Hi! I'm Sarah. I'm so glad you stopped by the Alternative Dish!
I went vegan in 2016 and have never looked back! I've also lived with food allergies to eggs, dairy, and peanuts my entire life (and gluten and soy for a few years too!)
Growing up, it was quite a challenge to find delicious alternatives to the dishes my family and friends loved...that I could enjoy too.
The vegan community has grown quite a bit since then! There are so many more options both when eating out and at your regular grocery store. While it is great how inclusive the world is becoming, I still find it so empowering to cook or bake a new recipe from scratch.
I'm thrilled to share recipes, tips, and my passion for tasty vegan food with you on the Alternative Dish. I'm building upon an amazing collection of recipes developed by Chef Maggie.
I Could Never Give Up ...
Can you finish that sentence?
A comment that vegans hear most often is, “Oh, I could never go vegan because I could never give up cheese” … or some other non-vegan food.
To that, I say, that’s okay! You don’t have to go vegan to make and enjoy vegan food.
What you eat doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If this site can introduce you to even just a few vegan dishes that you want to incorporate into your life, I think that is great! And if you do become vegan one day, that is great too!
What I love is bringing people together to eat and enjoy the same meal!
Recipe Philosophy
The recipe collection here at Alternative Dish is completely vegan. Many recipes are also gluten-free and provide substitutions for other common allergens or food sensitivities, such as nuts or soy.
We share recipes that focus on eating as a way to fuel and nourish ourselves. I don’t like to label any food as "bad for you" or "unhealthy" (unless you are allergic to it, of course!)
Instead, I hope our recipes show that a "healthy" diet is one of balance and variety. Eat what is right for you!
Some of my favorite recipes on the site are avocado key lime pie, chocolate quinoa crunch bars, and cauliflower ceviche.
My favorite part of these recipes, and about plant-based eating in general, is how they make plants the star of the show instead of just a side dish!
Fun Facts
- I am a figure skater, watercolor artist, crocheter, and runner!
- I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture and a minor in Sustainability. Environmental issues have been a guiding force throughout my life and were one of the main reasons I chose to go vegan!
- My mom, the Dinner-Mom, is a huge inspiration to me. I watched her create and grow her blog from the ground up over the last 10 years. I was a diligent taste tester while also fostering my own love of recipe development!
- Chef Maggie was the head chef at the Rivertown Inn, in Stillwater, MN, before starting this blog. She's also a certified Holistic Nutritionist. If you want to reach Maggie, you can reach her at mkwescott at gmail dot com.
Stay in Touch!
Contact Sarah {at} alternativedish {dot} com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.