We recently sat down with Erica of Boston’s biggest online vegan community, Vegan Kween, to find out how she built her thriving platform and what the secret is behind her startlingly delicious food photos! We got answers, and then some.
Erica’s heartwarming and helpful anecdotes show us why it’s easier than ever to go veg. This is for anyone trying to live a more compassionate lifestyle, whether vegan or somewhere along the way.
I think naturally when you’re around people who start to shift what they’re eating and what they stand for, it really causes you to go “Oh, I think I kinda need to think about my actions as well.”
Erica, Vegan Kween
HC: What inspired you to go vegan?
E: It’s actually a fun story. I have a vegan brother, sister in law, niece and little nephew. At the time – this was before my nephew was born – my brother, sister and niece were vegan before me. So prior to me making the switch, I was already observing their behaviours, their morals, and the meals that they were eating. And over time it just kind of got me thinking. They never pressured me or made me feel bad. I think naturally when you’re around people who start to shift what they’re eating and what they stand for, it really causes you to go “Oh, I think I kinda need to think about my actions as well.” So just very randomly I was like “Alright, I’ve just been kind of pushing this aside, but I know the treatment of animals is inhumane, I hear my family talk about it sometimes, so I’m going to do my own research.” I was just really curious about what I was not really looking into. And you know you do the research, you look at the videos from an ethical perspective, and you’re just shocked. I was shocked. I’ve learned so many things I didn’t know, from the dairy industry to the egg industry, and the list goes on.
So it was just family and a night of research, and the next morning I was like “You know what, I think it’s time to make a change.” I told myself maybe I’d start with being pescetarian, and sort of ease myself into the big things and just see how that goes. I think I was officially a pescetarian for about a week, and suddenly I said “You know what, it’s all bad, the fish, the dairy; I’m just going to jump into veganism and see how it goes.” And luckily, it was easy for me. I think everyone has their own timeline and journey, but it stuck with me. I quickly found vegan options. You can go to Target, you can go to Stop and Shop; they have a ton of vegan options. It was a lot more accessible than I originally thought it was. So I realized, I don’t have to be vegetarian or pescetarian, I’ll just hop into this and off we go!
So that was just the start of my journey, and then in terms of the blogging, I’ve always been a bit of a foodie, I always love the foodie accounts in general. What motivated me to stick with veganism and try vegan items was following vegan foodie accounts, and then naturally I wanted to be a part of that community and noticed there was a need for that in Boston. So that’s what motivated me to start documenting more consistently.
I’d nailed getting my groceries, but what happens when I go out? What happens when I’m hungry after a night out in Boston at 12 o’clock at night?
HC: Was there anything you struggled with particularly when you first went vegan?
E: I think prior to starting my food blog I did struggle a bit with knowing where to go out to eat, when my friends wanted to go out, where we could go, who had options. And also at the time, fast food chains weren’t offering anything like they are today, so I think the convenience has really shifted these past five years where it’s so convenient now. But that was definitely a struggle; I’d nailed getting my groceries, but what happens when I go out? What happens when I’m hungry after a night out in Boston at 12 o’clock at night? So there were struggles in that regard. But then once I started my blogging, I started making those connections to the restaurants and the industry. And now it’s nice to help other people who are maybe in the same position I was and they’re not sure where to start.
HC: What’s your biggest advice to new vegans?
E: Beyond being in the community and following the foodie accounts, I think it’s so important to always remind yourself why you’re doing it. In the beginning it can be tough. You’re changing so many aspects of your life, not just what you eat, but what you buy and how you think.
Sometimes in the beginning I would go through videos or Earthling Ed talks and remind myself what I stand for. I think it’s okay if you’re struggling to go back to where it started and what motivated you to begin with. There’s nothing wrong with continuing that education if it empowers you to proceed. Sometimes you just want a reminder.
In terms of not feeling alone, I used to go to local vegan meet-up events and I actually met a very good friend through there. So I would say, get involved with events you find on social media or anywhere online, because of course having a support system in your life goes a long way.
HC: What’s the biggest change you’ve witnessed in the vegan scene over the past few years?
E: I’ve seen a change drastically, mostly in the sense that there are more and more options everywhere you go. Tying it back to what I said before about fast food chains; I know this can be a touchy subject because not everyone wants to go to Burger King or Dunkin Donuts or what-have-you. But the way I view it is that it’s incredible to see these chains offering plant-based options. This was not a thing two years ago prior to the Impossible Whopper, at least not to my knowledge. The fact that you can go to a drive-thru now, get a vegan burger and fries, and call it a day, I think that’s incredible. I think that shift is coming. I think people understand the demand, whether it’s for the environment, or health reasons, or for the animals, or all of the above. People are making a change because they’re learning more. They’re being a little more open and it’s starting to circulate. So I think overall, that’s been fantastic to see how accessible they are across the board, the country, and the world.
Even just restaurants in general too. Recently I took my mom to a restaurant for her birthday, not expecting much for myself except maybe you know, a salad. But when the chef found out that I was vegan, he put together a vegetable-based dish that was really pretty and tasty. The owner introduced herself, and said they do want to offer more vegan options. She told me, “Maybe we can collaborate and you can let me know what you think [about the menu].” And so I think that people are starting to realize, “We need to offer more than animals, we’re getting different customers coming in the door that expect more.” I think that’s amazing to see. The demand is there for one reason or another, and restaurants and chains are finally listening to that. You look at new restaurants that are opening around Boston, and even if they’re not fully vegan they have at least one or two options. Even if it’s just a couple options, I think it’s a step in the right direction because there are still a lot of restaurants that don’t have any options. So I’m always open to trying anything that has one dish because we want to show support in that and we want it to continue.
So over-all I’ve seen such a huge shift in accessibility across the globe, and just an openness with a lot of people to try vegan foods. People are realizing “Yeah, this could be here to stay and it’s better for me.”
Recently I took my mom to a restaurant for her birthday, not expecting much for myself except maybe you know, a salad. But when the chef found out that I was vegan, he put together a vegetable-based dish that was really pretty and tasty.
HC: Which restaurant are you loving most in Boston right now?
E: If I’m sticking with downtown Boston and the true city experience, I love My Thai Vegan Cafe in Chinatown. It’s an OG vegan staple of Boston; I’m pretty sure they were one of the first all vegan restaurants in the area. It’s so good, the prices are right, their menu is huge, the food is always delicious every time, they have bubble tea and desserts. Everyone loves that place!
I also love a newer spot in South Boston called Lulu Green. They’re an all vegan cafe with the most gorgeous cinnamon rolls you will ever see in your life, the most delicious, unique latte flavours, and they now make omelettes and breakfast sandwiches with Just Egg. Not only is the food delicious, but the plates are gorgeous – very Instagram worthy. If you go sometime you gotta whip out the camera!
I also love a spot with two locations – their second one just opened up in Cambridge – called Donut Villa Diner. I want to give them a huge shout out because they’re actually not all vegan, but I’m pretty sure the owner himself is vegetarian at the very least, and they have an entire vegan growing menu. It’s a wide variety of chick’n and waffles, chick’n tenders, taco salad, breakfast sandwiches, and vegan donuts, and I’m gonna give them an A for effort. I really appreciate restaurants that, even if they’re not all vegan, are clearly trying and are introducing these items to their customer base.
HC: Who are your favorite vegan foodies on Instagram?
E: I always give a shoutout to @vegancatman, he lives in Portland. Sadly he has not been blogging for quite a while, but I feel like you always remember someone who’s had a big impact on you, and he was one of the first vegan foodie accounts that I followed. It’s classic comfort food: a mix of stuff that you could make at home with some other really nice Portland gems and finds. He inspired me in my photography style when I first started, like how to make things pop, different angles, and really making it colourful and bright. I took a lot of inspiration from his style, and his appetite, and really just his love for finding good food. He’s been my Instagram friend for a while from the beginning; his name is Caleb.
And today, I love The Little London Vegan, Clare. I love her energy so much. She writes such detailed, honest reviews. So specific every time. Her photos are so vibrant; she always has a huge feast, and I think that is the most fun way to showcase all the vegan options and break down those stereotypes that vegans don’t eat anything good, because clearly she’s living the life in London.
Over-all I’ve seen such a huge shift in accessibility across the globe, and just an openness with a lot of people to try vegan foods. People are realizing “Yeah, this could be here to stay and it’s better for me.”
HC: Is there anything else you’d like to share with HappyCowmunity?
E: My account and messages are always open. I love connecting with people, whether it’s someone traveling to Boston for a weekend, or moving here, I’m your person. My DMs are literally always open; I’m always around.
Follow Erica on Instagram @vegan_kween
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More about Vegan Kween: Erica co-founded an online magazine called VeganZine with her friend Kayla, after they connected over Instagram and turned into real-life friends. They wanted to create something specifically for the Boston / New England area that supports vegan-friendly small businesses. It also hosts an events calendar to help you connect to meet-ups and festivals in the area. Follow them on Instagram here.
