PLANT P OwER
Vegan Victors
Karen Krinsky,
co-owner of Like No Udder
VEGAN FOR: I became vegetarian
in 1985 and vegan on New
Year’s 1993 (so vegan for
twenty-seven years). Peter Carvelli,
owner of Twelve Plants
VEGAN FOR: Three years,
vegetarian for most of my
adult life.
REASON FOR GOING VEGAN: The main reasons are concern
for environment, my health
and the animals, in that order.
The environment was what
inspired the change. It’s the
overall environmental impact
from the production of meat
from the amount of water it
takes to produce it and the
effects from greenhouse gases.
GO-TO MEAL: The meal I like to
make the most is my barbecue
maple roasted carrot because
everything on the plate is
carrot. It’s the carrot itself,
carrot puree, carrot crumble
and the carrot top salsa verde.
There’s no question that my
ethical stance on animal cruelty
and exploitation has always
been the driving force for my
vegan lifestyle. If people can be
kinder to animals, surely we
would be kinder to each other.
GO-TO MEALS: I think noodles
should be their own food group
— ramen, pasta in marinara
sauce, stir-fried udon — or
whatever my husband, Chris,
feeds me (he’s a great cook!).
REASON FOR GOING VEGAN:
Laura Barlow,
president of Rhode Island
Vegan Awareness
(veganawareness.org)
and high school art teacher
VEGAN FOR: Twenty-one years.
I went vegan when I was in
high school.
REASON FOR GOING VEGAN:
I went vegan after learning
about the way that animals are
treated on factory farms and
in slaughterhouses. I watched
undercover video footage and
researched the benefits of a
vegan lifestyle. I have always
been a big animal lover and did
not want to contribute to their
suffering. I was relieved to find
a lifestyle that not only
benefited my health but also
showed love and compassion
to others. Now I am proud to
be vegan for the environment,
the animals and my health.
GO-TO MEAL: Panko-crusted
tempeh with a side of creamy
mac and cheese.
Robin Dionne,
consultant and co-founder
of RI VegFest
VEGAN FOR: Twenty years,
since I was eighteen.
REASON FOR GOING VEGAN:
I was vegetarian first, and I
never enjoyed eating meat,
dating back to childhood. I had
not been aware of the factory
farming and mistreatment
of animals that occurs during
dairy production, and there
was no way I could continue
consuming it after I knew.
GO-TO MEALS: I love to try new
things, and part of my goal
with RI VegFest is to promote
the idea of a plant-based
lifestyle to restaurants that are
not the typical go-to places.
Trinity Brewhouse has some
great vegan menu options now
and I spend a lot of time there.
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People who have gone plant-based share their experiences.