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Brand New Vegan

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FAQ

Brand New Vegan FAQ

Why the name "Brand New Vegan"

I chose the name “Brand New Vegan” because at the time…”I” was a brand new vegan myself, and wanted a place to share everything I was learning, including a place to store my recipes.

So are you Plant Based or Vegan?

I started BNV following a Plant Based Diet, thinking at the time that’s what ‘vegan’ was all about. The plant based movement had not really started yet, and I simply didn’t know any different. Today, I don’t draw a line between the two. I’m doing this for my health AND the health of our animals friends and our planet.

So who are you?

I’m Chuck Underwood and I grew up on the east side of Indianapolis, Indiana. I’m married and have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. My career path has always found me in Semiconductors, working in Fabs like Texas Instruments and Intel. I just recently retired so I can blog full time. I currently live in the Pacific Northwest.

What is your background?

I mentioned I have always worked in Semiconductors – so my career background has always been High Tech. I am NOT a doctor, dietician, or a certified nutritionist ….. if that is what you are asking. I am however a graduate of T. Colin Campbell’s Plant-Based Nutrition Course from Cornell University, and also have some experience as a certified Emergency First Responder.

How long have you been blogging?

I started my BNV blog in November of 2013. I have been blogging full-time since June of 2017.

What are your other interests?

I love to blog, so just started a brand new blog teaching people how they too can get started blogging. You can find it here at https://brandnewbloggers.com. I also enjoy photography, music (I was a band geek and used to play trombone in my community band), reading (Stephen King is a fav), and watching anything Marvel or SciFi.

Are you married?

Yep, over 22 years this time (and 7 the last time). I have 1 son, 3 step-children, and 4 grandchildren.

Where are you from?

I was born in a small town in Kentucky and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. I lived in Texas for 5 years, New Mexico for 10, and over 20 here in Oregon.

How old are you?

I was born in 1962. So old enough.

Food FAQ

Where do you get your recipe ideas?

I have had a variety of influences.  My mom was a true southern gal who was raised in the backwoods of Kentucky.  I remember a lot of recipes that her and grandma used to make.  I also lived in Texas for 5 years, so I learned to appreciate good Tex-Mex.  From Texas, I moved to New Mexico and spent the next 10 years learning to love authentic New Mexican foods, especially their Green and Red Chile.  And finally, I ended up here in the Pacific Northwest.  So I get my recipe ideas from the comfort foods I have always loved.

What kind of recipes will I find on BNV?

I follow a whole food, plant-based diet as recommended by doctors like Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Neil Barnard, and Dr. Dean Ornish.  Which means I try to use as many whole foods in my recipes as I can, with very little processed.  My recipes are also oil-free.

What are your most popular recipes?

Easy, my Oven Baked French Fries are extremely popular, and so is my Vegetable Stew, my Cheese Sauce, my Cauliflower Tacos, and my Chili.  In fact, my Best Damn Vegan Chili Ever Recipe has won so many Chili Cookoffs - I've lost count.

What's wrong with oil?  

Oil - no matter which plant it came from (coconut, olive, corn, peanut, etc) is highly processed.  It is no longer a 'whole' food, as the majority of nutrients and fiber have been stripped away.  All that's left is pretty much pure fat - and at 120 calories per tablespoon, it is THE most calorie dense food we can eat.  It's basically empty calories.

What about protein?

I don't personally worry about protein. There is protein in just about everything we eat, including potatoes. As long as you are getting enough calories, rest assured you're getting plenty of protein.  There has never been a recorded case of protein deficiency, ever.

Do you take Vitamins?

I take Vitamin B12.  That's it.

What kinds of foods do you eat?

I eat foods as close to nature as I can. Real food. Foods my grandmother would recognize. Usually Oatmeal in the morning, with blueberries, a little flax seed, maybe a drizzle of maple syrup. Salads for lunch, sometimes potatoes. And then whatever I fix for dinner. We eat a lot of stir frys, peanut noodles, rice, potatoes, soups, stews, chili, that sort of thing.

Is soy ok to eat?

I'm not a doctor or dietician or anything, but I figure if millions of Asians have been eating soy products for thousands of years....it can't be all bad. I just make sure I buy organic when possible, and whole food products like miso, tempeh, and tofu. I do NOT eat anything with processed soy proteins or soybean oil in it.

Which plant-based doctor should I follow?

Whichever one you'll listen to. Personally, I follow all of them. They're mostly saying the exact same thing....which is eat plants.

Do you exercise?

I try to. A good diet is the most important part, but we should all try to move around too if we can. I like to walk and do my DDP Yoga.

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Recipe Key

    brand new vegan

    Hi I'm Chuck, and I make switching to a plant-based diet as easy as possible by recreating all of your favorite comfort foods. You're not going to believe how good it tastes and chances are, you're not gonna miss a thing!

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