I’m one of the people following you since the beginning, and I’m also (sadly) one of many people, who have experienced struggles with food. I can’t stress enough, how important it is to me, what you’ve shared. Your words about people not owing anybody an explanation for their food choices literally opened some new pathway in my anxious little brain. Thank you.
Love your honesty around food and connecting and learning about a culture through food. i'm glad you opened up about that and it's always reassuring to know other people have these dilemmas inside their head , sometimes an all or nothing mentality is simply not helpful 🥰
I just want to say that even though I started following you for plant-based content like 8?? years ago now, in the past few years I have already picked up on a sense of acceptance and non-judgement from you about what others eat and having the attitude that we should all do what's right for ourselves. This helped me come to a place of acceptance for the eating choices of both myself and others, and I'm eternally grateful for your channel no matter what it shapes into. You're a person and you deserve to make choices and evolve without judgement from strangers on the internet. I'm also very excited to see if you share any more content from your time back home! This video made me feel ridiculously calm and happy
I became a ''part time'' vegan through all the wonderful food and easy approach to veganism from your channel, and even if my body says no to a full time vegan diet (pointing at you, IBS) I still lowered my meat intake by over 90% the past few years and made so many vegan recipes a staple in my kitchen because of you, and you alone Nina. Thank you for this, and enjoy all the food your heart desire, it doesn't decrese the incredible impact you had in my, and many I'm sure, kitchens all around the world over the past decade!
A boyfriend! i think i've lost that detail ahhahaha happy to know you're back home :) se vuoi leggere Elena Ferrante in italiano devi imparare anche il dialetto napoletano. I'm available for language exchange (yo también quiero practicar español)
I am also a South American living in Australia, and I've noticed that the older I become, the more I need to connect with my home country (Brazil). I've started to read more Brazilian literature & cook more Brazilian food.
Hey Nina, I am in love with your content and 100% your decision on engaging with your culture through food!! I wanted to ask if you could film a Costa Rica Vlog in spanish, I am currently leanring spanish and in need of Spanish content on RU-vid…maybe you even have some recomandations
maybe I can do a sort of spanglish situation hehe No está en youtube pero sigo a claufernandezm en instagram y hace reels muy lindos!! ella me encanta!!
ah nina i absolutely adored this video! i'm a long-time watcher and following your journey with food and seeking peace with that relationship really means so much to me. you don't owe anyone any kind of justification - you need to live your life for you
So happy to see you back in Costa Rica, you're absolutely glowing! I'm at 12 years of veganism, but I came to a similar conclusion about my upcoming trip to Peru-- I'm not going to ask a thousand questions about my meals, I'm just going to enjoy the experience with egg or without. 🙂
Incredible! After many years of traveling strictly vegan I really am very excited to do the same 🥲 I hope you have the best time in Peru and have the yummiest of foods!!
Nina adoro tu contendio, fuiste mi inspiración en los inicios de mi veganismo. lo mas importante es quee estés contenta contigo misma y espero que esta comunidad respete tu decisión y gracias por compartirnos esta nueva etapa. Nada mas bonito que el calorcito de América Latina. Saludos desde México ojalá hicieras un video en español por favor ❤
Loved hearing your perspective on veganism and wanting to eat the foods of your culture. I was vegetarian while backpacking through Europe back when vegan foods/restaurants weren't so accessible. I can remember feeling so limited in my options and denying so many cultural dishes. It certainly felt like I was missing out on a huge aspect of travel.
I am curious if you would ever discuss the contrast of food choices for ethical reasons vs diet culture and restriction? I have often wondered as you have been doing the journey towards enjoying food and having less restrictions how that coincides with veganism. I always appreciate your thoughtfulness about intuitive eating and would be interested to know more about the values that you hold "close to your heart"
I really liked your honesty about veganism. It really gave me a new perspective. I am vegan 100% and I have been questioning the same things as you did. And most of the time Inhave been fighting with myself. It is the yes or no mentality...
Ahhh nina! ❤ I've been a sub for years and years, am largely vegan. In Ireland where I'm from I find it very easy, in Costa Rica I've had to adjust to eating cheese and eggs at times while I am here and it is hugely intwined in the culture. I moved to here to CR in 2023 and I love it 🥹 So lovely to see this lovely country in your video. Hope to run into you sometime!
this video is beautiful! thanks for sharing your home :) and SAME! i've been vegan for 10 years and have just recently travelled. i ate plant based when it was easy but ate anything otherwise- to be culturally and socially sensitive! but now im home and i just love eating a vegan diet (and care about enviro/animals of course) so im back to plant based xxx appreciate your explanation 💗
Hi Nina, I do think I'm one of your followers that was drawn in long ago and part of the appeal was that you were so relaxed and at ease cooking vegan and making it look soooooo easy, delicious and fun. I love that you plan to still cook vegan at home, but perhaps be a little more adventurous with food now that you are back home. I get your desire to connect with tradition and family through food. My mother passed away last April and she would have loved nothing more than for me to eat some of her fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. In some ways, I wish I could have honored her in that way, but with me it's a little different and she never really quite understood. When I eat meat, dairy and eggs, it causes inflammation in my body and my acid reflux is activated. Specifically with meat getting stuck in my esophagus which is one of the most painful things I've ever experienced. Once I went vegan, that no longer happened. I'm 55 and have been vegan now coming upon 8 years. Similar to you, I am living in my home town in Tennessee after having lived in Los Angeles, CA for 30 years. LA literally has a designated VEGAN restaurant for any ethnic food one might desire. It's insane. There's a lot of things I don't miss about LA, but I do miss that. What I can say about the restaurants here in my hometown in TN is that they are trying. Lots of Hummus and veggie burgers. A lot of times I will just get a baked potato and salad. Even thought my family is fully aware of my medical issues, it STILL drives them crazy that I don't eat traditional barbecue every once in a while. I agree with what you said in your video about people not owing any explanation about their food choices, but I think it's good that you are being transparent. I think that's healthy and I also believe that you will still continue to have a very positive influence on the Vegan Community. You have a lot of light inside of you and it's so nice that you share it so openly with your followers. Take care!
Wow, I had no idea there were so many options in LA. Here in Portugal, vegan restaurants have started to pop up but it stills seems slow. There is a connection between food and our memories, our heart...a short while after my father died, I hadn’t had meat in years, I felt the urge, like a calling, that he wanted me to eat a “bitoque” that is a Portuguese simple dish served everywhere, it is a thin steak with egg and fries and lot of sliced garlic. And I just took myself out of the house and went to eat it. It was like my father was me in that moment. But it was an exception. I really can’t imagine myself eating meat and drinking milk and all that again. I also noticed that people who go flexible, always start by saying they cook vegan at home but suddenly, against their will almost, they are always following a non-vegan diet. It just happens. I understand you so well, eating plant based completely changed my health, physical and mental. Nina made vegan food such an easy thing for me. All the best for you!
Understandable. Enjoying life with family is important. Thank you for keeping your morals and making the choice to stay vegan while home in Australia. If you are someone living in a white colonial settled area of this world, and have the means, please remember that partaking in the animal agriculture industry hurts low income neighborhoods and is continuing to expand and destroy large indigenous lands and communities in central and south america. People may choose how they want to eat, but it's important for people to learn how their choices may be affecting other communities. I choose to be anti exploitation, anti overconsumption, anti capitalism. Vegan for 8 years. Your content has been so incredibly inspiring for me during my whole journey. Thank you so much for everything.
This. I dislike how people are always like “just do what’s best for you” as if nothing else matters. And maybe for some it doesn’t. I believe in personal responsibility and morals.. complacency on a small-scale leads to large-scale problems and suffering.
Beautyfull soul ♥I've been following you since my vegeterian era started , though I ended up eating like regular human being Im still here, watchin your light gentle videos, Hi from Ural)
I'm moving to Costa Rica next year cause I'm getting married to a Tico ( I'm from France). I went there for the first time last year and I fell in love with everything. Obviously it's very different from west Europe but actually I think that's why I love it so much. The warmth of people (I was shocked the first time I went to a store and the sales lady called my mother in law mi amor 🤣) The food, the pura vida ... I never recommand moving to an other country cause if too many people do it then the spirit of this place can be destroyed ... but damn I am too much in love with my futur home ❤ I still have to work on my spanish tho
I really appreciate your nuance re veganism and cultural foods - completely understandable for you to want to fully enjoy your time in Costa Rica 🌞I didn't watch you for the veganism anymore anyways, just love the vibes over here:) enjoy the trip!
Ay Nina que divino se ve todo y que bueno que has decidido ser mas flexible. Te sigo desde hace mucho y he sido vegana desde 2015. Desde el 2020 comencé a añadir un poco de queso y huevos a mi dieta más que nada cuando comía fuera debido a que no se conseguían opciones veganas cuando salía con amigos. Me siento mucho más libre ahora y desde que comencé a leer sobre ayurveda me di cuenta que hay personas que responden diferente a los mismos tipos de alimentos por ello no creo que el veganismo sea para todo el mundo. Me recomiendas algún libro de Elena Ferrante? gracias y saludos desde España 🥰
I’m so happy for you that you have found peace with your food choices! I’m one of the people that has been with you from some of the ~beginning days~ and witnessing your journey has helped me along mine in many ways. I love that you’re now connecting with your culture through food, and I’m so glad that you feel peace with those choices xx
I totally understand! My first break from vegetarianism happened on a trip back home to Massachusetts, US from where I live now in South Carolina, US. I had stopped myself from eating meat there on multiple visits but one holiday I finally decided that I wanted to enjoy traditional/culutral family meals made by my grand parents whill I still could as well as local regional foods that aren't available where I live now.
Vegan or not vegan isn't define ur self babe.. What's describe ur self I think ur heart, sense of humanity Many vlogger aren't aware what happened in this world. U were speaking about Genocide in Gaza now and iam really touch it. Because my friend died at Indonesia hospital as a volunteer (May him grant to Jannah) ❤❤ Still kindness & sensitive for what happened around you girl hello from Indonesia ❤💗🦋💕
This video came at the right time. I love your content and I see myself in your lifestyle, and lately, I've also decided to open myself up to other foods that were obviously not part of the vegan diet that I have maintained for many years. I still believe in the same values but lately, the feeling of deprivation was starting to feel very uncomfortable. It is very difficult for me to get rid of the feeling of guilt for having abandoned the cause in a certain way, but also a sense of disorientation for having abandoned a label that defined me in part. I never usually comment but this video in particular helped me process these thoughts. Keep it up, your videos are a breath of fresh air. Un abbraccio dall'Italia
I went through something similar last year. First I started having cravings, meals with meat did not smell that bad suddenly, I was curious, but felt bad about it (I was vegetarian for 13 years). I became vegeterian for ethical reasons when I was a teenager. And then last year I got diagnosed with coeliac disease and I started thinking that being coeliac, having hipothyrodism and being vegetarian at the same time will be no good to me - iron from plants is not absorbed that well and I can't allow to have deficiencies. I started eating meat again. After the initial struggle, tears, and feeling like the worst person in the world - I know it was a good decision. I also felt like I owed the world an explanation and I think at times what other people might think was more important than what I thought about my situation. Fortunately I had people around me who helped my start thinking differently :)
Hey Nina, good one; on deciding to be a bit balanced and measured considering food. You are eating vegan mostly anyway and there are much more factors into play; I think looking at food like this does more right to the complex reality of things. Thank you for being so brave and sharing this and also you remain a climate activist and food inspiration to me ;) Btw, me encantó ver as este video y obtener un idea de tu pais y de tu vida costarricense
thank you for sharing about your relationship with food and veganism. i was vegan for 5 years and also have had an eating disorder, and came to the same conclusion. i still share the same values, however i find that mildness is a key word for me in this proces. there was a strictness in the way i dealt with it and mildness gave me a new doorway to more compassion to myself and my environment. also, you may like 'appetites', by caroline knapp. sending you love ❤
I have been on a similar food journey and had my pivotal moment almost a year ago. The interesting thing after deciding to go from strict vegan to vegetarian again is that my body still craves vegan 90% of the time. Ultimately who cares besides me and I am happy with my choice. I don’t care what you eat, I enjoy your overall life content.
I've recently stopped labelling myself vegan and have been eating food I've been wanting/craving for 7 years because I don't want to limit the joy and connection food brings anymore. It's brought so much unadulterated joy and peace into my life which as someone who struggles with depression and occasionally suicidal idiations, limiting anything that could bring simple pleasures and soul nourishment feels crazy. Call me selfish but honestly don't care what people think of me any more and I'm living my best life eating my poached eggs on a Sunday ❤️ our time on this earth is brief, hang onto simple pleasures. Thank you for your videos, I watch and enjoy them all the time.
To be honest I disagree and don’t find any of your reasoning convincing. I mean no hate but I’d like for this comment to exist on this video. Veganism is important for animals and the planet, not for us. Culture isn’t only food related and culture isn’t an excuse for cruelty and exploitation. + deciding to platform that kind of reasoning is detrimental. This really felt like a short video for a sponsor and saying I want to enjoy a fried egg. I’ve been watching you for years, we even chatted occasionally through comments via my main channel, I really enjoy your videos, really appreciated seeing you stand up for Palestine but this video… isn’t it. Really.
Your vlogs are so beautiful Nina. I completely understand where you're coming from with veganism and vegetarianism and relating it back to home cooked meals. I think when you've been vegan long enough you realize that it's a peaceful value system/lifestyle versus militant. I've been vegan for almost ten years and before that was vegetarian for ten years. It's only been in the last year that I was curious about non vegan pastries again. After a lot of guilt and shame and realizing that I was the only person being mean to me, I felt relief to know I can try things when I see fit to, and my values still hold the same. I ended up trying a non vegan cookie. Appreciated the nuance of the lavender and rosemary but found the animal butter and milk to be too cloying and heavy in my mouth. Plus I actually might also be lactose intolerant any ways lol. But it felt nice to know these are guidelines I live my life by and can bend when I want. I didn't enjoy it lol but it doesn't mean in the future I wont try a bite of something once or more if the interest is peaked. Enjoy home *-*
Oh no, Nina :(( I am extremely saddened to find out, that one of my favourite RU-vidrs for years now has decided to leave an ethical lifestyle behind her. As a vegan of over 11 years it is beyond hurtful every time when someone else decides to put their needs in front of animal suffering. I am sure you have thought a lot about your decision but think about it just a bit more...there are a lot of videos on Instagram from people who show that you don't have to make animals suffer to be part of your culture. Swapping out animal products for cruelty free plant options does not diminish your cultural experience. Also - culture is not more important than an animals life. Please reconsider your decision in the name of all animals who do not wish to suffer unnecessary harm.
Yeeees to embracing culture through food. I have been through the exact same thought process. It feels like such a loss to no be able to engage with such a crucial part of culture!
Literally no one is vegan anymore.. sad to see. It’s a sliding scale, it always starts with a small indulgence like this. I see it everywhere.. Thanks for sharing but it is kind of disappointing to see everybody return to animal products.
Qué pasó con tu español No entiendo sos tica y solo saves decir esa palabra Costa Rica yo vivío 18 años en usa y mi español no lo negocio con nadie porque te da vergüenza tu raza el papá de mi hijo no nos habla español y ni así mi hijo que llego de 4 años a perdido su lenguaje y es costarricense disculpa la curiosidad vivi 18 años en la zona sur de tu bello país y no agarre acento yo me sorprendo todas las personas que han migrado a usa los come frijoles siempre dicen lo mismo no hablo español cual es el problema ser Bilingüe 🤷🏻♀️
8 месяцев назад
Mi tia ahora habla ingles como sofia vergara y español como gringa, lo peor de ambos mundos jajaja.
