My journey

Before it all

Pre-vegan, I enjoyed food but I took it for granted and I never really questioned what I was eating. I simply ate whatever was available and that tasted good. There was no real motivator in my everyday life for 22 years that challenged the choices I made, especially with the people around me living in a similar way. I guess that my previous disposition was a bit of a conformist – I was especially driven to do things due to what I thought was considered normal by others.

The seed was planted

All of this changed when one day I stumbled across a suggested video from Madeleine Olivia where she shared a vegan recipe and made it look so aesthetically pleasing which definitely got my attention. The seed was planted, and I initially took on vegan cooking as a ‘challenge’ as I wanted to create a satiating meal that was fully vegan. At this point I was living with my family who definitely were shocked. At this point I did not know anyone personally who was vegan and only one other person who was vegetarian (for religious reasons) and therefore I turned to YouTube for inspiration.

I started immersing myself with information by watching documentaries and more cooking videos. The more I learned about the blatant, yet strategically concealed ethical issues as well as the environmental impacts of consuming animals, the more it just made sense to continue this lifestyle as well as advocate for it. Cooking became a hobby as I was learning about all new kinds of ingredients and in a way, I was forced to learn how to cook for myself. I definitely grew an appreciation for cooking and food preparation.

I took it to the next level when Melbourne lockdown hit us hard. I made a food focused Instagram account @cookwithpez when I was previously spamming my food on my personal Instagram stories. I was still cooking and wanted to share all the delicious food I was creating but a lot of the times, the iPhone photos did not do the food justice. I asked my partner if he could teach me how to use his Nikon camera. He taught me the absolute basics (how to turn it on, how to take the battery out and charge it, how to use a tripod) and I quickly started practicing. I would post every single day and experimented with lighting, different backdrops and props. The momentum started building when I began to connect with other people doing the same thing, as well as brands who wanted to collaborate.

Where I’m at now

Right now I am very fortunate to say that I am happy, healthy and living in abundance. I have connected with likeminded people and made some wonderful friends along the way. While transitioning to this lifestyle has had its struggles, there is no doubt that I have chosen a path that is in alignment with my values and has provided me true inner peace.

My vision for Cook With Pez is to create a space where delicious food meets sustainability, affordability and conscious living.

On this website, you will also find tips on food photography to make your food look as delicious as it tastes. If you make a recipe from here, tag @cookwithpez on Instagram so I can share the love!

Vegan tips for beginners

Pez