shift?
Jessica Nadel: I’ve been vegan now for a little over 5 years, but was vegetarian for many years before that – since I was 10 actually! I stopped eating meat because of my profound love of animals but it took me many many more years to reconcile that as a vegetarian who still consumed dairy products I was still directly contributing to the suffering of many animals. Once I made the choice to open my eyes and truly tune into the dairy and egg industry it was a very quick transition to vegan that followed. A few weeks later my husband followed suit. And that was just about 5 years ago now.
CV: When people learn that you are vegan, what is the #1 question they ask and what is your response?
JN: I wish I could tell you that they ask me for tips on being a happy and healthy vegan, or where I buy my vegan shoes, but still, hand over fist, I’m asked where I get my protein. It’s exhausting, but I try to answer each and every time with patience and grace and I tell them that I get all the protein I could ever need from plants!
CV: You’re raising your little boy vegan. What are the challenges you’ve come across in raising a vegan child?
JN: I think my biggest challenge so far has been in ensuring carrying, concerned people in my life (friends, family, doctor) that he eats a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in iron, protein and calcium. As far as the actual feeding of Woodrow, he eats what we eat. Except for when he is exercising his 2-year old power and refusing to eat anything that isn’t in the shape of a triangle. At which point I am reminded that raising a vegan toddler is the same as raising any toddler!!
CV: Tell me a little bit about your new book Greens 24/7 and what inspired you to write it.
JN: Writing a cookbook has been on my bucket list for a while now, but I had no idea how to actually go about starting the process. Then one day I received an email from a publisher with a book concept asking me if I’d be willing to come on board and develop it. “Greens” was the concept and once I got them on board to have it actually be a vegan cookbook too I was sold! I know how hard it can be to fit enough greens into busy lives, so I was excited to create recipes that weren’t just boring old salad and mushy boiled peas, that were going to help people try them in new and exciting ways as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
CV: Do you have any favorite recipes from the book?
JN: Yes! The Spinach and Mushroom Galette, Pesto Polenta Fries and Raw Collard Wraps are definite faves. And I absolutely adore the Rhubarb and Chard Pie and Zucchini Chocolate Cake.
CV: Your greens recipes are so creative! What inspires you to create a new dish?
JN: Thank you! I am endless daydreaming about food, so sometimes a flavour combination will just pop into my head, or sometimes I’ll be flipping through a non- vegan magazine in a waiting room and see something that inspires me, or often I’ll be walking through the market or grocery store and seeing something that is new to me – I’m always intrigued by a fruit or vegetable that I’ve never tried! But more often than not I just start pulling things out of my fridge and pantry and start playing around. I’m getting better at jotting down measurements as I go now!
CV: In addition to writing cookbooks and blogging, you own a special order vegan bakery. Do you have any advice for budding vegan entrepreneurs?
JN: Do your research and find out if there’s a local market for your product or service. Chances are there is, so once you’ve established that, make a plan and start putting it into action. It sounds straight forward but that’s the beauty of it – it IS straight forward, and the biggest road blocks (in my experience at least) are your own personal hesitations and insecurities. And get yourself a good mentor – someone either within the vegan community or just a successful business owner. Their experience and their advice will be priceless! It’s been my experience that people are hungry for change and for new and exciting opportunities and will be willing to give you a chance – just be ready to wow them with your vegan amazingness!
CV: What is your favorite vegan indulgence?
JN: 100% Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. I literally cannot pass them by without buying a pack! They are my all-time favourite.
CV: What vegan product could you not live without?
JN: I really adore nutritional yeast, it’s my favourite seasoning for sauces, vegan tofu ricotta and for sprinkling on salads and popcorn!
CV: In your wildest dreams what will your life look like in 5 years?
JN: I have a very blessed life full of wonderful family and friends, and so if I am still surrounded by them and still writing, creating, baking, mothering, and exploring the world, I’ll be one happy camper!
Food photos by Jackie Sobon. Photo of Jessica alone by Stacey Lalande. Photo of Jessica and Woodrow by Preacher Katie.
