This week we are excited to share with you our interview with Marisa Miller Wolfson! Marisa is a full-time food activist and the writer, director, and editor of the award-winning documentary film Vegucated, a must-watch film, especially for the curious or those who want to know more what being vegan is all about.

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as we did as she talks about being a food activist and the making of the highly entertaining and thought-provoking documentary that has inspired many into embracing a plant-based and compassionate lifestyle.

 

Q: What inspired you to become a full-time food activist?

 

I saw factory farming footage, pledged to go veg on the spot, read more about animal byproducts and decided to go full-on vegan. My mind was blown. Why was nobody talking about how cruel, unhealthy, and unsustainable the animal agriculture industry is? So together with my vegan mentor Mary Max I started a nonprofit and organized film screenings and educational events about the benefits of going plant-based.

 

Q: How long have you been a vegan? What was it like to transition to a plant-based and compassionate lifestyle?

 

I’ve been vegan for fifteen years. Back then it was exciting and daunting at the same time. I lost weight and gained all kinds of energy but then had some digestive troubles so I learned I had to watch it with soy. It took a little while for my parents and brother to come on board, but now they are very supportive. My social circle changed a bit. I plugged into the vegan community, and now most of my closest friends are vegan.

 

Q: Is there anyone who has become a major influencer in your transition to veganism?

 

Well, the lady who organized the screening of the documentary I watched back in 2002 helped me transition to veg, then my vegan/activist mentor Mary Max helped me transition to vegan. She has helped a lot of people transition.

Q: Tell us about Vegucated. What made you create the documentary?

 

I had organized screenings of other pro-veg documentaries, and I learned what kinds of films spoke to people. When I saw SuperSize Me, I thought, “someone should do the reverse of that: take someone on the standard American diet and witness their transition to veganism, covering ethical issues as well.” I couldn’t decide on one person when casting, so I chose three! It worked out really well, I think.

 

Q: What would you say is the number one key to the success of the film?

 

The likeability of the people I chose to do the experiment. They were from different demographics, and viewers can see a bit of themselves or their experiences in the cast. They were funny, caring, enthusiastic, down-to-earth and intelligent, and they really got into the experiment.

 

Q: What is the most fulfilling and most frustrating thing about filming it?

 

Well, I had never made a film before so I made every mistake in the book. The most frustrating part was honestly the technical aspects. More than once I could be found sobbing over my Final Cut Pro manuals. But it was all worthwhile after years of hearing from people who have changed their lives as a result of viewing it.

 

Q: What surprising lessons have you learned about veganism?

 

It was so easy for me to go vegan. I thought it would be easy for everyone, but it’s not. People have other pressures and challenges that are very real. I have more compassion for their struggles.

 

Q: What is the biggest challenge for you traveling as a vegan?

 

Before I had kids there were so few challenges, but now finding vegan food my picky little kids will like is a bit of a challenge. We choose accommodations where I can make food, so a hotel room with a suite or a kitchenette. We’re going on a ski trip to Vermont next month, so we got a little condo kind of house with a full kitchen. It’s kind of a pain because you don’t want to be cooking on vacation, but we just make very simple foods: pastas, bean quesadillas, that sort of thing. I hear that kids’ palates expand as they get older. I am waiting for that with bated breath.

 

Q: Can you name the most vegan-friendly places you have visited?

 

The world has changed so much in the past 15 years and we have traveled so often. We go to London and Brighton to visit my husband’s family, and there are too many veg restaurants to choose from. We can never hit them all, and we’ve been going there for 14 years.  Israel had zero shortage of vegan restaurants, plus the best hummus and falafel on every corner. We have a condo in Grand Cayman, and the big supermarket, Kirk’s, is stocked with everything a vegan could need, plus there is a great little vegan restaurant called Bread and Chocolate that we go to a lot when we’re there. Munich had amazing vegan food too, and so did Anse Chastanet, the resort we stayed in St. Lucia. They have a veg restaurant in the resort! Domestically, Portland, San Fran and LA are vegan meccas we always enjoy.

 

Q: What would be your advice to vegetarian and vegan travelers?

 

The HappyCow website/app has been a great resource. I don’t know what we would have done without it in Buenos Aires, Rio, Hong Kong, etc. I would encourage vegans to ask if dishes at vegetarian (not vegan) restaurants have dairy. In Madrid I had ordered a side of green beans and had to run to the bathroom soon after because it contained butter. That really put a damper on our romantic evening. I would say also to stay open to non-vegan establishments. The best meal we had on vacation ever was at a non-vegan hotel on the English countryside, where the world-renowned chef went to town with fresh plant foods. We still groan with pleasure when we talk about how good that food was. 

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