Interviews

An interview with Rolene Sher of RAWlean …

By Antoinette Maake

Vegan SA: Tell us about who you are and what you do?

Rolene Sher: I am International Motivational Speaker, run Personal Growth, Empowerment and Changed Management workshops for companies and the general public. I have also started running the RAWlean food preparation workshops. In these workshops we not only learn how to make exciting healthy and quick raw food dishes but also gain a deep understanding that we are connected, body mind heart and spirit and by taking it all into consideration we can truly make lasting life style changes. Educate people on how to take care of themselves and experience optimum health by making empowering lifestyle changes.

Vegan SA: When did you become a raw food vegan and why?

Rolene Sher: I became a raw food vegan 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer and realised I really needed to make lasting changes in my life. Was very unhappy with dairy farming and after reading The China Study that was it for me.

Vegan SA: What are the differences between a normal vegan and a raw food vegan?

Rolene Sher: Interesting question. I think the answer is one eats cooked vegan food and the other raw vegan food.

Vegan SA: Tell us more about New Beginnings and RawLean

Rolene Sher: I am the founder and director of New Beginnings. I develop and delivers empowerment workshops, individual and corporate seminars that are taking the country by storm and achieving lasting results.

I am suited to this calling having spent my teenage and adult life pursuing education and experiences that empower and facilitate change in people. I have always been a gifted trainer, with my passion taking me to classrooms and boardrooms.

I am an accredited BOTA Trainer, accredited Journey Therapist, demartini and reiki therapist, and Life Line Councillor, and I have also devoted myself to studying and applying nutrition and wellness through “How to heal the Body though Food and Life Style Changes” meeting my incredible personal challenge of healing from breast cancer.

My vision is to touch peoples’ lives and facilitate change in the world through enabling people to glimpse who they really are.

RAWlean is an exciting offering inspired by my own journey to vibrant health. The classes are for anyone who needs inspiration for making changes to their health and lifestyle, they are not just about food, they are about healthy sustainable life style changes, looking at all aspects of our life, body, mind, heart and soul. One of my favourite inspirational talks is about the “Gift of Cancer” – how to heal the body and go raw!

Vegan SA: Did the transition happen over night, or did you become a vegetarian first?

Rolene Sher: I had been a vegetarian for about 20 years and over the years on several occasions I found myself at different times eating fish and chicken. Once I was diagnoses with cancer I became 80% raw overnight.

Vegan SA: How strict are you as a raw food vegan, i.e. do you eat honey, wear leather; buy cruelty free products etc?

Rolene Sher: Yes I do eat honey and still wear leather. I’m ok with that right now.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place for eating out?

Rolene Sher: Africa Cafe, The Mount Nelson will make you a wonderful raw food dinner if you give them 2 days notice. Absolutely amazing … and a few slices of avocado pear on top.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite meal? … and do you have a favourite recipe that we could publish on our site?

Rolene Sher: I love making soups for both summer and winter and of course smoothies in the summer are decadent. Favourite recipe is my 10 minute tomato soup which I’m about to go and make right now.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place to shop for food?

Rolene Sher: Ethical Co op on the internet and Organic Zone and Wild Organics in Woodstock.

Vegan SA: What obstacles have you faced in the past, and continue to face, by being a raw food vegan? And how did you overcome them?

Rolene Sher: Often finding organic products is a problem so I started growing my own vegetables and you just have to shop around and see what you can get.

Vegan SA: What improvements or changes would you most like to see in the vegan movement, both domestically and internationally over the coming years?

Rolene Sher: Larger varieties of products, prices to come down so it’s not so expensive and all the big supermarkets to have larger sections of organic foods available for everyone.

Vegan SA: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to make a shift to becoming a raw vegan?

Rolene Sher: Baby steps one thing at a time, set yourself up for success not failure by taking things slowly, Keep eating how you normally eat and just add more raw food on a daily or weekly basis.

Vegan SA: Is there any question that you would like to ask and respond to that we didn’t ask you?

Rolene Sher: Just how important it is to prepare food with love, to sing and chant when preparing your food and to use the best quality products that are available.

For more information about Rolene and the Rawlean workshops, visit: New Beginnings.

Visit our website for a list of international and South African famous vegans.

An interview with Beryl Scott, Chairperson of Beauty Without Cruelty South Africa …

By Antoinette Maake

Vegan SA: Tell us about who you are and what you do?

Beryl Scott: I have been the National Chairperson of Beauty Without Cruelty for the past 20 years and before that I was the Cape Chairperson of SAAAPEA, an anti-vivisection organisation. I am passionate about having animals reclassified as sentient beings and for their rights to be recognised in law. Cruelty, abuse and exploitation of defenceless beings, including humans, angers me and I will always speak out against those who perpetrate such cowardly acts.

Vegan SA: When did you become a vegan and why?

Beryl Scott: I adopted a vegetarian diet nearly 30 years ago and, as I learned more about the cruelty inherent in factory farming, I naturally started excluding offending foods from my diet, so there has been no fixed cut-off time when I started being vegan. I feel that, for some people, the journey towards veganism is a gradual process, but it should ALWAYS be the end goal for everyone who wishes to adopt a cruelty-free lifestyle and especially those who call themselves *animal lovers*. Being vegetarian means you are only half way towards being the best person you can be!

Vegan SA: Tell us more about Beauty Without Cruelty

Beryl Scott: Beauty Without Cruelty is an animal rights organisation whose primary concern is to educate and inform people about the suffering of animals in vivisection/cosmetic testing, factory farming and wildlife issues (fur and ivory in particular). We are also hands-on when there is a need e.g. we were partly responsible for rescuing the feral cats on Robben Island and re-homing them at our sanctuary in Hout Bay. We have also been able to home lab rabbits from a local facility and have been involved with other groups dealing with animal rescues and sterilisation campaigns.

Education is absolutely necessary to change people’s attitudes towards animals and Beauty Without Cruelty has a progressive education programme through which we give talks at schools, universities and other social and community organisations.

An important part of our work is to investigate the humane claims made by cosmetics and household product manufacturers and we publish an approved product guide as a free service to the public. Beauty Without Cruelty has an on going ‘sentient being’ campaign and promotes veganism as a lifestyle choice. Our methods of campaigning include education, protests, negotiating with national, regional and local government and using any other peaceful means to improve the lives of animals. This is just part of the work we do and we would be happy to provide more information to those who may be interested.

Vegan SA: How strict are you as a vegan, i.e. do you eat honey, wear leather; buy cruelty free products etc?

Beryl Scott: I don’t eat honey, wear leather, silk or any other ‘fabrics’ of animal origin and, as far as possible in this modern world, I avoid anything that may be the result of the exploitation, suffering or death of any being, including things like coral, pearls, porcupine needles and many other less obvious ‘products’.

Entertainment that includes animal exploitation such as zoos, aquariums, horse racing and circuses are also not on my entertainment calendar. Veganism is not only about what one eats, but extends to all aspects of animal exploitation and there are many instances where this is hidden, so one has to be vigilant!

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place for eating out?

Beryl Scott: I don’t eat out much but they make great vegan hamburgers at Cafe Royale in Long Street, Cape Town.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite meal? … and do you have a favourite recipe that we could publish on our site?

Beryl Scott: I love anything with mushrooms in it [Beryl's Mushroom Risotto].

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place to shop for food?

Beryl Scott: I don’t really have any favourites but I love the look of fresh vegetables and am always looking around health shops for anything that will help make dishes more delicious.

Vegan SA: What obstacles have you faced in the past, and continue to face, by being vegan? And how did you overcome them?

Beryl Scott: As far as food goes, I don’t have much trouble except with cheese replacements. I am not keen on any of the vegan ‘cheese’ products that are available in this country so I either have to do without or grit my teeth and eat what’s available.

As far as people are concerned, I try to avoid confrontation when I am with people who question my ethics, but I will not back down if they persist. I do have a lot of criticism and lack of support from one family member and that is probably the most difficult obstacle I have to deal with.

Vegan SA: What improvements or changes would you most like to see in the vegan movement, both domestically and internationally over the coming years?

Beryl Scott: As always, education is vital to changing people’s attitudes, whether it is towards other beings or their own lifestyle choices. We need to use any educational tool at our disposal to educate and inform the public about the horrors of the meat industry; the destructive effects animal products/by-products have on our health; the benefits that changing to a vegan diet will have on one’s mind, body and spirit and the fact that by being vegan, kindness and compassion to all living beings will fall into place naturally.

Methods used to educate people must range from protests and demonstrations to negotiations with governments; civil society’s demand for change, to boycotting cruel industries. Anything to draw attention to the plight of animals. Vegans should realise that harsh criticism of meat eaters works sometimes, but often only makes them more determined to continue their flesh eating habits; sometimes less is more and some people respond better to example rather than bullying – one has to judge each case as it presents itself.

Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, we will probably have to wait until the earth is in a disastrous state before people wake up to the fact that the rearing of animals for the meat industry and the vast amount of food and water that is required to do this, that should have been used to feed humans, has damaged the environment to such an extent that veganism will be the only option left to feed the starving billions. Having said that, animals should not be expected to wait until humans ‘decide’ to stop eating them or exploiting them in other ways. They have a right to justice now.

Vegan SA: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to make a shift to becoming a vegan?

Beryl Scott: Don’t hesitate! Once you try vegan food you will realise that it is easy to prepare, tastes great and there are limitless ways of preparing delicious, healthy and compassionate food. If there is any doubt about this, Beauty Without Cruelty has published the “Living Without Cruelty” vegan recipe book which may be obtained by e-mailing toni@bwcsa.co.za. It’s full of fabulous recipes and cruelty-free hints to change your life.

Vegan SA: Is there any question that you would like to ask and respond to that we didn’t ask you?

Beryl Scott: People always like to think humans are the superior species and that the rest of creation is there for our use and abuse. The claim that one of the things that separates us from animals is our ability to have complex emotions, two of which are compassion and empathy. If that is so, then start having empathy with the suffering of others and apply your compassion – don’t be part of their suffering. If you do not do this, then you are neither superior nor more worthwhile than other animals!

Visit our website for a list of famous vegans, both South African and international.

An interview with Gary Player, one of South Africa’s favourite sporting sons …

By Antoinette Maake

Gary Player needs little introduction….. internationally acclaimed golfer and sports celebrity, he has kindly allowed Vegan SA to interview him. Even with his busy schedule he was gracious enough to offer us his point of view. Special thanks to Guy de Silva, his Business Development & Media Director, for making this interview possible.

Vegan SA: At what point and why did you decide to look at a plant based diet?

Gary Player: Greens, fruits and vegetables have always been a huge part of my diet, but it was probably about 15-20 years ago that I started to become more aware of the health benefits of “more green and less red.” Over that time I have begun transitioning towards a vegetarian diet (about 90% of my current diet is vegetarian based) and my goal is to adopt a vegan diet in the coming years.

Vegan SA: I hear that the China Study was somewhat influential in you making the transition to a plant based diet, please elaborate?

Gary Player: Dr. Colin Campbell’s book is fantastic and yes it has played a part in my dietary intake. He really opened my eyes about the dangers of eating too many animal proteins and how the body benefits more from plant based foods. I think that everyone should read his book; it will change how people eat and structure their diet. Imagine if we could get parents and children to read this book together! It could make a significant impact on childhood obesity and educate parents about how to properly feed their children.

There are 2 quotes that really resonate with me and have helped drive my commitment to fighting childhood obesity; “More people die today from too much food than from too little” and “The human race has never been more unhealthy as it is today”. This says something to me!

Vegan SA: Do you think that if everybody on the planet became a vegan, would this be an incredible point of development for human beings or do you think it’s necessary for some societies or ethnic groups to incorporate animal products in their diet?

Gary Player: I would like to see more people adopt a vegan diet, but I do not think that it is possible for the entire world to do so. The mass breeding of animals for human consumption is detrimental to our planet. Animal waste has a direct impact on the world’s clean water supply, the hormones that are pumped into chickens, pigs and livestock are causing children’s bodies to develop more quickly, and the land necessary to raise the animals is taking away our green spaces. These are issues that would be positively affected if more people would adopt a vegan diet, but I just don’t see that happening on a large scale.

There are many people who enjoy animal based foods and who have no interest in changing the way they eat. And as you correctly pointed out, animal products are an integral part of some ethnic groups and societies and it would be nearly impossible for them to change thousands of years of traditional eating habits.

Vegan SA: The food that your ancestors ate compared to what we eat today, do you think that they were healthier?

Gary Player: I do, and it is not necessarily because we and they ate different foods; it is because our ancestors grew food organically. The integration of chemical fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones has been necessary to deal with the explosion in the world’s population over the past century, but it has significantly affected the quality of the foods we eat. Most people think that a raw chicken is yellow, but it is in fact gray in colour. The yellowness comes from antibiotics! I think that if people would be willing to grow some of their own food or eat locally grown organic foods on a regular basis we could significantly decrease the amount of harmful chemicals we pump into our soil every day.

Vegan SA: At what stage do you think that you will comfortably be able to fully embrace a vegan diet, as we understand that at the moment your diet is 90% plant based and the rest is non-plant based?

Gary Player: My goal is to become a vegan within the next few years. I rarely eat red meat and only occasionally eat fish. Plant based foods are my main source of nutrition along with nuts, fruits, brown breads and grains.

Vegan SA: Is your food prepared for you or do you prepare it yourself?

Gary Player: I travel extensively so a good majority of my meals are prepared by others, but when I am at home on my ranch in the Great Karoo of South Africa, we have several chefs who work full time and are wonderful. When travelling, I make a point of eating a proper diet no matter where I am in the world. It is getting much easier to eat a vegetarian or vegan based diet.

Vegan SA: Are you fussy about using whole/organic foods and do you grow any of the food that you eat on your farms?

Gary Player: Yes. I try to eat organic foods whenever possible and we grow a lot of our own fruit and vegetables on our farm. Organic foods, especially right out of the ground, or off of the tree are so delicious.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite restaurant?

Gary Player: Leafy Greens Cafe, my grand daughter Antonia De Luca’s vegetarian restaurant in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite meal? … And do you have a favourite recipe that we could publish on our site?

Gary Player: A baked potato, some brown rice, a sliced tomato and a sliced avocado. Simple, healthy and delicious.

My favourite recipe is for the drink I have each morning (it is hard to get when I am travelling, but at home I drink this every day).

2 spinach leaves
1 kale leaf
Juice of half lemon
Small piece ginger
1 apple
1/2 cucumber
1 piece celery
Combine ingredients in a juicer

When you get up in the morning, drink immediately.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place to shop for food?

Gary Player: My farm in the Karoo, although I don’t have to shop there. The most amazing grocery I have ever been to was a whole foods market in California, USA. I was shocked at the amount of organic produce available and the freshness of the products. I had never seen a grocery that was almost totally devoted to organic based foods before and it also contained a large number of vegan products.

Vegan SA: How supportive is your family to your way of eating?

Gary Player: Some of them think I am a bit of a nutter, but they all understand and support my dietary decisions.

Vegan SA: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to make a shift to becoming a vegan?

Gary Player: First, educate yourself about what a vegan diet entails and why it is beneficial to your health. You need to understand and embrace the philosophy or you will not be able to make such a drastic dietary change. Secondly, make the change over time. Don’t try and “go cold turkey”; you will shock your system and you will develop cravings that you may not be able to fight off. If you take your time and let your body adjust you will be eating a completely different diet before you realize it.

Vegan SA: Have you inspired any of your friends to adopt a plant-based diet? If so could you name a few?

Gary Player: I have probably had the most effect on my children and grand children. Many of them have adopted my dietary philosophies and I am happy to see that they are eating a healthy diet and teaching their children to do so. I do preach exercise, eating a healthy and balanced diet, and staying away from sugary and fatty foods, but in the end it is up to the individual about what he or she chooses to eat.

Read more about Gary Player on his website www.garyplayer.com.

Visit our website for a list of famous vegans, both international and South African.

An interview with the Grant Nash from South African radio’s 5FM station …

By Antoinette Maake

Vegan SA: Tell us about who you are and what you do?

Grant Nash: 50% of the Grant and Anele Radio Show on 5FM from 12h00 – 15h00, weekday afternoons.

Vegan SA: When did you become a Vegan and why?

Grant Nash: Early January 2010. I was a vegetarian for a little while before that. I had been thinking about giving up meat for many years. It was a humane spiritual choice. I’m a vegan for compassionate, environmental and health reasons.

Vegan SA: Did the transition happen over night, or did you become a vegetarian first?

Grant Nash: Once you become vegetarian and you make the decision that sentient animals are not ‘ours’ to abuse and murder to sustain ourselves, and you begin to read just a little about the dairy and egg industries, I don’t think you are left with much of a choice. Dairy farms and hatcheries account for some of the very worst animal abuse and torture.

Vegan SA: How strict are you as a vegan, i.e. do you eat honey, wear leather; buy cruelty free products etc?

Grant Nash: I’m the whole hog … I believe animals are not resources. So all of my food and clothes are plant based. My cleaning products are NOT and were never tested on animals. My personal hygiene products are also all plant based and never tested on animals.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place for eating out?

Grant Nash: I love Vietnamese food. Cranks in Rosebank is a great place. I also love Fresh Earth in Emmerentia and Greenside Cafe in Greenside. Both are amazing veggie places to eat out.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite meal? … and do you have a favourite recipe that we could publish on our site?

Grant Nash: Ahhh on Sunday myself and my housemates made vegan Ice-Cream (recipe: vegan chocolate chip ice cream). So it’s not my recipe and I hope Mr Del Torro won’t mind me sharing. BUT I JUST HAVE TO … better than any Choc Chip Ice-cream I have ever had.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place to shop for food?

Grant Nash: I have a local grocer that I love to source fresh fruit and veggies from . Other than that, all our supermarkets are great. Plus ‘Fresh Earth’ in Emmerentia for the difficult to find vegan goodies like arrowroot.

My hygiene products from the Body Shop and Woolies, and I have to tell you about my favourite shampoo in the world. ‘Pureology’ 100% vegan, available at all good salons.

Vegan SA: What obstacles have you faced in the past, and continue to face, by being vegan? And how did you overcome them?

Grant Nash: I think you simply have to be aware of your body’s requirements and know that you can’t go out and have a salad and expect to get your body’s nutritional needs. I also travel around the country pretty much every weekend and snacking, unless you carry your own dried fruit, nuts and seeds, is nearly impossible.

Vegan SA: What improvements or changes would you most like to see in the vegan movement, both domestically and internationally over the coming years?

Grant Nash: I would love to be able to sit at most restaurants and have at least one vegan choice that’s not a salad. Vegan food is imaginative. It can be so delicious, hearty and extremely healthy. There is no excuse for any establishment, fine-dining or easy dining, not to have at least one vegan choice. This will also give our meat-eating friends an opportunity to taste the goodness that vegan food can be.

For further reading, please visit our list of famous vegans.

An interview with the Fry’s family, leaders in the South African vegetarian food market …

By Antoinette Maake

Vegan SA: Tell us about who you are and what you do?

Fry’s: We are a company that produces a range of vegan meat analogues in a dedicated vegan factory.

Vegan SA: What is history behind the Fry’s group?

Fry’s: Wally Fry was not born a vegetarian. In fact, he was an avid meat eater, believing animal protein was essential for good health. His wife, Debbie and daughter, Tammy were born vegetarians. When Debbie and Tammy continually refused to eat meat, Wally started questioning his own need for meat. Wally owned a construction company and was commissioned to build mass producing chicken farms – this was his turning point and he too became a vegetarian.

It was at that point that Wally and Debbie began experimenting with protein alternatives for their own consumption. Just 1 year later, these ideas formed the foundation that would lead to the establishment of Fry Group Foods.

Vegan SA: Tell us about the Meat Free Mondays campaign.

Fry’s: Tammy Fry (Marketing Director of Fry’s and passionate environmentalist), wanted to sponsor a campaign in South Africa where the public could be educated about the negative impact that animal agriculture is having on our environment and a campaign which gave the public an achievable and simple solution. We launched a national radio campaign in June which stated some shocking facts and urged the public to adopt Meat Free Mondays within their family units, schools and companies. The success of the campaign has been phenomenal.

Vegan SA: Any plans on switching to Veganism?

Fry’s: Definitely. We are mostly vegan at home but it becomes very difficult when we travel as much as we do. Part of the work we do is educate service industry outlets about veganism and try to get them to cater properly for vegans and vegetarians. We actually own our own commercial 5 star, Big 5 eco lodge (Nambiti Plains) that does cater for vegans, so it’s always a treat when we go there for holidays!

Vegan SA: How strict are you as a vegetarian, e.g. do you wear leather or buy cruelty free products etc?

Fry’s: We are very strict vegetarians, we research everything we buy and ensure that it is cruelty free in every way.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place for eating out?

Fry’s: Little India in Durban – great Indian cuisine!!

Vegan SA: What is your favourite meal?

Fry’s: We are big wrap fans (See the Fry’s Veggie Wraps recipe).

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place to shop for food?

Fry’s: Woolworths and Everfresh (the best you can get in Durbs!)

Vegan SA: What obstacles have you faced in the past, and continue to face, by being vegatarian? And how did you overcome them?

Fry’s: I don’t think there have been any obstacles; an obstacle can only be viewed negatively if that’s the way you view it. I try to find the positive and potential in obstacles and then move forward, e.g. it has always been difficult finding great high protein vegetarian options. So Fry’s embarked on a project to ensure vegetarian options on every menu/canteen/takeway in South Africa. We have had some excellent successes and Fry’s is now available on the Spur, Subway, Steers, Kauai, Boost, and Ninos menus, as well as hundreds of canteens, hotels and schools!

Vegan SA: What does the future hold for Fry’s?

Fry’s: We hope to increase our vegan offerings … watch this space!

For Fry’s recipes, news and product launches, log onto www.frysvegetarian.co.za and sign up for their newsletter.

Visit www.supportmfm.co.za to pledge your support for Meat Free Mondays.

Visit our website for information on famous South African vegans.

An interview with South African vegan and jazz guitarist, Bheki Khoza …

By Antoinette Maake

Vegan SA: Tell us about who you are and what you do?
Bheki Khoza: I am a musician, composer, educator and producer.

Vegan SA: When did you become a vegan and why?

Bheki Khoza: About 15 years ago. I am affiliated to African Hebrew Israelites.

Vegan SA: Did the transition happen overnight, or did you become a vegetarian first?

Bheki Khoza: A few years before I had been vegetarian but as I learned more especially in the scriptures, I then graduated to Veganism.

Vegan SA: How strict are you as a vegan i.e. Do you eat honey? Wear leather; buy cruelty free products etc?

Bheki Khoza: I do not consume meat or meat by products.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place for eating out?

Bheki Khoza: In Johannesburg, in Emmerantia at Fresh Earth, Bryanston at Fruits and Roots I also do Indian restaurants.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite meal?

Bheki Khoza: Spiced Tofu Salad, Matamata Mushroom, Shepherd’s Pie.

Vegan SA: What is your favourite place to shop for food?

Bheki Khoza: Woolworths, especially on the organic side. Chinese Supermarkets for Tofu products.

Vegan SA: What obstacles have you faced in the past, and continue to face, by being vegan? And how did you overcome them?

Bheki Khoza: Very few people in the society understand vegan diets so one has to do a lot of explanation if food is to be prepared outside one’s family. Travelling by air one has had to know the vegan code in order to be served and you have to remember to call 72 hours before the flight.

Vegan SA: What improvements or changes would you most like to see in the Vegan movement, both domestically and internationally over the coming years?

Bheki Khoza: It takes sometime to find places to shop for vegan food, and that can discourage some people who are making a transition. There is a need for enlightening people in general about healthy eating even at governmental level. I had a great wedding where strictly vegan meals and organic wines were served even the music was healthy selected. I dream of a music festival with only vegan products.

You can read more about Bheki Khoza on his website www.bhekikhoza.com

Visit our list of famous vegans – South African and elsewhere in the world.