Exploring Vegetarian Eats Around Clawson

Love lured me to the city of Clawson.

Living previously in Detroit and then Dearborn, I made the move to Oakland County after marrying my husband—a Clawson resident—nearly three years ago.

My favorite benefit of moving to the area was the accessibility of places to shop and dine on vegetarian and vegan food. The Troy Whole Foods Market quickly became my local mecca. Grabbing a bite to eat at an exclusively plant-based restaurant like Royal Oak’s Inn Season Café could be a monthly rather than annual event thanks to proximity.

I’ve followed a vegetarian diet for more than a decade, initially due to the horrid conditions facing factory-farmed animals before they end up on dinner plates. More recently, I’ve been discovering how important plant-based foods are to one’s health and longevity. Because of that, I strive to abstain from as many animal products—like eggs and dairy—as possible but living with an omnivorous husband, I fall off the vegan wagon more times than I care to admit.

There’s been a lot of debate in the vegetarian community about whether or not herbivores and omnivores can co-exist in a relationship---I’m here to prove that we can!

I answered the call for Clawson Patch bloggers because I love sharing experiences about vegetarian food. Specifically, I’m enthusiastic about vegetarian and vegan cuisine as it relates to meat eaters. I will always endorse an animal-friendly diet yet the world is still a meat-based planet. Vegetarians can be a passionate bunch that flocks together, but I don’t want to live in a silo. I married an omnivore! I thrive on opportunities to educate my meat-eating family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances about vegetarian food. (More on that in future blogs!) I never aim to be preachy, but hope to inspire others to taste how flavorful compassionate entrees can be.

In the coming weeks, I plan to use my Patch blog to:

• Share vegetarian recipes and meal ideas that make mixed-diet relationships more harmonious
• Explore vegetarian dining options in Clawson and surrounding communities
• Find the best places in town to get fresh, organic produce and other vegetarian edibles
• Meet other local residents who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and help share your veg stories
• Discover which vegetarian topics Patch readers would like to learn more about

Love may have brought me to Clawson originally, but right now I'd really love to hear your thoughts on planet-based foods! Please leave a comment below, connect with me on Twitter or send a note to veggiecookster@gmail.com and let's gab! :)