I used to think vegans were snobs though I’d never actually met one.
I was raised on meat and potatoes, a familiar rhythm of family meals. But at eighteen, on a whim, I decided to try going vegetarian. Just for kicks.
A week later, I was at a birthday party. We ordered appetizers, and out of habit, I reached for a piece of pork. I began to chew, and suddenly, something shifted.
A wave of awareness washed over me.
This wasn’t just food.
It was flesh. Pig flesh.
And I didn’t want it in my mouth, not then, not ever again.
That bite was the last meat I would ever eat.
I moved west, chasing freedom and clarity. Somewhere along the coast, I came across a book: Diet for a New America by John Robbins. It opened my eyes to the deeper connections between food, health, happiness, and the hidden suffering behind our meals.
What I learned disturbed me. And changed me.
I decided to try going vegan for just one week.
My energy lifted. My chronic stuffy nose cleared. My spirit felt lighter, like I was living more in tune with my values. It was simple. It was joyful. It was revolutionary.
I never looked back.
I never missed a thing.
That was over thirty years ago.
Eventually, I became head chef at a retreat center in California. I asked that all meals be plant-based, not to impose, but to offer guests food free of fear. Nourishment that aligned with their inner work.
It was here that my philosophy of mindful cooking was born.
My meals brim with color, texture, and life.
Guests would light up after the first bite, surprised and delighted:
“This tastes amazing! I could eat like this all the time.”
That spark, that revelation, is why I created Recipes for Compassion.
This cookbook is my quiet rebellion against apathy and intimidation.
It’s an offering, from one heart to another.
Veganism is one of the great blessings of my life, and it brings me joy to share it.
Wherever you are on your journey, I’m so glad you found your way here.
Thank you for your openness. Thank you for your compassion.
I dream of a kinder world,
and every plant-based meal helps bring it closer.
Recipes for Compassion is my antidote to overcome apathy and intimidation. Veganism is one of the biggest blessings of my life and I want to share it with the world!
Where ever you are in YOUR vegan journey, I’m delighted you found your way here, and I thank you for your compassion. I dream of a vegan world, and every vegan meal is one step closer!
♥ Meghan Oona
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P.S. COMING SOON!
I’m in the final stages of publishing a gorgeous, 330-page, full color vegan cookbook and I’m so excited to share it with you! Please stay tuned for release date info, and in the meanwhile, follow the blog, Instagram, and Facebook pages for lots of free recipes and inspiration.
Recipes For Compassion 
Where are we… We are half way there. My husband and I choose vegan as much as we can. We’ve been slowly transforming our food so that our 3yo does not notice. We have never had an issue with meat. She understands why we don’t eat animals and does not want to eat animals of any kind. But she LOVES her milk, she LOVES her yogurt and she LOOOOOVES her cheese! And no use trying to sneak it passed her. She can taste the soy milk in pancake batter regardless of the maple syrup. 😛 Also, right now, we are lucky enough to have found a preschool that are okay with making vegetarian food for her, vegan would be very complicated. SO! We have a time stamp on it : When the kids are in school and we start having 100% control over all meals, We are hoping that when she gets a bit older, she’ll be able to understand why we want to make the switch. But we also always promised ourselves that our children would be able to make their own choices. The only thing we will not allow is meat. If they grow up and change their minds, they can have their meats elsewhere. But I think we are raising very mindful children that will want to preserve these values.
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Congrats on getting your family to be more Vegan! You may want to check out this FB page, they’re very supportive of families on the path and answer all sorts of questions for along the way: https://www.facebook.com/RaisingAVeganChild. 🙂
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Thank you! Checking them out now. 🙂
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I am 5 years into my vegan lifestyle. I too, have never missed eating any animal products and have never felt better. I quit eating animal products cold turkey, overnight after reading “Eating Animals”. By Jonathan Safran Foer. I did not know anything about veganism, but saw him on the Ellen show discussing the book and decided to read the book. It is the best decision I have made in my life!! So happy to be eating healthy, flavorful, fresh food and getting healthy check ups from my doctor in return. I have lost 3 immediate family members to cancer, and feel a healthy plant based diet can be the key to a long healthy life. Thanks for your information, I enjoy trying new recipes and food combinations 🙂
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This is so good to hear! I love “meeting” all you Vegans online, it gives me so much hope for the future of our planet and humanity! It’s wonderful that Ellen is helping to bring Veganism into the mainstream. Keep up the compassionate living! ❤
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