I’m Tiffany Tiwater, better known as Your Neighborhood Vegan, and it’s my 20th veganniversary!

Since going vegan in 2005, I’ve tried PLENTY of plant-based products and recipes. In 2020, I was inspired to launch a review blog by the wave of new vegan innovations and a desire to spotlight new favorites.

I answered a a series of questions, thanks to your submissions. Read along to see my replies!

Q: What inspired you to go vegan 20 years ago?

A: I went vegan for the animals. I was 13 and started as a vegetarian, but continued researching animal agriculture and the behind the scenes of factory farming. Within months, I was vegan. To me, it has always been a black and white issue- killing animals to exploit them for my own use is wrong. Period. I wish I could paint this picture so simply for everyone. Unfortunately, we come from a history of using animals for food, clothing, entertainment, experiments, and more. It is not easy to unlearn, and in fact even easier to lean into because it is the way things have always been done. But every day you wake up, you have the opportunity to subject the world to less cruelty, just by what you choose to put on your plate. What a simple way to make a difference for you, the planet, and the animals.

Q: Are there any vegan food items you ate when you first went vegan that are still staples you buy?

A: YES! Lightlife has been there for me since day one, and while their “Smart Bacon” tastes nothing like bacon, it is one of my favorite foods! I also still buy Follow Your Heart’s “Vegenaise”, and Amy’s frozen dairy-free enchiladas and burritos. Tofurky was of course my first holiday roast, and is my usual go-to year after year.

Q: Is there anything you miss that they still haven’t made a vegan version of?

A: Cottage cheese! I used to love eating plain cottage cheese. Miyoko’s debuted their vegan cottage cheese at Expo West several years ago, but it has yet to be released. Seeing that was showcased at the Natural Products Expo made me want to apply to attend. Make sure to follow along for this year’s finds!

Q: What’s one thing you wish you had known before going vegan?

A: The animals are what matters, not perfectionism. I will die on the hill that having something vegan fried in the same VEGETABLE oil as an animal product is vegan. This was something I wavered on when I first went veg, but now seems crystal clear.

Q: If someone could only make one change toward a more vegan lifestyle, what would you recommend?

A: Ditch meat and start trying new protein sources like tofu, seitan, or good ole beans and rice. Get used to your plate looking different. The journey of being vegan is just that, a journey. There are so many ingredients that come from animals, you may find yourself unknowingly consuming thigs like honey because you didn’t know it was an ingredient in a brand’s chai tea. Don’t let that be the end-all-be-all of your journey. Learn and do better.

Q: Have you ever struggled with maintaining a vegan lifestyle?

A: Personally, no. Once I went vegan there was no turning away from the truth that animals think, suffer, and feel pain. That realization was more important to me than my daily snack bag of Cheetos. Depending on your culture or living situation, it can be challenging. Just remember you are not alone in this! The animals thank you, and so do I!

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of running Your Neighborhood Vegan?

A: Making connections with other vegans, and knowing I can influence others to follow suit. Living in the Central Valley and growing up in a rural area, I didn’t find other vegans until I started to branch out online. Having a community of support from people who share your same values is unmatched and something I will never take or granted.

Q: I want to go vegan, but where should I shop?

A: This is such a great question! Surprisingly, it is pretty much impossible not to find vegan products at stores these days. Whether you are lucky enough to live near a Sprouts or Whole Foods, or make due with Target and Walmart, you can find a variety of vegan mock beef and chicken, dairy-free cheese, and produce departments always have tofu. Don’t skip your local Asian markets either as they usually are a gold mine for soy-meats of all kinds. Additionally, don’t sleep on Grocery Outlet– they’ve usually got hidden gems in the “dairy” and frozen departments.

Q: Are you married/have kids and are they vegan?

A: That’s a hard no. Currently single and forever child-free! I do however, have rescue dog named Noodle, two cats- The Kraken and Miss Moneypenny, plus a heard of community cats I feed on my front porch. That’s my kinda family!

Q: What was the first step you took toward going vegan?

A: I was a teen, so the first thing I did was announce my decision to my mom. She was confused and concerned but I began researching vegan foods and meals online to aid in the transition. We went to the grocery store, and I found soy milk and vegan meatballs to start my journey. I relied heavily on PETA as that was one of the main vegan resources at the time. They offer guides for grocery shopping, and lists of “accidentally vegan” foods (something that is vegan by ingredients, but not advertised as being vegan).