Glocally Newark

Growing up in Newark and going to events in Newark usually meant that we wouldn’t eat beforehand since of course there would be food. Good food. Whether the event was free or RSVP, whether the event was mundane or festive – there would always be some sort of spread that went well beyond chips and salsa. If it wasn’t a “potluck” or fully catered event, there would always be at the minimum a good sandwich – a very basic but tasty turkey and cheese or roast beef…all of the sub fixins (including oregano)….

….And the vegetarian option.

The veges-only option: All prepared for the inevitable question from the smallest population at a gathering: the Vegetarian Set. The set could be as high as 20 percent of those in attendance or as low as 1 or 2 people who would walk with their noses in the air, and after a short perusal of the offerings on the snow white cloth covered tables they’d ask in the most polite of tones, “Do you have a vegetarian option?” (Okay, I’m exaggerating.)

But the answer would always be, “Yes.”

Newark has always had this group who shuns carnivorous behavior. How do they get by in an area filled with carnivore-friendly fare from around the world? They don’t seem miserable at all – in fact they seem happy. Not sure how this is possible, but they don’t seem to wish they weren’t vegetarian.

I didn’t care really – until now. I needed their help since (though I have no plans to become one of “them”) I’m on a mission to be a bit alot wiser in my food choices without extreme dieting, etc.

So I asked three vegetarians……..WHY? HOW?

Terina “Meca” McKinney, Designer/Style Consultant – Vegetarian
Jypsea~Eclectic Handcrafted Leathergoods
Jypsea.com

I became a vegetarian 2 years ago because I had always felt that it was the right lifestyle choice for me but I had the hardest time maintaining a no-meat diet while cooking meat for my husband. The end of my marriage meant a new me, which meant following the practices that I’ve always been drawn to such as vegetarianism.

I love seaweed wrapped crackers that you find in the Asian aisle at Whole Foods (there’s not a Whole Foods in Newark yet) and sesame seaweed sticks from Veggie Heaven. Divine!! Mainly I eat lots of fruit and veggies. Some say they think I am turning back the clock because I look as young now as I did 10 yrs ago and I lost 30 lbs. : – )

I don’t know of any vegetarian restaurants in Newark yet but my fave vegetarian restaurant is owned by a Newark resident. It’s called Health, Love, and Soul on Springfield Avenue in Maplewood. I always get the jerked Tofu skewer. (Insanely delicious!)

Sharon Green – Vegan
Certified Holistic Health & Wellness Consultant
HealthGardensOnline.com

I wanted to get health – i was overweight with health challenges, stressed out at a job I hated and was seeking a spiritual base.  I became a vegetarian by choice when I attended a workshop with Queen Afua and learned the deadly effects of meat and how it destroys the body and walked away knowing I would no longer eat meat including fish.  My choice was to be healthy again.

I absolutely love Vegan cup cakes…they are the best: no eggs no deadly white sugar…they are moist and delicious.

I loved the food at Daily soup they actually created a Vegan menu – meaning no meat, butter, etc they were once located on Halsey Street…I am not sure where they relocated…some said inside Rutgers but I have not confirmed that.  I absolutely love their food.

I would eat more vegetables. This sounds simple enough but most people do not. They consume lots of starch, fat and sugar which depletes the body of nutrients.  The juicing of green vegetable will put calcium and protein back into the body.  Eliminate meat at least from one meal a day, it takes 3-7 days for the body to digest meat especially red meat which causes constipation couple with starch and lack of water.

Drink more water daily…walk a little and get some exercise, be happy – stress causes havoc on the body – have your body operating at maximum capacity to enjoy a healthy sex life, to enjoy the sun, to enjoy your family to enjoy having better health without medication.

Monique Legend – Vegetarian (in transition to Vegan)
A Newarker!

I have been a vegetarian for a year and as I am going into my second year I am moving towards vegan.  My initial and my main reason for becoming vegetarian is I hate what is done to  animals, I hate hate the way raw meat looks and smells (unfortunately I still have to cook for my family…I tried showing them the PETA website and they only budged an inch). I find it to be very easy to maintain being a vegetarian while still preparing meat for my family.  I am spending this year getting my palate use to all the non-dairy products and hopefully next year getting rid of fish and shellfish. One step at a time!!

Honestly my favorite snack so far is fruit and cereal with soy milk.

I don’t know of any veg. restaurants in newark but I love this spot called Natural Way Cafe in Fairlawn- they make a great citrus chicken wrap (but it’s not chicken for real !!lol)

As I stood in the Whole Foods trying to pick a snack that was less sinful than…regular snacks, I was thinking how much easier it has been to get back into a workout routine than trying to eat right – all the time. I wasn’t feeling ambitious enough to try seaweed or vege-wraps so I went to the bulk section and started adding healthy snacks that I saw (and vaguely remembered enjoying at some point in my life) into those little bags so I could weigh them and start my new life. Lol. We’ll see how this goes.

Photo Credit: Whole Foods image from Is It Easy Being Green?