Photo Credit Revital Topiol
“As a food critic, I had the dream job for anyone who loves food. But I could not erase what I saw in Yourofsky’s video.”
Welcome to our reality podcast, with Eric O’Grey in Spokane, Washington coaching Shmulik Shwartz in Lehavim, Israel to lose 140 pounds in 10 months so the two can run the Jerusalem marathon together in March 2017!
Welcome to today’s guest episode! Ori Shavit is an Israeli food activist and expert on plant-based eating. Her love of food first led her into a career as an omnivore food writer and restaurant critic. About five years ago, her life and food choices changed in a BIG way. She explains it all here, right now!
Oh, and by the way, Shmulik is now down to 244 pounds from 332 pounds when we started this podcast in late May, a total weight loss of 88 pounds. He is hoping for his weight loss to break 100 pounds by the end of 2016. Go Shmulik!
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- How Ori transformed from omnivore to vegan overnight after watching a video of vegan activist Gary Yourofsky.
- Ori then decided to quit her job as an omnivore restaurant critic, started a blog, and become a lifestyle vegan.
- Eric credits the same Gary Yourofsky video on his transformation from “health vegan” to “ethical vegan.”
- Ori describes the huge growth of veganism in Israel (13% of the population are either vegan or vegetarian!)
- Ori’s upcoming cooking demo for the Israeli army.
- How a large, well-known, established restaurant Israeli restaurant just from omnivore to 100% vegan.
- “Vegan-friendly”- Ori’s fabulous definition of what that should mean in the restaurant industry.
- Why vegans can’t assume anything about ordering rice or beans in an omnivore restaurant.
- Ori’s recent speaking tour in the US, speaking about the vegan revolution in Israel.
- How Yelp and Happy Cow can help find vegan food options.
- Successful vegan cooking takes some learning and planning.
- Preparing your own meals means more control, less processed food, and more emotional satisfaction.
- The state of organic foods and non-GMO’s in Israel.
- Ori’s favorite restaurants in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem.
- Israel’s national dishes: hummus and falafel—-BOTH ARE VEGAN!
Resources:
Ori Shavit’s website: www.vegansontop.co.il
The Gary Yourofsky video mentioned in this podcast: “The Most Important Speech You Will Ever Hear”
