Women Who Rebrand

Episode 23: So, you're thinking about becoming a vegan…? With Tomi Makanjuola 

In this week's episode, and in a nod to National Vegetarian Week in the UK, Chioma and Sareta speak to vegan chef Tomi Makanjuola, aka The Vegan Nigerian. (Sidenote: While the hosts are aware that being a vegan and a vegetarian are not the same thing, as Sareta says, "they sit under the same umbrella".  

Tomi grew up as part of a meat-loving family in Lagos, Nigeria. During this time, she developed her love for food and the making thereof. Fast forward a few years to living in France, another meat-obsessed part of the world, during her early twenties. Tomi had a dietary epiphany after realising meat's effect on her health and energy levels. Overnight, she became The Vegan Nigerian and has never looked back. 

Not only does Tomi post her mouth-watering creations on her Instagram page, but they can also be found on her blog and on YouTube. It doesn't stop there – she has two cookbooks, "Vegan Nigerian Kitchen" and "The Plantain Cookbook". They showcase how easy it is to incorporate veganism into our diets.  

Topics discussed during this episode: 

• The differences between being plant-based and being a vegan.  
• The different shades of veganism – they are not a monolith!
• Challenges of recreating Nigerian meals minus the meat. 
• Getting creative with deserts in West African cuisine. 
• The politics of meat substitutes. 
• Allergies and intolerances. 
• The many ways to (say and) enjoy plantain. 
• Making Vegan school dinner options compulsory in schools. 
• Advice on where to start in the journey towards becoming a vegan. 

Tomi's advice is not to focus on perfection and take it easy on yourself if you're thinking about transitioning. So, while they may not be becoming vegans this week, they will be making plantain pancakes – Mmmmm… 

Thank you, Tomi, for making our mouths water and making veganism such an accessible and tasty option. 

Join them each week for a new episode wherever you catch your podcasts (and while you're there, subscribe too!). 

Head to the blog to read more about Tomi - https://saretafontaine.com/thinking-about-becoming-a-vegan/

Follow Tomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegannigerian 

For recipes and videos, visit: http://www.vegannigerian.com 

Follow 'Women Who Rebrand' on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womenrebranded/ 

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